About the Song
《What Is Love?》 is a defining single by TWICE, released on April 9, 2018, as the lead track from their fifth extended play of the same name under JYP Entertainment. Built around innocent curiosity and youthful imagination, the song explores love through the lens of films, books, and dramas, turning uncertainty into bright anticipation. Its impact was undeniable, earning 《What Is Love?》 the Song of the Year award at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards, marking the group’s third consecutive win in the category. The song’s longevity continued with both Korean and Japanese versions included on the 2019 compilation album #Twice2, while the Japanese version—featuring lyrics by Horie Risa—was released as a digital single ahead of its official debut, further solidifying the track as one of TWICE’s most iconic and universally relatable releases.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
English Translation
mae-il-ga-chi yeong-hwa sok-e-seo-na
chaek sok-e-seo-na deu-ra-ma sok-e-seo
sa-rang-eul neu-kkyeo
Um sa-rang-eul bae-wo
chaek sok-e-seo-na deu-ra-ma sok-e-seo
sa-rang-eul neu-kkyeo
Um sa-rang-eul bae-wo
Every day, in movies or in books, or in dramas, I feel love, I learn about love.
nae il-cheo-reom ja-kku ga-seum-i ttwi-eo
du-geun-du-geun-geo-ryeo seol-le-im-e bu-pul-eo ol-la
Um gung-geum-hae-seo mi-chil geot-man gat-a
du-geun-du-geun-geo-ryeo seol-le-im-e bu-pul-eo ol-la
Um gung-geum-hae-seo mi-chil geot-man gat-a
Like it’s my own story, my heart keeps racing, thumping with excitement, curiosity rising, I feel like I’m going crazy.
Ooh eon-jen-gan nae-ge-do
i-reon il-i sil-je-ro il-eo-nal-kka
geu-ge eon-je-jjeum-il-kka eo-tteon sa-ram-il-kka
i-reon il-i sil-je-ro il-eo-nal-kka
geu-ge eon-je-jjeum-il-kka eo-tteon sa-ram-il-kka
Ooh, will this ever happen to me in real life? When will it be? Who will it be?
I wanna know sa-tang-cheo-reom dal-kom-ha-da-neun-de
I wanna know ha-neul-eul na-neun geot gat-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
sa-rang-i eo-tteon neu-kkim-in-ji
I wanna know ha-neul-eul na-neun geot gat-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
sa-rang-i eo-tteon neu-kkim-in-ji
I wanna know, they say it’s sweet like candy. I wanna know, they say it’s like flying in the sky. I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love? What does love feel like?
I wanna know ha-ru jong-il ut-go it-da-neun-de
I wanna know se-sang-i da a-reum-dap-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
eon-jen-gan na-e-ge-do sa-rang-i ol-kka
I wanna know se-sang-i da a-reum-dap-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
eon-jen-gan na-e-ge-do sa-rang-i ol-kka
I wanna know, they say you smile all day. I wanna know, they say the world becomes beautiful. I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love? Will love ever come to me?
ji-geum i-reon sang-sang-man-eu-ro-do
tteo-ol-ryeo-man bwa-do
ga-seum-i teo-jil geot gat-eun-de
Um i-reok-e joh-eun-de
tteo-ol-ryeo-man bwa-do
ga-seum-i teo-jil geot gat-eun-de
Um i-reok-e joh-eun-de
Even just imagining it now, even just thinking about it, my heart feels like it will burst. Um, I like it so much.
man-il eon-jen-ga jin-jja-ro nae-ge
sa-rang-i ol ttae nan ul-eo-beo-ril-ji-do mol-la
Um jeong-mal gung-geum-hae mi-chil geot-man gat-a
sa-rang-i ol ttae nan ul-eo-beo-ril-ji-do mol-la
Um jeong-mal gung-geum-hae mi-chil geot-man gat-a
Someday, when real love comes to me, I might cry, I don’t know. Um, I’m really curious, I feel like I’m going crazy.
Ooh eon-jen-gan nae-ge-do
i-reon il-i sil-je-ro il-eo-nal-kka
geu-ge eon-je-jjeum-il-kka eo-tteon sa-ram-il-kka
i-reon il-i sil-je-ro il-eo-nal-kka
geu-ge eon-je-jjeum-il-kka eo-tteon sa-ram-il-kka
Ooh, will this ever happen to me in real life? When will it be? Who will it be?
