JENNIE
like JENNIE — JENNIE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
What does “like JENNIE” by JENNIE mean?
JENNIE's “like JENNIE” is a swaggering self-celebration in which she shrugs off critics and declares herself one of a kind. She refuses to perform tricks for money, turns a single pose into a crowd frenzy, and treats her flawless look and rare talent as proof that haters can only watch.
What the song is about
Playful, confident and a little cheeky, the song keeps teasing everyone to come and meet 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.
얼말 줘도 못해 서커스짓Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eol·mal jwo·do mo·tae seo·keo·seu·jit
Meaning: I won't do circus tricks no matter how much you pay.
Words in this line- 얼말eol·malhow much
- 줘도jwo·doeven if you give
- 못해mo·taecan't do
- 서커스짓seo·keo·seu·jitcircus antics
서커스 means circus and 짓 means an act or antic, usually a scornful one. Together 서커스짓 means clowning around to entertain others.
여러 셀럽들 속에 내 DNAListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): yeo·reo sel·leop·tteul so·ge nae DNA
Meaning: Among all the celebs, my DNA.
Words in this line- 여러yeo·reomany
- 셀럽들sel·leop·tteulcelebs
- 속에so·geamong
- 내naemy
DNA here is not biology: it means my unique essence, the thing that sets me apart from other stars.
바비가 처키가 되기 전에Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ba·bi·ga cheo·ki·ga doe·gi jeo·ne
Meaning: Before Barbie turns into Chucky.
Words in this line- 바비가ba·bi·gaBarbie (subject)
- 처키가cheo·ki·gaChucky (result)
- 되기doe·gibecoming
- 전에jeo·nebefore
Chucky is the killer doll from the horror film Child's Play. Barbie turning into Chucky means a sweet doll can turn scary if provoked.
터트려봐 그럼 더 큰 홀에서 만나는 거야 제니를Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): teo·teu·ryeo·bwa geu·reom deo keun ho·re·seo man·na·neun geo·ya je·ni·reul
Meaning: Go ahead and burst it—then you'll meet Jennie in a bigger hall.
Words in this line- 터트려봐teo·teu·ryeo·bwatry bursting it
- 그럼geu·reomthen
- 더deomore
- 큰keunbig
- 홀에서ho·re·seoin the hall
- 만나는man·na·neunmeeting
- 거야geo·yait will be
- 제니를je·ni·reulJennie (object)
터트려봐 means try bursting it (-어봐 is 'try doing'). The ending 만나는 거야 is a confident 'that's how it'll be'. The point: the harder you attack, the bigger my stage gets.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “like JENNIE” — JENNIE. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask MinaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 거야 | geo·ya | it will be |
| 그럼 | geu·reom | then |
| 되기 | doe·gi | becoming |
| 만나는 | man·na·neun | meeting |
| 만들어 | man·deu·reo | make |
| 못해 | mo·tae | can't do |
| 바비가 | ba·bi·ga | Barbie (subject) |
| 번에 | beo·ne | in one go |
| 서커스짓 | seo·keo·seu·jit | circus antics |
| 셀럽들 | sel·leop·tteul | celebs |
| 속에 | so·ge | among |
| 얼말 | eol·mal | how much |
| 여러 | yeo·reo | many |
| 예술작품엔 | ye·sul·jak·pu·men | for a work of art |
| 잘난 | jal·lan | outstanding |
| 전에 | jeo·ne | before |
| 제니를 | je·ni·reul | Jennie (object) |
| 죄니 | joe·ni | is it a crime? |
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Questions about “like JENNIE”
What is “like JENNIE” by JENNIE about?
JENNIE's “like JENNIE” is a swaggering self-celebration in which she shrugs off critics and declares herself one of a kind.
What does “얼말 줘도 못해 서커스짓” mean in “like JENNIE”?
I won't do circus tricks no matter how much you pay.
What does “여러 셀럽들 속에 내 DNA” mean in “like JENNIE”?
Among all the celebs, my DNA.
How do you pronounce “바비가 처키가 되기 전에”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “ba·bi·ga cheo·ki·ga doe·gi jeo·ne”: that's how it's actually sung by JENNIE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “like JENNIE” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Mina goes through all 58 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
- JENNIE
- Official video
- 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.