SOYEON
I'm gonna TOESA (퇴사할게여) — SOYEON: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync원래 이렇게 열심히 살 생각 없었거든여wol·lae i·reo·ke yeol·sim·hi sal saeng·gak eop·sseot·kkeo·deu·nyeoI never actually planned to live this hard, you know?Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
SOYEON's “I'm gonna TOESA” is a cheerful, tongue-in-cheek farewell to a stifling job, where she walks away without regrets and imagines the freer life ahead. She dreams of long meals, trips, a bucket list and a carefree writing life, picturing herself as a grandma who will look back on this reckless choice and call it romantic. The mood is breezy and sunny, with a little self-teasing.
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.
원래 이렇게 열심히 살 생각 없었거든여Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): wol·lae i·reo·ke yeol·sim·hi sal saeng·gak eop·sseot·kkeo·deu·nyeo
Meaning: I never actually planned to live this hard, you know?
Words in this line- 원래wol·laeoriginally
- 이렇게i·reo·kelike this
- 열심히yeol·sim·hidiligently
- 살salto live
- 생각saeng·gakthought, intention
- 없었거든여eop·sseot·kkeo·deu·nyeothere wasn't, you see
Word for word: Originally like-this diligently to-live intention wasn't, you-see?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 열심히 means 'diligently' and 살다 means 'to live', but 열심히 살다 together means 'to grind through life'. The 거든여 ending turns the line into a mildly defiant justification.
그래 이팔청춘 후회하면 어때요Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): geu·rae i·pal·cheong·chun hu·hoe·ha·myeon eo·ttae·yo
Meaning: Well, so what if you regret it in the prime of youth?
Words in this line- 그래geu·raewell, yes
- 이팔청춘i·pal·cheong·chunsweet sixteen youth
- 후회하면hu·hoe·ha·myeonif you regret
- 어때요eo·ttae·yoso what
Word for word: Yeah, two-eight-youth if regret, how-is-it?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 이팔 is '2×8', meaning 16, and 청춘 is 'youth'; together they poetically name the blooming prime of life. 어때요 literally asks 'how is it?' but here means 'so what?'.
이제 전처럼 절대로 약속 취소할 일은 없죠Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): i·je jeon·cheo·reom jeol·dae·ro yak·ssok chwi·so·hal i·reun eop·jjyo
Meaning: Now I'll never cancel plans like I used to!
Words in this line- 이제i·jenow
- 전처럼jeon·cheo·reomlike before
- 절대로jeol·dae·roabsolutely (not)
- 약속yak·ssokplans, promise
- 취소할chwi·so·halto cancel
- 일은i·reunmatter
- 없죠eop·jjyothere won't be
Word for word: Now like-before absolutely promise cancel matter there-isn't-right
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 약속 alone means 'promise', but here it means 'plans to meet'. 일 means 'matter', and 'cancelling matter does not exist' simply means 'that won't happen'. The ending 죠 adds a 'right?' tone seeking the listener's agreement.
내 이런 철없는 말이Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): nae i·reon cheo·reom·neun ma·ri
Meaning: These careless, childish words of mine
Words in this line- 내naemy
- 이런i·reonsuch
- 철없는cheo·reom·neunthoughtless
- 말이ma·riwords
Word for word: My such season-lacking words
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 철 means 'season' and, figuratively, 'good sense, maturity'; 없는 means 'lacking'. Together 철없는 means 'childish, thoughtless', though on their own the parts say nothing like that.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “I'm gonna TOESA” — SOYEON. Quoted for commentary and learning.
Mini-lesson: fill in the missing word
A line from the song with one word missing: listen, then pick the right word. Haein checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Haein about this song
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 HaeinSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 갈까여 | gal·kka·yeo | shall we go |
| 거고 | geo·go | it will be, and |
| 거도 | geo·do | thing, either |
| 거짓말하네 | geo·jin·ma·ra·ne | you're lying |
| 결국 | gyeol·guk | in the end |
| 계세여 | gye·se·yeo | please stay |
| 나는 | na·neun | I (topic) |
| 날씨 | nal·ssi | weather |
| 날이 | na·ri | day |
| 당장 | dang·jang | right away |
| 뒤돌아보면 | dwi·do·ra·bo·myeon | if you look back |
| 떠나요 | tteo·na·yo | leave |
| 모두 | mo·du | everyone |
| 문밖으로 | mun·ba·kkeu·ro | out the door |
| 바람 | ba·ram | wind |
| 좋군요 | jo·ku·nyo | how nice |
| 하루는 | ha·ru·neun | day |
| 할머니가 | hal·meo·ni·ga | grandma |
Keep these 18 words
Make a free account and the words from “I'm gonna TOESA” go to your study notebook with spaced review, so they come back right before you forget them.
Create a free accountWith Google, Apple or email · 10 seconds
Questions about “I'm gonna TOESA”
What is “I'm gonna TOESA” by SOYEON about?
SOYEON's “I'm gonna TOESA” is a cheerful, tongue-in-cheek farewell to a stifling job, where she walks away without regrets and imagines the freer life ahead.
What does “원래 이렇게 열심히 살 생각 없었거든여” mean in “I'm gonna TOESA”?
I never actually planned to live this hard, you know? 열심히 means 'diligently' and 살다 means 'to live', but 열심히 살다 together means 'to grind through life'.
What does “그래 이팔청춘 후회하면 어때요” mean in “I'm gonna TOESA”?
Well, so what if you regret it in the prime of youth? 이팔 is '2×8', meaning 16, and 청춘 is 'youth'; together they poetically name the blooming prime of life.
How do you pronounce “이제 전처럼 절대로 약속 취소할 일은 없죠”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “i·je jeon·cheo·reom jeol·dae·ro yak·ssok chwi·so·hal i·reun eop·jjyo”: that's how it's actually sung by SOYEON, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “I'm gonna TOESA” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Haein goes through all 41 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
- SOYEON
- Official video
- 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.