図鑑 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: SEKAI NO OWARI

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heartfelt message of SEKAI NO OWARI's "図鑑", a song that delves into the challenges of finding your place in a world that often feels isolating. Explore how this unique blend of J-pop and introspective lyrics can inspire you to embrace your individuality and connect with others who share your journey.

[English]

Like fish unaware of water,

We, oblivious to what's right in front of us.

We couldn't just be ourselves,

Like creatures from a different encyclopedia.

We withered and knelt,

Still, we continue our days, just like...

Polar bears living in a scorching summer,

Flowers blooming in the darkness.

As the air we breathe slowly diminishes,

We are creatures searching for a place to belong.

You and I, who aren't in the encyclopedia,

Lions racing through a silver world,

Cacti underwater.

If the air for breathing is scarce,

Like thistle fluff, fly anywhere and everywhere,

Searching for a place to take root.

Like flowers that don't know light,

We, arrogant about what we have in hand.

"You are enough just as you are"—

Such deceit beautifully decorated this city, yet...

We grew hungry and thirsty.

Still, we await the dawn, just like...

Bats flying in a thundering sky,

Penguins under the scorching sun.

As the air we breathe slowly diminishes,

Fellow creatures searching for a place to belong,

Is that how you and I met?

Pelicans perched on power lines,

Fireflies of the big city.

The sound of our breathing, living in this city,

Definitely existing, shouting 'we are here'.

You and I, who aren't in the encyclopedia,

Polar bears living in a scorching summer,

Flowers blooming in the darkness.

As the air we breathe slowly diminishes,

We are creatures searching for a place to belong.

Wind blows across the pages of the encyclopedia.

Like thistle fluff, fly anywhere and everywhere,

Searching for a place to take root.

[Japanese]

水を知らない 魚のように

今あるものには 鈍感な僕ら

ありのままじゃ いられなかった

自分だけ違う図鑑の生き物みたいに

枯れていって 膝をついた

それでも日々を続ける 僕らまるで

茹だる夏に生きるシロクマ

闇に咲く花

呼吸する為の空気が目減りする中で

居場所を探している そんな生き物なんだ

図鑑にはいない僕と君は

銀世界駆けるライオン

水中のサボテン

呼吸する為の空気が少ないんだったら

あざみの綿毛のように 飛んでゆけ どこまでも

根を張る場所を探し求めて

光を知らない 花のように

手にしたものには 傲慢な僕ら

ありのままで 貴方は十分だわ

そんな欺瞞がこの街を美しく飾ったけど

飢えていって 渇いていった

それでも夜明けを待つ 僕らまるで

雷鳴の空飛ぶコウモリ

炎天下のペンギン

呼吸する為の空気が目減りする中で

居場所を探している そんな生き物同士

出会ったのかな 僕と君は

電線にとまったペリカン

大都会の蛍

この街で暮らす僕らの呼吸をする音

確かに存在してる ここにいるって叫んでる

図鑑にはいない僕と君は

茹だる夏に生きるシロクマ

闇に咲く花

呼吸する為の空気が目減りする中で

居場所を探している そんな生き物なんだ

図鑑のページに 風が吹いていく

あざみの綿毛のように 飛んでゆけ どこまでも

根を張る場所を探し求めて

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
図鑑 /zɯkãɴ/ B1	noun - illustrated encyclopedia, picture book (especially for nature/biology)
生き物 /ikimono/ B2	noun - living thing, creature, organism
呼吸 /kokuː/ B2	noun - breath, respiration verb - to breathe (when used with する)
空気 /kuːki/ A1	noun - air, atmosphere
居場所 /ibaʃo/ B1	noun - whereabouts, place to be, one's location
探す /saɡasɯ/ A2	verb - to search for, to look for, to seek
闇 /jami/ A2	noun - darkness, gloom, blackness, evil
花 /hana/ A1	noun - flower, blossom
光 /hikaɾi/ A2	noun - light, gleam, ray
水 /mizɯ/ A1	noun - water, liquid
鈍感 /doɴkaɴ/ B2	adjective - insensitive, dull, thickheaded
傲慢 /ɡoːmaɴ/ B2	adjective - arrogant, haughty, proud
欺瞞 /ɡimaɴ/ B2	noun - deception, fraud, deceit
枯れる /kaɾeɾɯ/ B1	verb - to wither, to dry up, to die (plant)
飢える /ɯeɾɯ/ B1	verb - to starve, to be hungry, to be famished
渇く /kawaku/ B1	verb - to get dry, to be thirsty
根 /ne/ B1	noun - root (of a plant), origin, basis
飛ぶ /tobɯ/ A2	verb - to fly, to jump, to skip
求める /motomeɾɯ/ B2	verb - to seek, to request, to demand, to search for
目減り /mebeɾi/ B2	noun - decrease in quantity, loss, shrinkage

