“FLU” by IVE is a 2025 K-pop song from their EP IVE EMPATHY that uses the physical sickness of influenza as a metaphor for the toxic, painful, and “harmful” experience of falling in love. The lyrics describe the feeling as intoxicating, addictive, and physically draining, equating the romantic infatuation to a “virus with no vaccine”.

Song Credits

  • Artist: IVE
  • Album: IVE EMPATHY
  • Released: February 3, 2025
  • Length: 3:10
  • Label: Starhip Entertainment
  • Composer: Kim Joo-hyung, Nok, Ryan Jhun, Maria Marcus, Christian Fast
  • Lyrics: Hwang Yu-bin (XYXX)

IVE “FLU” Live Video

IVE “FLU” Lyrics

Hangul

넌 좀 해로운 flu

간질간질해
이 느낌은 설렘보다는 왠지
Toxic
Something’s not okay
알아갈수록 무거운 내 feeling
내가 네게 걸린 거야, oh, my God

숨길 생각 없는 your li-li-lie (Li-li-li-lie)
뻔히 보는 내 눈엔 cry (Cry, cry, cry)
미열이 자꾸 올라 (라) 멀쩡한 그 애보다 (다)
널 앓고 있는 게 더 사랑 같아 난 (같아 난)

Don’t you let me down 넌 좀 해로운 flu
다정하지만 네 말투는 so coo-oo-ool
넌 나에게 분 바람 falling for you
낫게 하지 마 넌 좀 해로운 flu (Oh-woah-woah)
콜록대면서도 난 한밤중 (한밤중)
너를 꿈꾸고 있어 all night long (All night long)
따끔대면서도 날 못 멈출 (멈출)
Oh, 넌 좀 해로운 flu (Oh-woah-woah)

Wanna be your love fool
어지러운데

나른한 기분이 꽤
가눌 수 없는 게 싫지 않네
내가 좀 왠지 너에겐 취약해
(이런 애가 아닌데)
Yeah, yeah 약을 툭 털어
꾹 삼켜봐도 안 나을 거야 난 아마 (Woo)
백신이 없는 virus
단단히 난 걸린 거야, oh, my God

숨길 생각 없는 your li-li-lie (Li-li-li-lie)
뻔히 보는 내 눈엔 cry (Cry, cry, cry)
정상은 아닐 거야 (야) 견디기 아프지만 (만)
널 앓고 있는 게 더 사랑 같아 난 (같아 난)

Don’t you let me down 넌 좀 해로운 flu
다정하지만 네 말투는 so coo-oo-ool
넌 나에게 분 바람 falling for you
낫게 하지 마 넌 좀 해로운 flu (Oh-woah-woah)
콜록대면서도 난 한밤중 (한밤중)
너를 꿈꾸고 있어 all night long (All night long)
따끔대면서도 날 못 멈출 (멈출)
Oh, 넌 좀 해로운 flu (Oh-woah-woah)

계속 빠져가 for you
내 온몸이 알아 넌 wrong way
Woah, 짧은 열병 끝에
오래 울게 돼도 one more shot

Don’t you let me down 넌 좀 해로운 flu (Down)
다정하지만 네 말투는 so coo-oo-ool (So coo-oo-ool)
넌 나에게 분 바람 falling for you (Oh, woah)
낫게 하지 마 넌 좀 해로운 flu (Flu, woah; Oh-woah-woah)
콜록대면서도 난 한밤중 (한밤중)
너를 꿈꾸고 있어 all night long (All night long)
따끔대면서도 날 못 멈출 (멈출)
Oh, 넌 좀 해로운 flu (Oh-woah-woah)

Oh, 너는 나에게 분 (Oh-woah-woah)
Oh, 아주 지독한 flu (Ah; Oh-woah-woah)
Oh, 넌 좀 해로운 flu

Romanized

Neon jom haeroun flu

Ganjilganjilhae
I neukkimeun seollembodaneun waenji
Toxic
Something’s not okay
Aragalsurok mugeoun nae feeling
Naega nege geollin geoya, oh, my God

Sumgil saenggak eomneun your li-li-lie (Li-li-li-lie)
Ppeonhi boneun nae nunen cry (Cry, cry, cry)
Miyeori jakku olla (ra) meoljjeonghan geu aeboda (da)
Neol alko inneun ge deo sarang gata nan (gata nan)

Don’t you let me down neon jom haeroun flu
Dajeonghajiman ne maltuneun so coo-oo-ool
Neon naege bun baram falling for you
Natge haji ma neon jom haeroun flu (Oh-woah-woah)
Kollokdaemyeonseodo nan hanbamjung (hanbamjung)
Neoreul kkumkkugo isseo all night long (All night long)
Ttakkeumdaemyeonseodo nal mot meomchul (meomchul)
Oh, neon jom haeroun flu (Oh-woah-woah)

