TWICE – ENEMY. Lyrics Meaning: The Toughest Battle is Always With Yourself

Ever feel like you’re fighting a battle that no one else can see? Like the loudest, harshest critic you have lives right inside your own head? It’s that nagging voice that tells you you’re not good enough, that you need to be perfect, and it can be absolutely exhausting. Well, what if I told you there’s a K-Pop song that perfectly bottles up that feeling and turns it into a powerful anthem of defiance? We’re about to unpack a track that, on the surface, sounds like it’s about a rival, but is actually about something much, much closer to home.

The Unseen Battlefield in TWICE’s “ENEMY”

When you hear a song titled “ENEMY,” you might immediately picture a showdown, a face-off with some external foe. But listen closely to what TWICE is serving up in this B-side banger, and you’ll find the conflict is deeply internal. The song opens with this raw, vulnerable admission that sets the entire stage for the emotional journey we’re about to take.

The Crushing Weight of Perfection

The song doesn’t waste any time getting real. It kicks off with the feeling of being pushed to the brink, not by a person, but by an impossible standard. The girls sing about being a “mess inside” while being questioned about their own worth. Get a load of these lines:

完璧じゃなきゃ ayy-yeah
ダメだと言うの?

Unless I’m perfect, ayy-yeah
Are you saying it’s no good?

Oof. That hits hard, doesn’t it? It’s the voice of self-doubt, the fear of not measuring up. It’s the pressure, whether from society, others, or ourselves, that demands flawlessness. This isn’t just a lyric; it’s the feeling of your heart sinking when you feel like you’ve disappointed someone, or worse, yourself.

Losing Yourself in the Mirror

The pressure to be perfect does something tricky—it can make you lose sight of who you really are. You start molding yourself into what you think you should be. TWICE captures this identity crisis so vividly with a single, haunting image:

鏡の中、覗けば私じゃないような style

When I look in the mirror, it’s a style that doesn’t feel like me

Just imagine that for a second. Looking at your own reflection and seeing a stranger. Someone dressed in an identity that isn’t yours, all because you’ve been trying so hard to fit into a frame that was never meant for you. The song says this struggle leaves a scar that won’t disappear, a 消えない痣 (kienai aza). This isn’t just a fight; it’s a fight for their very soul.

Lyrics: "ENEMY" by TWICE

TWICE – ENEMY [ENGLISH Translation]

You’re pushing me away, ayy-yeah
I’m a mess inside
Are you saying it’s no good, ayy-yeah
If I’m not perfect?
When I look in the mirror, the style I see just doesn’t feel like me
There’s no future and no end in my heart
It’s becoming a scar that will never fade
And I’m gonna be losing me

I’m going crazy, your harsh words
Leave me completely speechless
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna always tell the truth, I’m so mad (Oh-ooh)

Holding on to my scars, I’m rising up
Crushing my tears, I’m burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
I won’t let this be the end
Ooh
I won’t run away (Yeah)

Caring ’bout your status? Your piercing stares
Make it hard to breathe
Everyone expects a new scene from me, pressing me every second
Every day and every moment, and I wanna shatter the frame around me
Even a flower can’t bloom without being shaken, I know
I’ll endure it my own way and glow
So I’m gonna be, everyone’s wannabe
Let me break it, break it down my enemy

You call me crazy, on these stormy days
I don’t need all that static
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna never ever give up, I’m so mad (Oh-woah)

Holding on to my scars, I’m rising up
Crushing my tears, I’m burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
I won’t let this be the end
Ooh
I won’t run away

(Now I know, I have the key)
I don’t wanna see me cry
(Keep it my heart eternally)
On and on and on I try, yeah
All the fear, all the weakness
I’ll make it stop, just trust me
Baby I’m done, breaking me free
Oh

Holding on to my scars, I’m rising up (Oh)
Crushing my tears, I’m burning up (Burning up)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy; oh yeah)
No matter how hard, I go through it (Through it)
I won’t let this be the end (be the end)
Ooh
I won’t run away

TWICE – ENEMY [ROMAJI Lyric]

You’re pushing me away, ayy-yeah
I’m a mess inside
Kanpeki ja nakya ayy-yeah
Dame da to iu no?
Kagami no naka, nozokeba watashi ja nai youna style
Saki ga nai owari mo nai in my heart
Kienai aza ni naru
And I’m gonna be losing me