Key Grammar Structures

• 水を知らない 魚のように

  ➔ Verb + Noun Modification (連体修飾)

  ➔ 「知らない」("shiranai"), the negative form of a verb, directly modifies the noun "魚" ("sakana"), describing "fish that don't know water." This is a common way to use verbs to describe nouns in Japanese.

• ありのままじゃ いられなかった

  ➔ Potential Form (可能形) + Negative + Past

  ➔ 「いられなかった」("irarenakatta") is the potential form of "いる" (iru - to be/exist), made negative and past tense. It means "couldn't be/exist". "ありのままじゃ" is a colloquial contraction of "ありのままでは" (in one's true self/as one is).

• 枯れていって 膝をついた

  ➔ Verb + ていく (Te-iku)

  ➔ 「枯れていって」("karete itte") uses the Te-form of a verb followed by "いく" (iku), indicating a gradual change or a process that moves away from the speaker or progresses over time. Here, it describes the process of "withering away."

• 呼吸する為の空気が目減りする中で

  ➔ ～為の (～tame no)

  ➔ 「為の」("tame no"), typically used as "～のための" (no tame no), indicates purpose or use: "for the purpose of" or "used for." Here, it describes "air for the purpose of breathing."

• そんな生き物なんだ

  ➔ のだ / んだ (Noda / N'da) - Explanatory/Emphatic

  ➔ 「んだ」("n'da") is the colloquial form of "のだ" (noda), a grammatical structure that adds an explanatory, emphatic, or assertive nuance to a statement. Here, it conveys an explanatory or understanding tone, meaning "it is such a creature (you see)."

• 少ないんだったら

  ➔ んだたら (N'dattara) - Conditional + Explanatory

  ➔ 「んだったら」("n'dattara") is a colloquial contraction of 「のであるならば」 (no de aru naraba), a conditional form that assumes an explanation or reason. It means "if it is the case that..." or "if that's the reason/situation," often used for suggestions, advice, or inferences.

• 飛んでゆけ どこまでも

  ➔ Imperative Form (命令形)

  ➔ 「ゆけ」("yuke") is the imperative form of the verb "いく" (iku - to go), conveying a strong command or urging action, similar to "行け" (ike) but with a more poetic or archaic feel.

• 飾ったけど

  ➔ けど (Kedo) - Conjunction for Contrast/Concession

  ➔ 「けど」("kedo") is a conjunctive particle indicating contrast or concession, similar to "～けれども" (keredomo) or "～けれど" (keredo). It connects two clauses where the second clause presents something contrary or unexpected in relation to the first, meaning "but" or "although."

• 出会ったのかな

  ➔ ～のかな (No ka na) - Question with Wonder/Uncertainty

  ➔ 「のかな」("no ka na") is a question particle combined with "な" (na), expressing the speaker's wonder, uncertainty, or speculation about something. It's similar to "I wonder if..." or "Is it that...?"

• ここにいるって叫んでる

  ➔ って (Tte) - Colloquial Quotation Particle

  ➔ 「って」("tte") is a colloquial particle used after a verb or a sentence to indicate a quotation or thought, meaning "that..." or "saying that..." (colloquial for "と"). Here, it means "shouting that they are here." "叫んでる" is a contraction of "叫んでいる" (shouting, present progressive).