Wanna be your love fool
Eojireounde

Nareunhan gibuni kkwae
Ganul su eomneun ge silchi anne
Naega jom waenji neoegen chwiyakae
(Ireon aega aninde)
Yeah, yeah yageul tuk teoreo
Kkuk samkyeobwado an naeul geoya nan ama (Woo)
Baeksini eomneun virus
Dandanhi nan geollin geoya, oh, my God

Sumgil saenggak eomneun your li-li-lie (Li-li-li-lie)
Ppeonhi boneun nae nunen cry (Cry, cry, cry)
Jeongsangeun anil geoya (ya) gyeondigi apeujiman (man)
Neol alko inneun ge deo sarang gata nan (gata nan)

Don’t you let me down neon jom haeroun flu
Dajeonghajiman ne maltuneun so coo-oo-ool
Neon naege bun baram falling for you
Natge haji ma neon jom haeroun flu (Oh-woah-woah)
Kollokdaemyeonseodo nan hanbamjung (hanbamjung)
Neoreul kkumkkugo isseo all night long (All night long)
Ttakkeumdaemyeonseodo nal mot meomchul (meomchul)
Oh, neon jom haeroun flu (Oh-woah-woah)

Gyesok ppajyeoga for you
Nae onmomi ara neon wrong way
Woah, jjalbeun yeolbyeong kkeute
Orae ulge dwaedo one more shot

Don’t you let me down neon jom haeroun flu (Down)
Dajeonghajiman ne maltuneun so coo-oo-ool (So coo-oo-ool)
Neon naege bun baram falling for you (Oh, woah)
Natge haji ma neon jom haeroun flu (Flu, woah; Oh-woah-woah)
Kollokdaemyeonseodo nan hanbamjung (hanbamjung)
Neoreul kkumkkugo isseo all night long (All night long)
Ttakkeumdaemyeonseodo nal mot meomchul (meomchul)
Oh, neon jom haeroun flu (Oh-woah-woah)

Oh, neoneun naege bun (Oh-woah-woah)
Oh, aju jidokan flu (Ah; Oh-woah-woah)
Oh, neon jom haeroun flu

Translation

You’re a harmful flu

It’s itchy
This is not a feeling of excitement
It’s rather toxic
Something’s not okay
The more I know you, the more I feel heavy-hearted
I’m caught by you, oh my God

You have to no intention of hiding your li-li-lie (Lie, lie, lie)
You can clearly see me cry
I keep having a slight fever
I’m in pain because of you, I guess this is love

Don’t you let me down, you’re quite a harmful flu
You’re sweet, but your tone is so cool
You came to me like a wind, falling for you
Don’t make me get well, you’re a harmful flu (Oh-oh-oh-oh)

I keep coughing in the middle of the night
But I still dream about you all night long
It tingles, but you can’t stop me
Oh, you’re a harmful flu
Wanna be your love fool

I feel dizzy
And I get drowsy
It’s not bad to hold no more
I’m somewhat vulnerable to you (This is not like me)
Yeah, yeah I pop pills
Still, I don’t think I’ll get better
(A virus with no vaccine)
I caught a really bad flu, oh my God

You have to no intention of hiding your li-li-lie (Lie, lie, lie)
You can clearly see me cry
It’s hard to bear this
I’m in pain because of you, I guess this is love

Don’t you let me down, you’re a harmful flu
You’re sweet, but your tone is so cool
You came to me like a wind, falling for you
Don’t make me get well, you’re a harmful flu (Oh-oh-oh-oh)

I keep coughing in the middle of the night
But I still dream about you all night long
It tingles, but you can’t stop me
Oh, you’re a harmful flu (Oh-oh-oh-oh)

I keep falling for you
My whole body knows you’re wrong way
After a short fever
Oh, oh, oh, oh, even after a long cry, one more shot

Don’t you let me down, you’re quite a harmful flu
You’re sweet, but your tone is so co-oh-oh-ol
You came to me like a wind, falling for you
Don’t make me get well, you’re a harmful flu

I keep coughing in the middle of the night
But I still dream about you all night long
It tingles, but you can’t stop me
Oh, you’re a harmful flu (Oh-oh-oh-oh)

Oh, you came to me like a wind (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh, you’re a very nasty flu (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh, you’re a harmful flu

IVE “FLU” Meaning

“FLU” by IVE is a playful yet emotional song that compares falling in love to catching the flu. Featured on the EP IVE EMPATHY, the track uses sickness as a metaphor for the overwhelming, addictive, and painful emotions that come with intense romantic feelings.

The lyrics describe love as a “harmful flu” with no cure, creating symptoms like dizziness, sleepless nights, fever, and emotional exhaustion. Even though the relationship feels toxic and draining, the narrator cannot resist it, showing how love can be both painful and irresistibly exciting at the same time.

Rather than portraying love as something purely sweet, “FLU” focuses on its chaotic and consuming side. The song captures the feeling of becoming emotionally infected by someone, where every thought and action starts revolving around them despite knowing the consequences.

Musically, the catchy melody and energetic production contrast with the song’s darker emotional themes, making “FLU” feel both addictive and unsettling just like the love it describes.