Pinball — RESCENE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync고장 나는 heart 어색한 걸go·jang na·neun heart eo·sae·kan geolMy heart breaks down and it feels awkwardListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
RESCENE’s “Pinball” follows a girl whose first crush sends her heart bouncing around like a ball she can’t steer. She treats the whole thing as an arcade game: warning signals flash, the score and levels climb, and the person she likes comes closer with each round. She pretends to stay calm and keeps pushing the feeling away, but it only shows more, and the song ends with her admitting she will fall, dizzy and delighted.
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.
고장 나는 heart 어색한 걸Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): go·jang na·neun heart eo·sae·kan geol
Meaning: My heart breaks down and it feels awkward
Words in this line- 고장go·jangbreakdown
- 나는na·neunthat occurs
- 어색한eo·sae·kanawkward
- 걸geolyou know
Word for word: Breakdown occurring heart awkward you-know.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 고장 나다 literally means 'a breakdown occurs' and is normally said of machines, so the heart is a glitching device. 어색한 means 'awkward', and the ending 걸 adds a 'well, that's how it is' tone. Together: around them I short-circuit and feel awkward.
들뜬 내 맘이 너에게 닿기 전, nowListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): deul·tteun nae ma·mi neo·e·ge da·ki jeon, now
Meaning: Before my giddy heart reaches you, right now.
Words in this line- 들뜬deul·tteungiddy
- 내naemy
- 맘이ma·miheart
- 너에게neo·e·geto you
- 닿기da·kireaching
- 전,jeon,before
Word for word: Floating my heart to-you reach before, now.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 들뜬 means 'floating/excited', 맘 is the casual word for 'heart/mind', and 닿기 전 means 'before it touches'. Together: feelings are already bubbling but haven't yet reached you. Korean word order is reversed, so the literal version sounds clumsy.
애써 담담한 척 널 다시 넘겨Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): ae·sseo dam·dam·han cheok neol da·si neom·gyeo
Meaning: I try hard to act calm and brush you off again
Words in this line- 애써ae·sseowith effort
- 담담한dam·dam·hancalm
- 척cheokpretense
- 널neolyou
- 다시da·siagain
- 넘겨neom·gyeopass over
Word for word: With effort calm pretense you again pass over
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 담담한 척 joins 담담한 (calm) and 척 (pretense) to mean 'pretending to be calm'. 넘겨 comes from 넘기다, which means pass over or turn a page, and with 'you' it becomes brushing someone aside. The literal wording is confusing, but the meaning is hiding your feelings.
I'm on a roll 알 듯 말 듯 맘이 보여Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): I'm on a roll al tteut mal tteut ma·mi bo·yeo
Meaning: I'm on a roll, my feelings show half-hidden
Words in this line- 알alknow
- 듯tteutas if
- 말malnot
- 듯tteutas if
- 맘이ma·miheart
- 보여bo·yeois visible
Word for word: I'm on a roll, know-as-if not-know-as-if heart is-visible
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 'I'm on a roll' is an idiom for a lucky streak, even though 'roll' alone means something that turns or a rolled-up object. 알 듯 말 듯 literally means 'as if knowing, as if not knowing' and describes something half-revealed. Together the line says I'm on a winning streak while my feelings peek through only partially.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Pinball” — RESCENE. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask YoonaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 간지러워 | gan·ji·reo·wo | ticklish, awkward |
| 감추려 | gam·chu·ryeo | trying to hide |
| 결국엔 | gyeol·gu·gen | in the end |
| 경고 | gyeong·go | warning |
| 그래 | geu·rae | yeah |
| 끝내고 | kkeun·nae·go | to end |
| 끝은 | kkeu·teun | the end |
| 나지 | na·ji | shows, right |
| 낯선 | nat·sseon | unfamiliar |
| 너만 | neo·man | only you |
| 다가오면 | da·ga·o·myeon | if you approach |
| 닿는 | dan·neun | reaches |
| 돌아와 | do·ra·wa | come back |
| 떨려 | tteol·lyeo | trembles |
| 밀어 | mi·reo | push |
| 정신없게 | jeong·si·neop·kke | frantically |
| 종일 | jong·il | all day |
| 혼자만의 | hon·ja·ma·nui | all alone's |
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Questions about “Pinball”
What is “Pinball” by RESCENE about?
RESCENE’s “Pinball” follows a girl whose first crush sends her heart bouncing around like a ball she can’t steer.
What does “고장 나는 heart 어색한 걸” mean in “Pinball”?
My heart breaks down and it feels awkward. 고장 나다 literally means 'a breakdown occurs' and is normally said of machines, so the heart is a glitching device.
What does “들뜬 내 맘이 너에게 닿기 전, now” mean in “Pinball”?
Before my giddy heart reaches you, right now. 들뜬 means 'floating/excited', 맘 is the casual word for 'heart/mind', and 닿기 전 means 'before it touches'.
How do you pronounce “애써 담담한 척 널 다시 넘겨”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “ae·sseo dam·dam·han cheok neol da·si neom·gyeo”: that's how it's actually sung by RESCENE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Pinball” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Yoona goes through all 57 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
- RESCENE
- Official video
- RESCENE · 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.