TAKEDOWN — TWICE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync정신을 놓고 널 짓밟고 칼을 새겨놔jeong·si·neul no·ko neol jit·ppap·kko ka·reul sae·gyeo·nwaLose your mind, I'll trample you and carve the blade into youListen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
TWICE's “TAKEDOWN” is a fierce showdown with a deceiver whose sweet looks hide a rotten core. The singers see through the lies, feel hatred rising, and vow to gear up and destroy this cold-hearted demon. Fooled crowds, a broken soul in an ugly shell and threats of violence build a defiant, battle-ready mood that never lets up.
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.
정신을 놓고 널 짓밟고 칼을 새겨놔Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): jeong·si·neul no·ko neol jit·ppap·kko ka·reul sae·gyeo·nwa
Meaning: Lose your mind, I'll trample you and carve the blade into you
Words in this line- 정신을jeong·si·neulmind
- 놓고no·koletting go
- 널neolyou
- 짓밟고jit·ppap·kkotrampling
- 칼을ka·reulblade
- 새겨놔sae·gyeo·nwacarve in
Word for word: Mind-object letting go, you trampling, blade-object carve-and-leave
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 정신 means mind or spirit and 놓다 means to let go, but 정신을 놓다 together means to lose one's head. The ending -고 only links actions in a chain, so they read as separate beats. In 새겨놔 the verb 놓다 adds a sense of doing something and leaving it, so the blade leaves a lasting mark rather than just cutting.
당당하게 어둠 앞에 다가서 다 무너뜨려Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): dang·dang·ha·ge eo·dum a·pe da·ga·seo da mu·neo·tteu·ryeo
Meaning: Step boldly up to the darkness and tear it all down
Words in this line- 당당하게dang·dang·ha·geproudly
- 어둠eo·dumdarkness
- 앞에a·pein front of
- 다가서da·ga·seostep up
- 다daall
- 무너뜨려mu·neo·tteu·ryeobring down
Word for word: Proudly darkness in-front-of approach, all make-collapse
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 당당하게 means with dignity and without flinching, and 앞에 means in front of. 다가서 means to step right up to something. 무너뜨려 comes from 무너지다, to collapse, and means to make something collapse, so the line reads as a command to destroy.
나를 속이려 하지 마Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): na·reul so·gi·ryeo ha·ji ma
Meaning: Don't try to fool me
Words in this line- 나를na·reulme
- 속이려so·gi·ryeotrying to deceive
- 하지ha·jido
- 마madon't
Word for word: Me deceiving trying don't do
Why it doesn't translate word for word: Korean puts the verb last: 속이다 means 'to deceive', -려 하다 means 'to try', and 하지 마 means 'don't do'. That is why the literal order feels backwards. Together they form a stern warning, 'don't even think of tricking me'.
영혼 없는 네 목숨을 끊으러, and watch you die-ie-ieListen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): yeong·hon eom·neun ne mok·ssu·meul kkeu·neu·reo, and watch you die-ie-ie
Meaning: To end your soulless life, and watch you die
Words in this line- 영혼yeong·honsoul
- 없는eom·neunwithout
- 네neyour
- 목숨을mok·ssu·meullife
- 끊으러,kkeu·neu·reo,to cut off
Word for word: Soul without your life-ACC to cut, and watch you die.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: On its own 끊다 means 'to cut off' and 목숨 means 'life, breath'. Together 목숨을 끊다 is a set phrase meaning 'to kill'. 영혼 없는 is 'without a soul', i.e. soulless, and the ending -(으)러 adds 'in order to', so the line reads as a purpose, which is why a word-for-word version feels clumsy.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “TAKEDOWN” — TWICE. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask BomiSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 끊으러 | kkeu·neu·reo | to cut off |
| 놓고 | no·ko | letting go |
| 다가서 | da·ga·seo | step up |
| 당당하게 | dang·dang·ha·ge | proudly |
| 목숨을 | mok·ssu·meul | life |
| 무너뜨려 | mu·neo·tteu·ryeo | bring down |
| 새겨놔 | sae·gyeo·nwa | carve in |
| 속이려 | so·gi·ryeo | trying to deceive |
| 앞에 | a·pe | in front of |
| 어둠 | eo·dum | darkness |
| 영혼 | yeong·hon | soul |
| 정신을 | jeong·si·neul | mind |
| 짓밟고 | jit·ppap·kko | trampling |
| 칼을 | ka·reul | blade |
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Questions about “TAKEDOWN”
What is “TAKEDOWN” by TWICE about?
TWICE's “TAKEDOWN” is a fierce showdown with a deceiver whose sweet looks hide a rotten core.
What does “정신을 놓고 널 짓밟고 칼을 새겨놔” mean in “TAKEDOWN”?
Lose your mind, I'll trample you and carve the blade into you. 정신 means mind or spirit and 놓다 means to let go, but 정신을 놓다 together means to lose one's head.
What does “당당하게 어둠 앞에 다가서 다 무너뜨려” mean in “TAKEDOWN”?
Step boldly up to the darkness and tear it all down. 당당하게 means with dignity and without flinching, and 앞에 means in front of.
How do you pronounce “나를 속이려 하지 마”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “na·reul so·gi·ryeo ha·ji ma”: that's how it's actually sung by TWICE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “TAKEDOWN” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Bomi goes through all 54 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
- 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.