NU'EST
FACE — NU'EST: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
What does “FACE” by NU'EST mean?
NU'EST’s “FACE” is a swaggering warning to a reckless rival whose bravado will only end in getting hurt. They mock the rival's cramped little world, the chase after grand peaks, and showmanship gained at the cost of friendship, while boasting of a big win that keeps rolling.
What the song is about
A flea, a stain, a cartoon chase and a giant-versus-challenger tale widen the gap into a cool, taunting finish with a touch of pity.
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.
손바닥만한 이 좁은 곳에서Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): son·ba·dang·man·han i jo·beun go·se·seo
Meaning: In this cramped place no bigger than a palm.
Words in this line- 손바닥만한son·ba·dang·man·hanpalm-sized
- 이ithis
- 좁은jo·beunnarrow
- 곳에서go·se·seoin the place
Word for word: Palm-only-sized this narrow place-in
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 손바닥 is 'palm', 만한 is 'as big as', and together they form a stock image of a tiny space. 좁은 곳 'narrow place' reinforces how small and stifling the world feels. Word for word it sounds clumsy, but it simply means a postage-stamp of a place.
오 히말라야나 찾고 있는 너완 달라Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): o hi·mal·la·ya·na chat·kko in·neun neo·wan dal·la
Meaning: Oh, I'm not like you, off searching for your Himalayas.
Words in this line- 오ooh
- 히말라야나hi·mal·la·ya·nathe Himalayas or such
- 찾고chat·kkosearching
- 있는in·neunwho is (doing)
- 너완neo·wanwith you
- 달라dal·laam different
Word for word: Oh Himalayas-or-so searching-being with-you differ
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 히말라야 is a mountain range, but here it symbolizes a grand, distant goal. The particle 나 'or something like' adds light mockery, and 있는 after 찾고 means 'is busy searching'. Together: 'you chase your lofty dreams, and I'm different'.
그래서 니가 거기까지란 거야Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): geu·rae·seo ni·ga geo·gi·kka·ji·ran geo·ya
Meaning: That's why you only got this far
Words in this line- 그래서geu·rae·seoso
- 니가ni·gayou
- 거기까지란geo·gi·kka·ji·ranas far as there
- 거야geo·yait's that
Word for word: So you up-to-there-ness it is.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 거기까지 alone means 'up to that place', and 거야 alone is just 'it is'. Together with 그래서 the line becomes a verdict: 'this is your ceiling'. The 거야 ending adds a confident, slightly condescending tone.
뭘 믿고 이러냐 혀를 차Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): mwol mit·kko i·reo·nya hyeo·reul cha
Meaning: 'What are you counting on?' — I click my tongue
Words in this line- 뭘mwolwhat
- 믿고mit·kkotrusting
- 이러냐i·reo·nyaact like this
- 혀를hyeo·reultongue
- 차chaclick
Word for word: What trusting do-like-this, tongue kick.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 혀 means 'tongue' and 차다 means 'to kick', but 혀를 차다 is a fixed phrase for clicking your tongue in disapproval. 믿고 literally means 'trusting', and 뭘 믿고 means 'what on earth makes you so confident'. The ending 이러냐 adds a blunt, scolding tone.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “FACE” — NU'EST. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Song facts
- Lines
- 62
- Key lines explained
- 4
- Words explained
- 18
- Length
- 3:42
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
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Ask HaruSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 거기 | geo·gi | over there |
| 구해달라 | gu·hae·dal·la | save me |
| 깨져봐야 | kkae·jeo·bwa·ya | only after breaking |
| 나오는 | na·o·neun | coming out |
| 너와 | neo·wa | with you |
| 누가 | nu·ga | someone |
| 다쳐 | da·cheo | you'll get hurt |
| 때까지 | ttae·kka·ji | until |
| 때로는 | ttae·ro·neun | sometimes |
| 멀리 | meol·li | far |
| 멈출 | meom·chul | will stop |
| 문제지 | mun·je·ji | that's the problem |
| 뭐라 | mwo·ra | something |
| 아픈 | a·peun | painful |
| 알지 | al·ji | you know |
| 외쳐 | oe·cheo | shout |
| 차이라고 | cha·i·ra·go | the difference, I say |
| 터져 | teo·jeo | bursting |
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Questions about “FACE”
What is “FACE” by NU'EST about?
NU'EST’s “FACE” is a swaggering warning to a reckless rival whose bravado will only end in getting hurt. They mock the rival's cramped little world, the chase after grand peaks, and showmanship gained at the cost of friendship, while boasting of a big win that keeps rolling. A flea, a stain, a cartoon chase and a giant-versus-challenger tale widen the gap into a cool, taunting finish with a touch of pity.
What does “손바닥만한 이 좁은 곳에서” mean in “FACE”?
In “FACE” by NU'EST, “손바닥만한 이 좁은 곳에서” means: In this cramped place no bigger than a palm. 손바닥 is 'palm', 만한 is 'as big as', and together they form a stock image of a tiny space. 좁은 곳 'narrow place' reinforces how small and stifling the world feels. Word for word it sounds clumsy, but it simply means a postage-stamp of a place.
What does “오 히말라야나 찾고 있는 너완 달라” mean in “FACE”?
In “FACE” by NU'EST, “오 히말라야나 찾고 있는 너완 달라” means: Oh, I'm not like you, off searching for your Himalayas. 히말라야 is a mountain range, but here it symbolizes a grand, distant goal. The particle 나 'or something like' adds light mockery, and 있는 after 찾고 means 'is busy searching'. Together: 'you chase your lofty dreams, and I'm different'.
How do you pronounce “그래서 니가 거기까지란 거야”?
“그래서 니가 거기까지란 거야” from “FACE” by NU'EST is romanized as “geuraeseo niga geogikkajiran geoya”: that is how it is actually sung, sound changes included, not the textbook spelling.
Where can I see every line of “FACE” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Haru goes through all 62 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 ↗
How we make these breakdowns
theIDOL builds every breakdown with AI assistance and automated checks, and publishes a page only after it passes them. An AI model writes the meaning of each line and the word-by-word glosses from the song's timed lyrics. The pronunciation comes from our own rule-based Korean transcriber, which spells how the words sound when sung, sound changes included, not a letter-by-letter romanization. Pages that fail the audio-sync or translation checks are not published, and we quote only a few key lines. If you spot a mistake, write to support@theidol.ai and we will fix it.
Credits and sources
- Artist
- NU'EST
- Official video
- 1theK (원더케이) · 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.