Talk that Talk — TWICE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync본론을 원해 빙빙 돌린 서론 따위 말고 I mean L-wordbol·lo·neul won·hae bing·bing dol·lin seo·ron tta·wi mal·go I mean L-wordI want the main point, not some roundabout preamble (I mean the L-word)Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
TWICE’s “Talk that Talk” is about a girl tired of hints and roundabout chatter who asks the person she likes to say plainly that they love her. She has been piecing that person together like a crossword and already reads the answer in their glances, yet she wants to hear it spoken, simply and without decoration. The mood is playful and confident, growing warmer as each sweet confession pulls her in deeper.
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.
본론을 원해 빙빙 돌린 서론 따위 말고 I mean L-wordListen from this lineRomanization (as sung): bol·lo·neul won·hae bing·bing dol·lin seo·ron tta·wi mal·go I mean L-word
Meaning: I want the main point, not some roundabout preamble (I mean the L-word)
Words in this line- 본론을bol·lo·neulmain point
- 원해won·haeI want
- 빙빙bing·binground and round
- 돌린dol·lintwisted
- 서론seo·ronpreamble
- 따위tta·wiand such
- 말고mal·gonot
Word for word: Main-topic I want, round-and-round-turned introduction and such not. I mean L-word.
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 빙빙 means round and round and 돌리다 means to spin, which together mean beating around the bush. 따위 alone means 'and the like', but here it is dismissive, like 'any such intro'. The L-word is a euphemism for love.
밀거나 당기는 괜한 시간 낭비는 싫으니 (ah-ha)Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): mil·geo·na dang·gi·neun gwaen·han si·gan nang·bi·neun si·reu·ni a·ha
Meaning: I hate wasting time pushing and pulling for nothing.
Words in this line- 밀거나mil·geo·napush or
- 당기는dang·gi·neunpulling
- 괜한gwaen·hanneedless
- 시간si·gantime
- 낭비는nang·bi·neunwaste
- 싫으니si·reu·nidislike, so
Word for word: Pushing or pulling needless time waste is disliked, so (ah-ha)
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 밀다 alone is 'push' and 당기다 is 'pull', but together they paint a hesitant cat-and-mouse game. 괜한 means 'needless', and 싫으니 means 'dislike, so', where the -니 ending gives a reason and a firm conclusion. The literal version is jumbled, but the real meaning is simply 'stop dragging it out'.
읽었잖아, 뭐 피차 눈빛 사이 오고 가는 말Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): il·geot·jja·na, mwo pi·cha nun·bit sa·i o·go ga·neun mal
Meaning: I already read it — the words passing between our eyes anyway.
Words in this line- 읽었잖아,il·geot·jja·na,I read it, you know
- 뭐mwowell
- 피차pi·chaboth sides
- 눈빛nun·biteye contact
- 사이sa·ibetween
- 오고o·gocoming
- 가는ga·neungoing
- 말malwords
Word for word: Didn't I read it, well both-sides eye-light between coming-going words
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 읽었잖아 is 'read' plus -잖아, an ending meaning 'you know that', which turns it into a playful reproach or wink. 피차 means 'both sides', so we both know. 오고 가는 말 literally 'words coming and going' describes wordless communication through glances.
A to Z 다 좋지만 난 이 말이 제일 좋은데Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): A to Z da jo·chi·man nan i ma·ri je·il jo·eun·de
Meaning: From A to Z it's all good, but I like these words the most
Words in this line- 다daall
- 좋지만jo·chi·mangood, but
- 난nanI
- 이ithis
- 말이ma·riword
- 제일je·ilmost
- 좋은데jo·eun·deis good
Word for word: A to Z all good-but I this word-subject most good-though
Why it doesn't translate word for word: A to Z is an idiom for 'everything', not just letters. 좋지만 alone means 'good, but', and 좋은데 at the end means 'is good, though', where the ending -ㄴ데 leaves the sentence softly open with a feeling of 'and yet this one is the best'. That is why the word-for-word version feels broken while the real meaning is a confession of a favorite word.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “Talk that Talk” — 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. Sohee checks your answer and saves the new words to your notebook.
Try the lessonAsk Sohee 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 SoheeSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 같지만 | gat·jji·man | seems, but |
| 결정적인 | gyeol·jeong·jeo·gin | decisive |
| 과감하게 | gwa·gam·ha·ge | boldly |
| 그래 | geu·rae | yes, that's it |
| 꾸밈없이 | kku·mi·meop·ssi | plainly |
| 너란 | neo·ran | called you |
| 너에게 | neo·e·ge | to you |
| 다가가 | da·ga·ga | approach |
| 다야 | da·ya | is all |
| 달콤하게 | dal·kom·ha·ge | sweetly |
| 들려줘 | deul·lyeo·jwo | let me hear |
| 마디 | ma·di | word |
| 말해봐 | ma·rae·bwa | try telling |
| 보여줘 | bo·yeo·jwo | show me |
| 시작은 | si·ja·geun | the start |
| 시작해볼까 | si·ja·kae·bol·kka | shall we try starting |
| 알려줘 | al·lyeo·jwo | let me know |
| 이렇게 | i·reo·ke | like this |
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Questions about “Talk that Talk”
What is “Talk that Talk” by TWICE about?
TWICE’s “Talk that Talk” is about a girl tired of hints and roundabout chatter who asks the person she likes to say plainly that they love her.
What does “본론을 원해 빙빙 돌린 서론 따위 말고 I mean L-word” mean in “Talk that Talk”?
I want the main point, not some roundabout preamble (I mean the L-word). 빙빙 means round and round and 돌리다 means to spin, which together mean beating around the bush.
What does “밀거나 당기는 괜한 시간 낭비는 싫으니 (ah-ha)” mean in “Talk that Talk”?
I hate wasting time pushing and pulling for nothing. 밀다 alone is 'push' and 당기다 is 'pull', but together they paint a hesitant cat-and-mouse game.
How do you pronounce “읽었잖아, 뭐 피차 눈빛 사이 오고 가는 말”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “il·geot·jja·na, mwo pi·cha nun·bit sa·i o·go ga·neun mal”: that's how it's actually sung by TWICE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “Talk that Talk” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Sohee 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
- 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.