Likey — TWICE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync작은 화면 속에 내가 제일 예뻐 보이고파ja·geun hwa·myeon so·ge nae·ga je·il ye·ppeo bo·i·go·paOn the small screen I want to look the most beautifulListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “Likey,” TWICE sing about a secret crush so thrilling that ordinary words for liking someone feel too small. The singer fusses over makeup, a tight outfit and the perfect photo, hoping to look the best on a small screen while keeping the feelings hidden. Moods swing with every unanswered message, tears give way to dancing, and the wish is finally for that person to come closer and understand.
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.
작은 화면 속에 내가 제일 예뻐 보이고파Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): ja·geun hwa·myeon so·ge nae·ga je·il ye·ppeo bo·i·go·pa
Meaning: On the small screen I want to look the most beautiful
Words in this line- 작은ja·geunsmall
- 화면hwa·myeonscreen
- 속에so·geinside
- 내가nae·gaI
- 제일je·ilmost
- 예뻐ye·ppeobeautiful
- 보이고파bo·i·go·pawant to look
Word for word: Small screen inside I most beautiful look want
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 화면 속에 (inside the screen, in the frame) = on social media, online. It's not just wanting to be beautiful, but striving to appear perfect in the digital world where everything is filtered and edited.
매일 가슴 뛰게 해 이건 네가 몰라야만 돼Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): mae·il ga·seum ttwi·ge hae i·geon ni·ga mol·la·ya·man dwae
Meaning: Every day you make my heart race, this must remain a secret from you
Words in this line- 매일mae·ilevery day
- 가슴ga·seumheart
- 뛰게ttwi·gerace
- 해haemake
- 이건i·geonthis
- 네가ni·gayou
- 몰라야만mol·la·ya·manmust not know
- 돼dwaebe
Word for word: Every day heart race make, this you must not know
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 매일 가슴 뛰게 해 (you make my heart race every day) + 이건 네가 몰라야만 돼 (you must not know this) = the main contradiction of the song: in love but can't show it. This explains the entire conflict: wants to reveal herself but is afraid the object of her feelings will find out the truth.
BB크림 파파파 립스틱을 맘맘마Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): BB-keu·rim pa·pa·pa rip·sseu·ti·geul mam·mam·ma
Meaning: BB cream pap-pap-pa, lipstick mam-mam-ma
Words in this line- BB크림BB-keu·rimBB cream
- 파파파pa·pa·papap-pap-pa
- 립스틱을rip·sseu·ti·geullipstick
- 맘맘마mam·mam·mamam-mam-ma
Word for word: BB cream pap-pap-pa, lipstick mam-mam-ma
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The singer sings about makeup using onomatopoeia (파파파, 맘맘마) to create a playful, fun tone. It mimics the sounds of applying makeup.
더 이상 감추고만 싶지 않아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): deo i·sang gam·chu·go·man sip·jji a·na
Meaning: I don't want to hide anymore.
Words in this line- 더deoanymore
- 이상i·sangno more
- 감추고만gam·chu·go·manjust hide
- 싶지sip·jjiwant
- 않아a·nanot
Word for word: No more want to only hide.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 더 이상 (no more) + 감추고만 싶지 않아 (don't want to only hide) expresses determination to be honest. 감추다 (hide) + 만 (only) creates a sense that she's tired of masking and ready to be truthful. It's a turning point from silence to confession.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Likey” — TWICE. 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. Chaea checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Chaea 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 ChaeaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 그리고 | geu·ri·go | and |
| 근데 | geun·de | but |
| 기분이 | gi·bu·ni | mood |
| 눌러줘 | nul·leo·jwo | press it |
| 담아볼까 | da·ma·bol·kka | take |
| 돼도 | dwae·do | even if |
| 말은 | ma·reun | sounds |
| 밑에 | mi·te | down there |
| 보면 | bo·myeon | if you look |
| 부족한데 | bu·jo·kan·de | insufficient |
| 뻔해 | ppeon·hae | clichéd |
| 새빨간 | sae·ppal·gan | bright red |
| 설렌다 | seol·len·da | I'm excited |
| 아무 | a·mu | nothing |
| 앙증맞고 | ang·jeung·mat·kko | cute |
| 예쁘게 | ye·ppeu·ge | prettily |
| 웃어줘 | u·seo·jwo | smile |
| 이거 | i·geo | this |
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Questions about “Likey”
What is “Likey” by TWICE about?
In “Likey,” TWICE sing about a secret crush so thrilling that ordinary words for liking someone feel too small.
What does “작은 화면 속에 내가 제일 예뻐 보이고파” mean in “Likey”?
On the small screen I want to look the most beautiful. 화면 속에 (inside the screen, in the frame) = on social media, online.
What does “매일 가슴 뛰게 해 이건 네가 몰라야만 돼” mean in “Likey”?
Every day you make my heart race, this must remain a secret from you. 매일 가슴 뛰게 해 (you make my heart race every day) + 이건 네가 몰라야만 돼 (you must not know this) = the main contradiction of the song: in love but can't show it.
How do you pronounce “BB크림 파파파 립스틱을 맘맘마”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “BB-keu·rim pa·pa·pa rip·sseu·ti·geul mam·mam·ma”: that's how it's actually sung by TWICE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Likey” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Chaea goes through all 55 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
- 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.