I’m going crazy, hidoi words ni
Nani mo ienaku natte
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna always tell the truth, I’m so mad (Oh-ooh)

Kizu wo daite rising up
Namida tsubushi burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
Owari ni shinai you ni
Ooh
Watashi wa nigenai (Yeah)

Caring ’bout your status? Sasaru no shisen
Iki dekinai
Atarashii scene wo kitai sare press me every second
Every day and every moment, and I wanna shatter kakonda frame
Hana sae yurezu ni sakenai I know
Watashi no yarikata de taete glow
So I’m gonna be, everyone’s wannabe
Let me break it, break it down my enemy

You call me crazy, areru hibi
Zatsuon wa iranai wa
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna never ever give up, I’m so mad (Oh-woah)

Kizu wo daite rising up
Namida tsubushi burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
Owari ni shinai you ni
Ooh
Watashi wa nigenai

(Now I know, I have the key)
I don’t wanna see me cry
(Keep it my heart eternally)
On and on and on I try, yeah
Kowasa mo yowasa mo
Keshite stop, just trust me
Baby I’m done, breaking me free
Oh

Kizu wo daite rising up (Oh)
Namida tsubushi burning up (Burning up)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy; oh yeah)
No matter how hard, I go through it (Through it)
Owari ni shinai you ni (shinai you ni)
Ooh
Watashi wa nigenai

TWICE – ENEMY [ORIGINAL Lyric]

TWICE – ENEMY [ROMAJI Lyric]

You’re pushing me away, ayy-yeah
I’m a mess inside
Kanpeki janakya ayy-yeah
Dameda to iu no?
Kagami no naka, nozokeba watashi janai yōna style
Saki ga nai owari mo nai in my heart
Kienai aza ni naru
And I’m gonna be losing me

I’m going crazy, hidoi wordsni
Nani mo ienaku natte
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna always tell the truth, I’m so mad (Oh-ooh)

Kizu o daite rising up
Namida tsubushi burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
Owari ni shinai yō ni
Ooh
Watashi wa nigenai (Yeah)

Caring ’bout your status? sasaru no shisen
Iki dekinai
Atarashī sceneo kitai sa re press me every second
Every day and every moment, and I wanna shatter kakonda frame
Hana sae yurezu ni sakenai I know
Watashi no yari kata de taete glow
So I’m gonna be, everyone’s wannabe
Let me break it, break it down my enemy

You call me crazy, areru hibi
Zatsuon wa iranai wa
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna never ever give up, I’m so mad (Oh-woah)

Kizu o daite rising up
Namida tsubushi burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
Owari ni shinai yō ni
Ooh
Watashi wa nigenai

(Now I know, I have the key)
I don’t wanna see me cry
(Keep it my heart eternally)
On and on and on I try, yeah
Kowa-sa mo yowa-sa mo
Keshite stop, just trust me
Baby I’m done, breaking me free
Oh

Kizu o daite rising up (Oh)
Namida tsubushi burning up (Burning up)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy; oh yeah)
No matter how hard, I go through it (Through it)
Owari ni shinai yō ni (shinai yō ni)
Ooh
Watashi wa nigenai

TWICE – ENEMY [JAPANESE Lyric]

You’re pushing me away, ayy-yeah
I’m a mess inside
完璧じゃなきゃ ayy-yeah
ダメだと言うの?
鏡の中、覗けば私じゃないような style
先が無い終わりも無い in my heart
消えない痣になる
And I’m gonna be losing me

I’m going crazy, 酷い wordsに
何も言えなくなって
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna always tell the truth, I’m so mad (Oh-ooh)

傷を抱いて rising up
涙潰し burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
終わりにしないように
Ooh
私は逃げない (Yeah)

Caring ’bout your status? 刺さるの視線
息できない
新しい sceneを期待され press me every second
Every day and every moment, and I wanna shatter 囲んだ frame
花さえ揺れずに咲けない I know
私のやりかたで耐えて glow
So I’m gonna be, everyone’s wannabe
Let me break it, break it down my enemy

You call me crazy, 荒れる日々
雑音はいらないわ
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna never ever give up, I’m so mad (Oh-woah)

