Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS) — NCT WISH: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync넌 마치 깨지 못하는 레벨 같아neon ma·chi kkae·ji mo·ta·neun re·bel ga·taYou're like a level I can never beatListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
NCT WISH's “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)” turns chasing someone's love into a video game, with the singers impatient to find a shortcut to that person's heart. They cross mountains and seas, collect coins, and face a dark cave and a dragon's fire, yet the one they want still feels like a level too hard to beat. Slow, careful steps are maddening, but they enjoy the chase and are set on reaching that heart first.
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.
넌 마치 깨지 못하는 레벨 같아Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): neon ma·chi kkae·ji mo·ta·neun re·bel ga·ta
Meaning: You're like a level I can never beat
Words in this line- 넌neonyou
- 마치ma·chilike
- 깨지kkae·jibreak/wake
- 못하는mo·ta·neuncannot
- 레벨re·bellevel
- 같아ga·taseem like
깨다 means both 'to clear/break a level' and 'to wake up', so the line is at once about an unbeatable game and a dream you can't wake from.
백 개의 동전 먹어도 안 보여Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): baek gae·ui dong·jeon meo·geo·do an bo·yeo
Meaning: Even after grabbing a hundred coins, I still can't see you
Words in this line- 백baekhundred
- 개의gae·uipieces of
- 동전dong·jeoncoins
- 먹어도meo·geo·doeven eating
- 안annot
- 보여bo·yeovisible
지고 싶지 않아 이 게임을Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ji·go sip·jji a·na i ge·i·meul
Meaning: I don't want to lose this game
Words in this line- 지고ji·golosing
- 싶지sip·jjiwant to
- 않아a·nanot
- 이ithis
- 게임을ge·i·meulgame
Word for word: Lose want-not this game-object.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 지다 alone means 'to lose', and 싶지 않아 literally means 'don't want to'; together 지고 싶지 않아 means 'don't want to lose'. 이 게임을 is simply 'this game', but Korean's verb-final word order needs reshuffling to sound natural in translation.
네 마음에 가장 먼저 닿고 싶을 뿐Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ne ma·eu·me ga·jang meon·jeo da·ko si·peul ppun
Meaning: I just want to be the first to reach your heart
Words in this line- 네neyour
- 마음에ma·eu·meto (your) heart
- 가장ga·jangmost
- 먼저meon·jeofirst
- 닿고da·kotouch/reach
- 싶을si·peulwant to
- 뿐ppunjust/only
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)” — NCT WISH. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask EunsuSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가고 | ga·go | going |
| 가까워지잖아 | ga·kka·wo·ji·ja·na | getting closer, you know |
| 가는 | ga·neun | going |
| 걸음씩은 | geo·reum·ssi·geun | step by step |
| 급해 | geu·pae | is in a hurry |
| 끝에 | kkeu·te | at the end |
| 네게 | ne·ge | to you |
| 달려 | dal·lyeo | run |
| 답답해 | dap·tta·pae | stifling |
| 될까 | doel·kka | will I |
| 만나게 | man·na·ge | meet |
| 말해줘 | ma·rae·jwo | tell me |
| 맘이 | ma·mi | my heart |
| 미션 | mi·syeon | mission |
| 빨리 | ppal·li | quickly |
| 있다면 | it·tta·myeon | if there is |
| 지나면 | ji·na·myeon | if I pass |
| 지름길이 | ji·reum·gi·ri | shortcut |
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Questions about “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)”
What is “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)” by NCT WISH about?
NCT WISH's “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)” turns chasing someone's love into a video game, with the singers impatient to find a shortcut to that person's heart.
What does “지고 싶지 않아 이 게임을” mean in “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)”?
I don't want to lose this game. 지다 alone means 'to lose', and 싶지 않아 literally means 'don't want to'; together 지고 싶지 않아 means 'don't want to lose'.
What does “넌 마치 깨지 못하는 레벨 같아” mean in “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)”?
You're like a level I can never beat.
How do you pronounce “백 개의 동전 먹어도 안 보여”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “baek gae·ui dong·jeon meo·geo·do an bo·yeo”: that's how it's actually sung by NCT WISH, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Cheat Code (KENZIE RE:WORKS)” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Eunsu goes through all 59 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
- NCT WISH
- Official video
- SMTOWN · 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.