HIP — MAMAMOO: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync늘 따끈따끈해 그 관심이 따끔따끔해neul tta·kkeun·tta·kkeun·hae geu gwan·si·mi tta·kkeum·tta·kkeum·haeIt's always nice and warm — but that attention stings.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
MAMAMOO's “HIP” is a swaggering song about a woman who shrugs off gossip and judgment and turns even a messy look into her own style. Controversy over her fashion and the zoomed-in attention don't rattle her; she thanks the people who tried to provoke her, since it toughened her up before the next album. A stained shirt and greasy hair count as cool simply because she is the one wearing them.
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.
늘 따끈따끈해 그 관심이 따끔따끔해Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): neul tta·kkeun·tta·kkeun·hae geu gwan·si·mi tta·kkeum·tta·kkeum·hae
Meaning: It's always nice and warm — but that attention stings.
Words in this line- 늘neulalways
- 따끈따끈해tta·kkeun·tta·kkeun·haenice and warm
- 그geuthat
- 관심이gwan·si·miattention
- 따끔따끔해tta·kkeum·tta·kkeum·haestings
Word for word: Always warm-warm-does, that interest-subject prickle-prickle-does.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 따끈따끈 and 따끔따끔 are onomatopoeic reduplicated words (warm-warm / prickly-prickly) that nearly rhyme in sound; the line plays on the contrast between pleasant fan attention and how, in excess, it starts to sting.
별로 신경 안 써 그저 action YeahListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): byeol·lo sin·gyeong an sseo geu·jeo action Yeah
Meaning: I don't really care, I just act (Yeah)
Words in this line- 별로byeol·lonot really
- 신경sin·gyeongattention
- 안annot
- 써sseouse
- 그저geu·jeojust
Word for word: Not really nerve not-use, just action (Yeah)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 신경 쓰다 literally means "to spend nerve," but idiomatically means "to care"; 신경 안 써 negates it to "I don't care," softened by 별로 ("not particularly").
근데 왜이래 네 얼굴에 침 뱉니 (칵투)Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geun·de wae·i·rae ne eol·gu·re chim baen·ni (kak·tu)
Meaning: But why are you like this — spitting on your own face? (ptooey)
Words in this line- 근데geun·debut
- 왜이래wae·i·raewhy are you like this
- 네neyour
- 얼굴에eol·gu·reon face
- 침chimspit
- 뱉니baen·nido you spit
- (칵투)(kak·tu)ptooey (sound)
Word for word: But why-like-this, on-face spit do-you-spit? (khaktoo)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 얼굴에 침 뱉다 literally means 'to spit on someone's face,' but as an idiom it means to openly disrespect or humiliate. 칵투 is the sound of the spit itself, added for shock effect, not a literal action.
Hip 해 hip, hip 머리 어깨 무릎 hipListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): Hip hae hip, hip meo·ri eo·kkae mu·reup hip
Meaning: Do the hip, hip — head, shoulders, knees, hip
Words in this line- 해haedo
- 머리meo·rihead
- 어깨eo·kkaeshoulders
- 무릎mu·reupknees
Word for word: Hip do hip, hip head shoulders knee hip
Why it doesn't translate word for word: A parody of the kids' song “머리 어깨 무릎 발” (Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes): the last word “발” (feet) is replaced by the loanword “hip”, which means both the body part and slangy “stylish” — a double pun.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “HIP” — MAMAMOO. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Why this word and not another? What does that slang mean? Ask in your own words and your idol answers about this exact line.
Ask RenaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가든 | ga·deun | wherever go |
| 가뿐해 | ga·ppun·hae | feels easy |
| 간에 | ga·ne | regardless |
| 갈게 | gal·kke | will go |
| 감사 | gam·sa | thanks |
| 거기서 | geo·gi·seo | there |
| 걸었네 | geo·reon·ne | walked |
| 골라 | gol·la | pick |
| 논란이 | nol·la·ni | controversy |
| 떡진 | tteok·jjin | greasy/matted |
| 멋짐 | meot·jjim | coolness |
| 묻은 | mu·deun | stained/smudged |
| 삐져나온 | ppi·jyeo·na·on | sticking out |
| 상관없지 | sang·gwa·neop·jji | don't care |
| 자꾸 | ja·kku | keep on |
| 팬티 | paen·ti | underwear |
| 홀린 | hol·lin | bewitched |
| 힐끔 | hil·kkeum | peeks |
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Questions about “HIP”
What is “HIP” by MAMAMOO about?
MAMAMOO's “HIP” is a swaggering song about a woman who shrugs off gossip and judgment and turns even a messy look into her own style.
What does “늘 따끈따끈해 그 관심이 따끔따끔해” mean in “HIP”?
It's always nice and warm — but that attention stings. 따끈따끈 and 따끔따끔 are onomatopoeic reduplicated words (warm-warm / prickly-prickly) that nearly rhyme in sound; the line plays on the contrast between pleasant…
What does “별로 신경 안 써 그저 action Yeah” mean in “HIP”?
I don't really care, I just act (Yeah). 신경 쓰다 literally means "to spend nerve," but idiomatically means "to care"; 신경 안 써 negates it to "I don't care," softened by 별로 ("not particularly").
How do you pronounce “근데 왜이래 네 얼굴에 침 뱉니 (칵투)”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “geun·de wae·i·rae ne eol·gu·re chim baen·ni (kak·tu)”: that's how it's actually sung by MAMAMOO, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “HIP” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Rena 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
- MAMAMOO
- Official video
- MAMAMOO · 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.