傷を抱いて rising up
涙潰し burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard, I go through it
終わりにしないように
Ooh
私は逃げない

(Now I know, I have the key)
I don’t wanna see me cry
(Keep it my heart eternally)
On and on and on I try, yeah
怖さも 弱さも
消して stop, just trust me
Baby I’m done, breaking me free
Oh

傷を抱いて rising up (Oh)
涙潰し burning up (Burning up)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy; oh yeah)
No matter how hard, I go through it (Through it)
終わりにしないように (しないように)
Ooh
私は逃げない

TWICE – ENEMY [ENGLISH Lyric Translation]

You’re pushing me away, ayy-yeah
I’m a mess inside
Unless we’re perfect, ayy-yeah
Are you saying we’re no good?
In the mirror, I don’t look like me when I peek style
There is no future, there is no end in my heart
Becoming a stain that will never fade
And I’m gonna be losing me

I’m going crazy against those ugly words
I can’t say a thing
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna always tell the truth, I’m so mad (Oh-ooh)

Embracing the scars, rising up
Crushing the tears, burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard I go through it
To keep it from ending
Ooh
I’m not running away (Yeah)

Caring ’bout your status? Your piercing gaze
I can’t breathe
A new scene is anticipated, press me every second
Every day and every moment, and I wanna shatter the surrounding frame
Even a flower cannot bloom without swaying I know
Deal with it my way and glow
So I’m gonna be, everyone’s wannabe
Let me break it break it down my enemy

You call me crazy turbulent times
I don’t need the noise
No one can break me, don’t try to test me
I’m tryna never ever give up, I’m so mad (Oh-woah)

Embracing the scars, rising up
Crushing the tears, burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
No matter how hard I go through it
To keep it from ending
Ooh
I’m not running away

(Now I know, I have the key)
I don’t wanna see me cry
(Keep it my heart eternally)
On and on and on I try, yeah
Both fear and weakness
Erase them stop, just trust me
Baby I’m done, breaking me free
Oh

Embracing the scars, rising up (Oh)
Crushing the tears, burning up (Burning up)
Ooh (Break the enemy)
Ooh (Break the enemy; oh yeah)
No matter how hard I go through it (Through it)
To keep it from ending (To keep it)
Ooh
I’m not running away

From Victim to Victor: An Anthem of Resilience

Just when you think the song is all about despair, the beat switches up, and so does the attitude. This is where “ENEMY” transforms from a lament into a war cry. The members declare, “No one can break me, don’t try to test me.” It’s a powerful shift. They’ve identified the source of their pain, and now, they’re ready to fight back.

Fueling the Fire with Scars

The chorus is where the song’s true message explodes. It’s not about erasing the pain or pretending the scars aren’t there. It’s about using them. It’s about turning that pain into power. Check out the chorus:

傷を抱いて rising up
涙潰し burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)

Embracing the scars, rising up
Crushing the tears, burning up
Ooh (Break the enemy)

This is so brilliant. They aren’t running from their wounds; they’re embracing them. They’re using their tears not for crying, but as fuel to “burn up.” And who is the enemy they need to break? It’s that voice of doubt, that fear, that pressure for perfection. The enemy was inside them all along. The final promise, 私は逃げない (Watashi wa nigenai), which means “I won’t run away,” is the ultimate declaration of self-reclamation. It’s them choosing to stand their ground and face themselves, flaws and all.

The Real Takeaway: Your Message in the Music

So, what can we all take away from this? “ENEMY” is a powerful reminder that our greatest battles are often internal. The song champions the idea of resilience not as a state of being unbreakable, but as the courage to rise up after being broken. It tells us that our scars are not signs of weakness but proof of our strength and our history. It’s a call to break free from the “frame” that confines us and to find power in our own unique, imperfect selves.

This song is a true anthem for anyone who has ever struggled with self-doubt or felt the weight of expectations. It’s a musical permission slip to be human, to feel the pain, and to use it to become even stronger. It’s about looking that inner critic in the eye and finally saying, “I’m done. You don’t control me anymore.”

That’s my take on it, anyway! The beauty of music is how it can mean different things to different people. What did you feel when you listened to “ENEMY”? Does it resonate with a different kind of struggle for you? Let’s talk about it!

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