1mm – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Perfume
• Album: LEVEL3

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the nuanced emotion of Japanese expression with Perfume's '1mm.' This song offers a great opportunity to learn how subtle phrases can convey deep feelings, as the simple '1mm' encapsulates a universal experience of falling just short. Its sophisticated synthpop sound also provides a stylish backdrop to your language learning journey, making it a special track for both music and language enthusiasts.

[English]

Bored with days driven by curiosity

Chasing just one thing

Is actually difficult, to the point of being serious

I thought it depended on my feelings, but

It's nothing special, that's not the case

Reality always surpasses imagination

My resolve is still lacking, not even 1 millimeter

Rocked by the last train

I want to go far like this

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, taking the long way

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, dreaming

No matter how many years pass, it's difficult

It doesn't feel right at all

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, nothing changes

It's fine, it's fine, but not really

Why is this feeling

Not getting through, like this

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, starting over

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, repeating

Gradually getting closer like this

Because there's only one track

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, let's go home

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, come on

...

If I watch from a distant place

I might find it amusing and enjoyable, but

If I'm in that place, I can't change anything

If I run away from risks, nothing can begin

It's nothing special, that's not the case

Reality always surpasses imagination

My resolve is still lacking, not even 1 millimeter

Rocked by the last train

I want to go far like this

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, taking the long way

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, dreaming

No matter how many years pass, it's difficult

It doesn't feel right at all

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, nothing changes

It's fine, it's fine, but not really

Why is this feeling

Not getting through, like this

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, starting over

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, repeating

Gradually getting closer like this

Because there's only one track

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, let's go home

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, come on

...

[Japanese]

好奇心まかせの 日々に退屈して

ひとつのことだけ 追いかけてみるのが

実は難しい 本気になるくらい

気持ち次第だね なんて思ってたけれど

なんてことない そんなわけない

ただ 現実はずっと想像の上を行く

覚悟がまだまだ 1ミリも足りないね

最終電車に 揺られてる

このまま遠くへ行きたくて

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 遠回り

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 夢をみて

何年経っても 難しい

ぜんぜんしっくり きてなくて

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 変わらない

もういい もういい くないよ

ぜんぜん どうして この気持ち

伝わらないね このままじゃ

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah やりなおし

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah くりかえす

だんだんそうして 近づくよ

線路は一本だけだから

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 帰ろうよ

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah さあ

遠くの場所から 離れて見ていれば

おもしろおかしく 楽しめるかも けど

その場所にいたら 何も変えられない

リスクから逃げたら 何も始められないよ

なんてことない そんなわけない

ただ 現実はずっと想像の上を行く

覚悟がまだまだ 1ミリも足りないままで

最終電車に 揺られてる

このまま遠くへ行きたくて

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 遠回り

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 夢をみて

何年経っても 難しい

ぜんぜんしっくり きてなくて

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 変わらない

もういい もういい くないよ

ぜんぜん どうして この気持ち

伝わらないね このままじゃ

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah やりなおし

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah くりかえす

だんだんそうして 近づくよ

線路は一本だけだから

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah 帰ろうよ

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah さあ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
好奇心 /kōkīshin/ B2	noun - curiosity
退屈 /taikutsu/ B1	noun - boredom
気持ち /kimochi/ A2	noun - feeling
現実 /genjitsu/ B2	noun - reality
覚悟 /kakugo/ C1	noun - preparedness
夢 /yume/ A2	noun - dream
変わる /kawaru/ B1	verb - to change
近づく /chikazuku/ B2	verb - to approach
線路 /senro/ B1	noun - railway
離れる /hanareru/ B1	verb - to separate
リスク /risuku/ B2	noun - risk
始める /hajimeru/ A2	verb - to start
伝わる /tsutawaru/ B2	verb - to be conveyed
やりなおし /yarinaoshi/ B1	noun - do-over
くりかえす /kurikaesu/ B1	verb - to repeat

Key Grammar Structures

• 気持ち次第だね

  ➔ It depends on how you feel.

  ➔ The structure **X次第** (X shidai) expresses that the outcome depends on the state or condition described by X.

• 現実はずっと想像の上を行く

  ➔ Reality always surpasses imagination.

  ➔ The phrase **上を行く** (ue o iku) means "to go beyond" or "to surpass."

• 覚悟がまだまだ 1ミリも足りないね

  ➔ My resolve is still not enough—not even a millimeter.

  ➔ The phrase **まだまだ** emphasizes that something is still far from being enough or complete.

• 線路は一本だけだから

  ➔ Because there is only one railway track.

  ➔ The particle **だけ** (dake) means "only" or "just," emphasizing exclusivity.

• 線路は一本だけだから

  ➔ Because there is only one railway track.

  ➔ The particle **だけ** (dake) indicates exclusivity or limit to just one item or concept.