Cheer Up — TWICE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync여자가 쉽게 맘을 주면 안 돼yeo·ja·ga swip·kke ma·meul ju·myeon an dwaeA woman shouldn't give her heart away so easily.Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
TWICE's “Cheer Up” is about a girl who likes a boy but deliberately plays it cool, keeping him waiting so he won't see how deep her feelings run. She dodges his anxious calls and messages, then worries she's gone too far, and finally asks him to show more courage and sincerity. It's playful and flirty, with a sweet, teasing push-and-pull.
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.
여자가 쉽게 맘을 주면 안 돼Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): yeo·ja·ga swip·kke ma·meul ju·myeon an dwae
Meaning: A woman shouldn't give her heart away so easily.
Words in this line- 여자가yeo·ja·gawoman
- 쉽게swip·kkeeasily
- 맘을ma·meulheart
- 주면ju·myeongive
- 안annot
- 돼dwaeshould
Word for word: Woman easily heart give not should.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 쉽게 맘을 주면 안 돼 literally 'easily heart give not should', but it expresses a social norm about how a woman should behave in relationships. It's not just advice but a statement about the rules of the love game.
이러다가 지칠까 봐 걱정되긴 하고Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): i·reo·da·ga ji·chil·kka bwa geok·jjeong·doe·gin ha·go
Meaning: I'm worried I might wear myself out like this
Words in this line- 이러다가i·reo·da·gaif this continues
- 지칠까ji·chil·kkaget tired, exhausted
- 봐bwaworry
- 걱정되긴geok·jjeong·doe·ginam worried, concerned
- 하고ha·goand
Word for word: If continues like this get tired worry and.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 지칠까 봐 (worried I'll get tired) = she realizes her game of playing hard to get is exhausting her emotionally. 걱정되긴 하고 ('I do worry, and yet…') — the ending -긴 하고 concedes the point and leaves the thought open.
너무 빨린 싫어 성의를 더 보여Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): neo·mu ppal·lin si·reo seong·ui·reul deo bo·yeo
Meaning: I don't like rushing, show more sincerity.
Words in this line- 너무neo·mutoo
- 빨린ppal·linfast
- 싫어si·reodislike
- 성의를seong·ui·reulsincerity
- 더deomore
- 보여bo·yeoshow
Word for word: Too fast not-like, sincerity more show.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 너무 빨린 싫어 = 'I dislike being rushed'; 빨린 (fast) + 싫어 (dislike) express rejection of haste. 성의를 더 보여 = 'show more sincerity'; 성의 (sincerity, seriousness) — a demand to prove serious intentions. Together it's a condition for the relationship to develop.
걱정되지만 여자니까 이해해주길Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): geok·jjeong·doe·ji·man yeo·ja·ni·kka i·hae·hae·ju·gil
Meaning: I worry, but as a woman, I hope you'll understand.
Words in this line- 걱정되지만geok·jjeong·doe·ji·manI worry, but
- 여자니까yeo·ja·ni·kkabecause I'm a woman
- 이해해주길i·hae·hae·ju·gilplease understand
Word for word: Worry-exists, but woman-because understanding-give-please.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: '여자니까 이해해주길' is an appeal to traditional gender roles. She asks for understanding not as a person but as a woman who must be cautious in love. This is the cultural context of Korean romance.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Cheer Up” — TWICE. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask SoheeSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가지 | ga·ji | won't pass |
| 같어 | ga·teo | seems, feels like |
| 것만 | geon·man | only |
| 그래야 | geu·rae·ya | that way |
| 그렇구 | geu·reo·ku | awkward |
| 될걸 | doel·kkeol | will |
| 만나긴 | man·na·gin | meeting |
| 만나느라 | man·na·neu·ra | meeting up |
| 모르게 | mo·reu·ge | without knowing |
| 몰라 | mol·la | don't know |
| 미안해 | mi·an·hae | sorry |
| 빠질 | ppa·jil | fall, sink |
| 아무렇지 | a·mu·reo·chi | nothing, no way |
| 연기할래 | yeon·gi·hal·lae | will act, will pretend |
| 좋아하게 | jo·a·ha·ge | love |
| 좋아하는 | jo·a·ha·neun | like, love |
| 태연하게 | tae·yeon·ha·ge | calmly, composedly |
| 힘을 | hi·meul | strength |
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Questions about “Cheer Up”
What is “Cheer Up” by TWICE about?
TWICE's “Cheer Up” is about a girl who likes a boy but deliberately plays it cool, keeping him waiting so he won't see how deep her feelings run.
What does “여자가 쉽게 맘을 주면 안 돼” mean in “Cheer Up”?
A woman shouldn't give her heart away so easily. 쉽게 맘을 주면 안 돼 literally 'easily heart give not should', but it expresses a social norm about how a woman should behave in relationships.
What does “이러다가 지칠까 봐 걱정되긴 하고” mean in “Cheer Up”?
I'm worried I might wear myself out like this. 지칠까 봐 (worried I'll get tired) = she realizes her game of playing hard to get is exhausting her emotionally.
How do you pronounce “너무 빨린 싫어 성의를 더 보여”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “neo·mu ppal·lin si·reo seong·ui·reul deo bo·yeo”: that's how it's actually sung by TWICE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Cheer Up” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sohee 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
- TWICE
- Official video
- JYP Entertainment · 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.