Looks Can Kill (룩스 캔 킬) — IVE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync나비처럼 Float 벌처럼 Goodbyena·bi·cheo·reom Float beol·cheo·reom GoodbyeFloat like a butterfly, sting like a bee — goodbyeListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
IVE's “Looks Can Kill” is a swaggering pop track where they declare that their beauty and dance moves are deadly weapons. They play it like a film shoot, casting themselves as superheroes with hidden claws, then break character in playful behind-the-scenes chatter about a bee, a chair and hunger. Underneath the nightmare-style costume, they say, they are still exactly who they were.
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.
나비처럼 Float 벌처럼 GoodbyeListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): na·bi·cheo·reom Float beol·cheo·reom Goodbye
Meaning: Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee — goodbye
Words in this line- 나비처럼na·bi·cheo·reomlike a butterfly
- 벌처럼beol·cheo·reomlike a bee
Word for word: Butterfly-like Float, bee-like Goodbye.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 나비 means butterfly, 벌 means bee, and 처럼 means "like". Alone they are just insects, but with "float" they echo Muhammad Ali's famous "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee". The song swaps the sting for "goodbye": graceful approach, sharp strike, then gone.
괜히 우리겠어 겠어Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): gwaen·hi u·ri·ge·sseo ge·sseo
Meaning: It's not for nothing that we're us
Words in this line- 괜히gwaen·hifor nothing
- 우리겠어u·ri·ge·sseowould we be
- 겠어ge·sseowould (it)
괜히 means 'for nothing', 우리 means 'we', and the ending 겠어 makes a rhetorical question. Together: 'would we be us for no reason?', meaning we earned it.
솜방망이 속 My clawsListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): som·bang·mang·i sok My claws
Meaning: Inside the soft club, my claws
Words in this line- 솜방망이som·bang·mang·icotton club
- 속sokinside
솜방망이 is a cotton-wrapped club, a harmless-looking weapon (also used for a too-lenient punishment). 속 means 'inside'. Together: claws hidden inside the softness.
눈을 감아봐 너를 데려가Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nu·neul ga·ma·bwa neo·reul de·ryeo·ga
Meaning: Close your eyes, I'll take you along
Words in this line- 눈을nu·neuleyes
- 감아봐ga·ma·bwatry closing
- 너를neo·reulyou
- 데려가de·ryeo·gatake along
Word for word: Eyes close-try, you take-go.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 봐 alone means 'look', but after 감아 it means 'try closing', a soft invitation. 데려가 joins 'bring a person' and 'go', meaning 'take you with me'. Together it is a lure, not a command.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Looks Can Kill” — IVE. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 걱정 | geok·jjeong | worry |
| 느껴 | neu·kkyeo | feel |
| 다른 | da·reun | different |
| 따라 | tta·ra | following |
| 레이짱 | re·i·jjang | Rei the best |
| 반전의 | ban·jeo·nui | of twist |
| 비밀처럼 | bi·mil·cheo·reom | like a secret |
| 빗나갈 | bin·na·gal | to miss |
| 소리쳐 | so·ri·chyeo | shout |
| 속을 | so·geul | inside |
| 안녕 | an·nyeong | hello |
| 알고 | al·go | knowing |
| 없으니 | eop·sseu·ni | since none |
| 춤추듯 | chum·chu·deut | as if dancing |
| 크게 | keu·ge | loudly |
| 확률은 | hwang·nyu·reun | probability |
| 희미하게 | hui·mi·ha·ge | faintly |
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Questions about “Looks Can Kill”
What is “Looks Can Kill” by IVE about?
IVE's “Looks Can Kill” is a swaggering pop track where they declare that their beauty and dance moves are deadly weapons.
What does “나비처럼 Float 벌처럼 Goodbye” mean in “Looks Can Kill”?
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee — goodbye. 나비 means butterfly, 벌 means bee, and 처럼 means "like".
What does “눈을 감아봐 너를 데려가” mean in “Looks Can Kill”?
Close your eyes, I'll take you along. 봐 alone means 'look', but after 감아 it means 'try closing', a soft invitation.
How do you pronounce “괜히 우리겠어 겠어”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “gwaen·hi u·ri·ge·sseo ge·sseo”: that's how it's actually sung by IVE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Looks Can Kill” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 104 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
- IVE
- Official video
- STARSHIP · 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.