23rd Monster

• By: 浜崎あゆみ

Lyrics:

[日本語]

[English]

Try 穏やかな さざ波のような

Try calm, like gentle ripples of a calm wave

なんて勘違いの夢の夢見た

I had a dream—a false dream of illusions

行手を全て塞がれるのは

When everything in your path is blocked

良く考えてみなくても慣れっこ

I'm used to it; I don't even have to think twice

どう考えたって正気の沙汰じゃない

No matter how you think about it, it's madness

It's called A 'Monster'

It's called A 'Monster'

ノーマルは書き換えられて

Normalcy has been rewritten

悲観してる時間ももう過ぎた

The time spent worrying is over

受け止める？

Will you accept it?

牙を剥く？

Reveal your fangs?

見据えるのは終わりか始まりか

Is it the end or a new beginning you're facing?

選択肢は減ったようで

It seems the options have decreased

ある意味無限になったのかもね

In a way, they've become infinite

見知らぬ人よ

Unknown person,

君のジャッジに興味はない

I'm not interested in your judgment

結末はボクシダイだ

The ending is up to me

Fly 疲弊して 擦り減った心

Fly, worn out and with a battered heart

全てを失くした訳じゃまだない

I haven't lost everything yet

右にならえなんてクソ喰らえだと

To follow the crowd? Screw that

瞳の奥がハッキリ言ってる

Deep inside, my eyes clearly say

やるだけやって玉砕のがマシね

It's better to give it your all and face defeat head-on

You're also A 'Monster'

You're also A 'Monster'

不確かな時代になって

In uncertain times,

確かなものに白黒がついた

Clear distinctions have been made—white or black

守り抜く？

Protect what you value?

何捨てる？

What will you discard?

その未来に今来た過去がある

The past that brought you to this future

貫くだけが強さじゃない

Strength isn't just about breaking through

手放すのは楽なんて事はない

Letting go isn't easy

愛しい人よ

My beloved,

誰のせいにもしないで

Don't blame anyone

結末はキミシダイだ

The ending is up to you

ノーマルは書き換えられて

Normalcy has been rewritten

悲観してる時間ももう過ぎた

The time spent worrying is over

受け止める？

Accept it?

牙を剥く？

Reveal your fangs?

見据えるのは終わりか始まりか

Is it the end or a new beginning you're facing?

選択肢は減ったようで

It seems the options have decreased

ある意味無限になったのかもね

In a way, they've become infinite

見知らぬ人よ

Unknown person,

君のジャッジに興味はない

I'm not interested in your judgment

不確かな時代になって

In uncertain times,

確かなものに白黒がついた

Clear distinctions have been made—white or black

守り抜く？

Protect what you value?

何捨てる？

What will you discard?

その未来に今来た過去がある

The past that brought you to this future

貫くだけが強さじゃない

Strength isn't just about breaking through

手放すのは楽なんて事はない

Letting go isn't easy

愛しい人よ

My beloved,

誰のせいにもしないで

Don't blame anyone

結末はキミシダイだ

The ending is up to you

-結末はボクシダイだ-

- The ending is up to me -

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
夢 /ゆめ/ B1	noun - dream
考える /かんがえる/ B2	verb - to think
終わり /おわり/ A2	noun - end
未来 /みらい/ B1	noun - future
未来 /みらい/ B1	noun - future
選択肢 /せんたくし/ B2	noun - option; choice
守る /まもる/ B1	verb - to protect; to守る
貫く /つらぬく/ B2	verb - to pierce; to penetrate; to persist
過去 /かこ/ A2	noun - past
強さ /つよさ/ B2	noun - strength
愛しい /いとしい/ B2	adjective - beloved; dear
時間 /じかん/ A2	noun - time
現れる /あらわれる/ B2	verb - to appear
無限 /むげん/ C1	noun - infinity; limitless

Grammar:

• It's called A 'Monster'

  ➔ Passive voice using 'be' + past participle

  ➔ The structure indicates that something is named or known as the specified term.

• You’re also A 'Monster'

  ➔ Adjective + 'also' to add emphasis or inclusion

  ➔ The phrase emphasizes that the subject is included in the same category as 'monster'.

• 受け止める？

  ➔ Verb in dictionary form indicating a question (bare form verb)

  ➔ The question uses the plain, dictionary form of the verb to inquire about the action.

• 見据えるのは終わりか始まりか

  ➔ Use of 'か' to indicate a choice or question between two options

  ➔ The particle 'か' presents alternative options in the question, akin to 'or'.

• 選択肢は減ったようで

  ➔ て-form + いる to indicate ongoing or apparent state/context

  ➔ The ている form conveys an ongoing or observed state, suggesting the options seem reduced.

• 結末はキミシダイだ

  ➔ Noun + だ (copula) for defining or asserting identity or state

  ➔ The plain copula だ links the noun to its attribute or identity, asserting the conclusion or 'ending' is 'your own'.

• 結末はボクシダイだ

  ➔ Noun + だ (copula) for assertion of identity or state

  ➔ Similar to previous, it affirms that the 'ending' is 'my own', emphasizing personal agency in the outcome.