WANNABE — ITZY: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync내가 뭐가 되든 내가 알아서 할 테니까 좀nae·ga mwo·ga doe·deun nae·ga a·ra·seo hal te·ni·kka jomWhatever I become, I'll figure it out myself, so just leave me alone.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
ITZY's “WANNABE” is about a young woman who refuses to let other people tell her who to be and insists that she is enough as she is. Tired of nosy advice and gossip, they shrug off both love and dislike from outsiders and keep living on their own terms. The mood is cheeky and self-assured, a confident push back against everyone who wants to shape her.
Key lines
4 lines from the song in Korean, with how they sound and what they mean. The full line-by-line breakdown lives in the app.
내가 뭐가 되든 내가 알아서 할 테니까 좀Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): nae·ga mwo·ga doe·deun nae·ga a·ra·seo hal te·ni·kka jom
Meaning: Whatever I become, I'll figure it out myself, so just leave me alone.
Words in this line- 내가nae·gaI
- 뭐가mwo·gawhat
- 되든doe·deunbecome, choose
- 내가nae·gaI
- 알아서a·ra·seoby myself
- 할haldo, handle
- 테니까te·ni·kkaso, because
- 좀joma bit, please
Word for word: Whatever I become, I myself will do, because a bit.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '내가 뭐가 되든' = 'whatever I become' (conditional); '좀' at the end is not just 'a bit' but a plea/demand 'leave me alone'; together it's a plea for independence.
눈치 보느라 착한 척 상처받는 것보다 백번 나아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): nun·chi bo·neu·ra cha·kan cheok sang·cheo·ban·neun geot·ppo·da baek·ppeon na·a
Meaning: Better to be selfish than to pretend to be good and get hurt.
Words in this line- 눈치nun·chisense, attention to others
- 보느라bo·neu·rawhile watching, while paying attention
- 착한cha·kangood, kind
- 척cheokpretense, appearance
- 상처받는sang·cheo·ban·neunget hurt, wounded
- 것보다geot·ppo·dathan, compared to
- 백번baek·ppeonhundred times, much
- 나아na·abetter
Word for word: Watching feelings, pretending good, getting wounds, than this, hundred times better.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '눈치 보느라' = 'while watching others' feelings' (care for others); '착한 척' = 'pretending to be good' (mask); '상처받는 것' = 'getting hurt' (emotional pain); '백번 나아' = 'hundred times better' (hyperbolic emphasis). Together: rejection of self-sacrifice.
누가 뭐라 해도 난 나야Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): nu·ga mwo·ra hae·do nan na·ya
Meaning: No matter what anyone says, I'm still me.
Words in this line- 누가nu·gawho
- 뭐라mwo·rawhat, something
- 해도hae·dodoes, says
- 난nanI
- 나야na·yame, I myself
Word for word: Who what does, I I.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '누가 뭐라 해도' = 'no matter what anyone says' (conditional, indifference); repetition '난 나야' (I I) — not just 'I remain myself' but assertion of identity, refusal to change. This is the climax of the independence argument.
남의 인생에 뭔 관심이 많아 왜? (라라라)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): na·mui in·saeng·e mwon gwan·si·mi ma·na wae? (ra·ra·ra)
Meaning: Why are they so interested in other people's lives?
Words in this line- 남의na·muiothers'
- 인생에in·saeng·ein life
- 뭔mwonwhat
- 관심이gwan·si·miinterest
- 많아ma·naso much
- 왜?wae?why?
- (라라라)(ra·ra·ra)la la la
Word for word: others' in life what interest so much why? la la la
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal piles up modifiers before the verb: 남의 (other people's) and 인생에 (in life) stack ahead of 관심 (interest), while the question word 왜 (why) lands at the very end instead of the front. It means she's baffled why strangers care so much about someone else's life. Key words: 남의 (other people's), 왜 (why).
Lyrics © their rights holders. “WANNABE” — ITZY. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask YoonaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 간섭은 | gan·seo·beun | interference, |
| 거니까 | geo·ni·kka | because it's mine |
| 굳이 | gu·ji | deliberately |
| 꺼줄래요 | kkeo·jul·lae·yo | turn off? |
| 나일 | na·il | being me |
| 내버려 | nae·beo·ryeo | leave, don't touch |
| 너나 | neo·na | you |
| 되고 | doe·go | be, become |
| 둘래 | dul·lae | will you? |
| 말든 | mal·deun | say or not |
| 말하기를 | ma·ra·gi·reul | talk about |
| 말해버릴지도 | ma·rae·beo·ril·jji·do | might say, blurt out |
| 모두 | mo·du | everyone |
| 몰라 | mol·la | don't know, maybe |
| 뭔가 | mwon·ga | something |
| 싶어 | si·peo | want |
| 완벽하니까 | wan·byeo·ka·ni·kka | because I'm perfect |
| 필요는 | pi·ryo·neun | necessary |
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Questions about “WANNABE”
What is “WANNABE” by ITZY about?
ITZY's “WANNABE” is about a young woman who refuses to let other people tell her who to be and insists that she is enough as she is.
What does “내가 뭐가 되든 내가 알아서 할 테니까 좀” mean in “WANNABE”?
Whatever I become, I'll figure it out myself, so just leave me alone. '내가 뭐가 되든' = 'whatever I become' (conditional); '좀' at the end is not just 'a bit' but a plea/demand 'leave me alone'; together it's a plea for independence.
What does “눈치 보느라 착한 척 상처받는 것보다 백번 나아” mean in “WANNABE”?
Better to be selfish than to pretend to be good and get hurt. '눈치 보느라' = 'while watching others' feelings' (care for others); '착한 척' = 'pretending to be good' (mask); '상처받는 것' = 'getting hurt' (emotional pain); '백번 나아'…
How do you pronounce “누가 뭐라 해도 난 나야”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “nu·ga mwo·ra hae·do nan na·ya”: that's how it's actually sung by ITZY, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “WANNABE” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 42 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
The video loads from YouTube only when you press play. YouTube ↗
Credits and sources
- Artist
- ITZY
- Official video
- JYP Entertainment · YouTube
Lyrics and music belong to their rights holders. This page quotes no more than four lines for commentary; the translations, pronunciation and explanations are written by theIDOL.