HANDS UP — MEOVV: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync이 길로 갈게 we gottai gil·lo gal·kke we gottaI'll go down this road, we gotta.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
MEOVV's “HANDS UP” is a defiant song about shedding an old self and rising again, unbothered by rivals who try to provoke them. They shine like a blazing sun, shrug off jealousy and rusty swords, keep the spark inside alive, and urge everyone to throw their hands up even without knowing the answer. The sky cracking open and water pouring down mark a bold reset, with a heart that burns out and blooms again.
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.
이 길로 갈게 we gottaListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): i gil·lo gal·kke we gotta
Meaning: I'll go down this road, we gotta.
Words in this line- 이ithis
- 길로gil·loby road
- 갈게gal·kkeI'll go
Word for word: By this road I will go, we gotta.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 길로 is 길 ('road') plus 로 ('by, along'), and 갈게 is 'will go' where the ending -ㄹ게 adds a promise or decision. Word for word it sounds stiff, but it really means a confident 'I'm choosing this path'. 'We gotta' trails off, leaving the thought unfinished.
막힘 없지 더 묻지마Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ma·kim eop·jji deo mut·jji·ma
Meaning: Nothing blocks me, don't ask any more.
Words in this line- 막힘ma·kimblockage
- 없지eop·jjithere's none
- 더deomore
- 묻지마mut·jji·madon't ask
Word for word: Blockage there-isn't, more don't-ask.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 막힘 means 'blockage' and 없지 means 'there is none', where the ending -지 adds a 'you know it' tone. 더 묻지마 is 'don't ask more', with 묻다 meaning 'to ask'. Together it's a cocky 'nothing can stop me, no need to ask'.
어차피 또 피어날 테니까Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): eo·cha·pi tto pi·eo·nal te·ni·kka
Meaning: After all, it will bloom again anyway
Words in this line- 어차피eo·cha·pianyway
- 또ttoagain
- 피어날pi·eo·nalwill bloom
- 테니까te·ni·kkasince it will
Word for word: Anyway again will-bloom since-it-will
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 피어날 means 'will bloom', an image of rebirth after burning. The tail 테니까 means 'because it surely will', which comforts. 어차피 ('anyway') adds calm certainty.
이제 다시 거슬러 위로 아래로Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): i·je da·si geo·seul·leo wi·ro a·rae·ro
Meaning: Now again, against the flow, up and down
Words in this line- 이제i·jenow
- 다시da·siagain
- 거슬러geo·seul·leogoing against
- 위로wi·roupward
- 아래로a·rae·rodownward
Word for word: Now again going-against upward downward
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 거슬러 comes from a verb meaning 'to go against', and 'up' and 'down' alone are just directions. Together they paint chaos where everything runs against the usual order. It is a call not to follow the flow.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “HANDS UP” — MEOVV. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가득한 | ga·deu·kan | full of |
| 거침없게 | geo·chi·meop·kke | unhindered |
| 꺼지진 | kkeo·ji·jin | go out |
| 너머로 | neo·meo·ro | beyond |
| 녹슨 | nok·sseun | rusty |
| 높이 | no·pi | high |
| 눈이 | nu·ni | eyes |
| 답을 | da·beul | the answer |
| 뒤집어 | dwi·ji·beo | flip over |
| 뜨거운 | tteu·geo·un | hot |
| 뜨일거야 | tteu·il·kkeo·ya | will open |
| 마법같은 | ma·beop·kka·teun | magical |
| 몰라도 | mol·la·do | even if not knowing |
| 백번째 | baek·ppeon·jjae | hundredth time |
| 이래 | i·rae | this way |
| 이미 | i·mi | already |
| 저래 | jeo·rae | that way |
| 햇빛처럼 | haet·ppit·cheo·reom | like sunlight |
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Questions about “HANDS UP”
What is “HANDS UP” by MEOVV about?
MEOVV's “HANDS UP” is a defiant song about shedding an old self and rising again, unbothered by rivals who try to provoke them.
What does “이 길로 갈게 we gotta” mean in “HANDS UP”?
I'll go down this road, we gotta. 길로 is 길 ('road') plus 로 ('by, along'), and 갈게 is 'will go' where the ending -ㄹ게 adds a promise or decision.
What does “막힘 없지 더 묻지마” mean in “HANDS UP”?
Nothing blocks me, don't ask any more. 막힘 means 'blockage' and 없지 means 'there is none', where the ending -지 adds a 'you know it' tone.
How do you pronounce “어차피 또 피어날 테니까”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “eo·cha·pi tto pi·eo·nal te·ni·kka”: that's how it's actually sung by MEOVV, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “HANDS UP” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 69 lines word by word, in sync with the song; the first verse is free and needs no sign-up.
Official music video
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Credits and sources
- Artist
- MEOVV
- Official video
- THEBLACKLABEL · 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.