I wanna know sa-tang-cheo-reom dal-kom-ha-da-neun-de
I wanna know ha-neul-eul na-neun geot gat-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
sa-rang-i eo-tteon neu-kkim-in-ji
I wanna know ha-neul-eul na-neun geot gat-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
sa-rang-i eo-tteon neu-kkim-in-ji
I wanna know, they say it’s sweet like candy. I wanna know, they say it’s like flying in the sky. I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love? What does love feel like?
I wanna know ha-ru jong-il ut-go it-da-neun-de
I wanna know se-sang-i da a-reum-dap-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
eon-jen-gan na-e-ge-do sa-rang-i ol-kka
I wanna know se-sang-i da a-reum-dap-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
eon-jen-gan na-e-ge-do sa-rang-i ol-kka
I wanna know, they say you smile all day. I wanna know, they say the world becomes beautiful. I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love? Will love ever come to me?
ji-geum se-sang eo-neu got-e sal-go it-neun-ji
do-dae-che eon-je-jjeum na-wa man-na-ge doel-neun-ji
eon-je eo-tteok-e u-ri-ui in-yeon-eun
si-jak-doel-neun-ji mo-reu-ji-man neu-kkim-i eo-jjeon-ji
do-dae-che eon-je-jjeum na-wa man-na-ge doel-neun-ji
eon-je eo-tteok-e u-ri-ui in-yeon-eun
si-jak-doel-neun-ji mo-reu-ji-man neu-kkim-i eo-jjeon-ji
Where in the world are you living now? When will we meet? When and how will our fate begin? I don’t know, but I wonder how it will feel.
jin-jja joh-eul geot gat-a waen-ji
yeong-hwa deu-ra-ma-bo-da-do deo meot-jin
sa-rang-i ol geo-ya nae ye-gam eon-je-na mat-ji
eo-seo na-ta-na-bwa
yeong-hwa deu-ra-ma-bo-da-do deo meot-jin
sa-rang-i ol geo-ya nae ye-gam eon-je-na mat-ji
eo-seo na-ta-na-bwa
I feel like it’s going to be really good, better than any movie or drama. Love will come, I trust my instincts. Hurry and appear.
na-neun da jun-bi-ga dwaet-ji ready
(eo-di iss-eul-kka) cha-ja-nael geo-ya
(eo-di iss-eul-kka) bo-go sip-eo juk-get-eo
deo i-sang cham-eul su eop-seul geot-man gat-a
(eo-di iss-eul-kka) cha-ja-nael geo-ya
(eo-di iss-eul-kka) bo-go sip-eo juk-get-eo
deo i-sang cham-eul su eop-seul geot-man gat-a
I’m all ready, ready. (Where are you?) I’ll find you. (Where are you?) I want to see you so much I could die. I feel like I can’t hold back anymore.
sa-tang-cheo-reom dal-kom-ha-da-neun-de
ha-neul-eul na-neun geot gat-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
sa-rang-i eo-tteon neu-kkim-in-ji
ha-neul-eul na-neun geot gat-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
sa-rang-i eo-tteon neu-kkim-in-ji
They say it’s sweet like candy. They say it’s like flying in the sky. I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love? What does love feel like?
ha-ru jong-il ut-go it-da-neun-de
se-sang-i da a-reum-dap-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
eon-jen-gan na-e-ge-do sa-rang-i ol-kka
se-sang-i da a-reum-dap-da-neun-de
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
eon-jen-gan na-e-ge-do sa-rang-i ol-kka
They say you smile all day. They say the world becomes beautiful. I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love? Will love ever come to me?
I wanna know I wanna know
I wanna know I wanna know
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
I wanna know I wanna know
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
I wanna know I wanna know
I wanna know I wanna know
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
I wanna know
I wanna know I wanna know
I wanna know know know know
What is love?
I wanna know
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
매일같이
(mae-il-ga-chi)
every day / daily
💡 Note: happening every single day without exception
설레임
(seol-le-im)
excitement / fluttering feeling
💡 Note: the nervous but happy feeling when anticipating something good
인연
(in-yeon)
destiny / connection
💡 Note: a predestined relationship or bond between people
예감
(ye-gam)
hunch / premonition
💡 Note: a feeling that something specific is going to happen
🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation
The lyrics capture innocent curiosity about love, shaped by stories and imagination rather than experience. Anticipation grows into wonder as the singer waits for love to arrive someday. The song expresses hopeful longing and youthful curiosity, believing that love will eventually appear and change everything with excitement.
