What Is Love? — TWICE: meaning, key lines and pronunciation
First verse: the song, every line and what it means — in sync그게 언제쯤일까? 어떤 사람일까?geu·ge eon·je·jjeu·mil·kka? eo·tteon sa·ra·mil·kka?When will it be? What kind of person will it be?Listen to this line with the translationNo sign-upWhat the song is about
In “What Is Love?” by TWICE, a girl who has only met romance through movies, books and dramas wonders what the real thing feels like. She has heard it is sweet, makes you smile all day and turns the world beautiful, and she is restless with curiosity about who her person is and where they are. The mood is bright and giddy, moving from wondering to a confident feeling that something wonderful is on its way.
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.
그게 언제쯤일까? 어떤 사람일까?Listen from this lineRomanization (as sung): geu·ge eon·je·jjeu·mil·kka? eo·tteon sa·ra·mil·kka?
Meaning: When will it be? What kind of person will it be?
Words in this line- 그게geu·gethat
- 언제쯤일까?eon·je·jjeu·mil·kka?when roughly
- 어떤eo·tteonwhat kind
- 사람일까?sa·ra·mil·kka?person will it be
Word for word: That when roughly will be? What kind person will be?
Why it doesn't translate word for word: 그게 언제쯤일까? — 쯤 adds 'roughly', expressing impatience and daydreaming. 어떤 사람일까? — question not just about time but about the person who will bring love. Shows the lyricist not only waits but imagines who will bring it.
세상이 다 아름답다는데Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): se·sang·i da a·reum·dap·tta·neun·de
Meaning: They say the whole world is beautiful.
Words in this line- 세상이se·sang·iworld
- 다daall
- 아름답다는데a·reum·dap·tta·neun·debeautiful they say
Word for word: world all beautiful they say
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal version is clumsy because -다는데 fuses "they say that" with a trailing "but," a double layer the word-for-word render can't show. It means people claim the whole world is beautiful, though the ending hints at doubt or contrast with how the singer actually feels. Key word: 다는데 (they say, but).
사랑이 올 거야 내 예감 언제나 맞지Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): sa·rang·i ol kkeo·ya nae ye·gam eon·je·na mat·jji
Meaning: Love will come, my premonition is always right.
Words in this line- 사랑이sa·rang·ilove
- 올olwill come
- 거야kkeo·yawill
- 내naemy
- 예감ye·gampremonition
- 언제나eon·je·naalways
- 맞지mat·jjiright
Word for word: love will come will my premonition always right
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The literal already reads almost naturally since Korean and English line up well here; 예감 means "premonition, hunch" and 맞지 ends in a casual, confident "-지" meaning "is right." The one nuance: that ending gives a breezy self-assurance plain "right" doesn't capture.
더 이상 참을 수 없을 것만 같아Listen to the first verse — freeRomanization (as sung): deo i·sang cha·meul ssu eop·sseul kkeon·man ga·ta
Meaning: It feels like I can't hold back any longer
Words in this line- 더deomore
- 이상i·sangbeyond
- 참을cha·meulendure
- 수ssuway
- 없을eop·sseulnot be
- 것만kkeon·manonly
- 같아ga·taseems
Word for word: More beyond endure ability not-be only seems
Why it doesn't translate word for word: The construction 참을 수 없을 것 같다 literally means 'ability to endure not-be seems', but it's the standard way to express impossibility. 더 이상 (more beyond) intensifies the desperation.
Lyrics © their rights holders. “What Is Love?” — TWICE. Quoted for commentary and learning.
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Ask MinaSong vocabulary
Words from the song in Korean alphabetical order, with pronunciation and meaning.
| Word | Sounds like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가슴이 | ga·seu·mi | heart (subject) |
| 같다는데 | gat·tta·neun·de | they say it's like |
| 나는 | na·neun | fly |
| 나에게도 | na·e·ge·do | to me too |
| 내게도 | nae·ge·do | to me too |
| 느낌인지 | neu·kki·min·ji | feeling is |
| 달콤하다는데 | dal·kom·ha·da·neun·de | they say it's sweet |
| 미칠 | mi·chil | go mad |
| 사랑을 | sa·rang·eul | love (object) |
| 사탕처럼 | sa·tang·cheo·reom | like candy |
| 언젠간 | eon·jen·gan | someday |
| 올까 | ol·kka | will come |
| 웃고 | ut·kko | smile |
| 이런 | i·reon | such |
| 있다는데 | it·tta·neun·de | they say |
| 종일 | jong·il | long |
| 하늘을 | ha·neu·reul | sky (object) |
| 하루 | ha·ru | all day |
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Questions about “What Is Love?”
What is “What Is Love?” by TWICE about?
In “What Is Love?” by TWICE, a girl who has only met romance through movies, books and dramas wonders what the real thing feels like.
What does “그게 언제쯤일까? 어떤 사람일까?” mean in “What Is Love?”?
When will it be? What kind of person will it be? 그게 언제쯤일까?
What does “세상이 다 아름답다는데” mean in “What Is Love?”?
They say the whole world is beautiful. The literal version is clumsy because -다는데 fuses "they say that" with a trailing "but," a double layer the word-for-word render can't show.
How do you pronounce “사랑이 올 거야 내 예감 언제나 맞지”?
In the song it sounds roughly like “sa·rang·i ol kkeo·ya nae ye·gam eon·je·na mat·jji”: that's how it's actually sung by TWICE, not the textbook romanization.
Where can I see every line of “What Is Love?” explained?
This page explains 4 key lines. In the theIDOL app Mina goes through all 73 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.