LEARN LYRICS

인연 (inyeon) is a deeply romantic, cultural Korean concept that describes fate, providence, or the destined ties that bring two people together.

In the song, TWICE wonders when and how their inyeon will finally begin, elevating a playful track about daydreaming into a search for a true soulmate. It is a beautiful and poetic word that carries much more emotional weight than a standard word for a relationship.

Have you ever tried figuring out what romance feels like purely from watching rom-coms and reading books? That is exactly the sweet, slightly dramatic dilemma at the heart of "What Is Love?" by South Korean group TWICE. The speaker admits she only learns about romance through media: "매일같이 영화 속에서나 책 속에서나 드라마 속에서 사랑을 느껴" ("Every day I feel love in movies, in books, or in dramas"). She hears secondhand that falling in love is "사탕처럼 달콤하다는데" ("sweet like candy") and makes people feel like they are flying in the sky, but she has zero firsthand experience. It drives her totally restless. She is sitting there, heart pounding just daydreaming about it, wondering who her future partner is and when on earth they will finally show up.

What makes the song so fun is how delightfully impatient she gets about this fantasy. She starts spiraling with questions: "그게 언제쯤일까? 어떤 사람일까?" ("Around when will it be? What kind of person will it be?"). Then she completely bypasses being chill and boldly yells, "어서 나타나봐 나는 다 준비가 됐지" ("Hurry up and show yourself, I'm all ready"). Notice the playful exaggeration in "보고 싶어 죽겠어"—the phrase literally means "I want to see you to death," a common Korean idiom for missing someone like crazy, which is hilarious considering she has not even met the person yet! It is a bright, bouncy celebration of pure romantic curiosity and the universal urge to finally know the real thing.

TWICE is a nine-member South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment through the reality survival show SIXTEEN. The group debuted on October 20, 2015 with the mini album The Story Begins, bringing together members Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

Known for infectious, candy pop hooks and vibrant choreography, TWICE quickly became one of the biggest girl groups in K-pop with hits like "Cheer Up," "TT," and "Fancy." "Feel Special," the title track of their 2019 EP of the same name, topped Korea's Gaon Album Chart and was later certified Platinum. A decade into their career, TWICE remain one of K-pop's most successful acts, having sold out stadiums worldwide and become the first overseas act confirmed to headline Tokyo's National Stadium.