アタシは問題作 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Ado

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese? Ado's 'I'm a Controversy' is a fantastic song to dive into! Its lyrics are a powerful expression of modern anxieties and the struggle for identity, using colloquial and emotional language. The song is special for its direct and rebellious confrontation of public criticism, a theme many young people around the world can relate to, making it a culturally significant piece to learn from.

[English]

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

Am I problematic? Not really...

Wait, why? You're overestimating me

I can't say how I feel, my stomach twists up

I live an ordinary life, make typical mistakes

Loving each other is so nice, isn't it?

The spotlight also reveals shadows

I smile because I'm a coward, it’s a protective instinct

They watch me and talk, criticizing

Doing what they want, saying what they want

but thank you so much…!

Ah

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

Really? Seriously? That misconception is kind of awesome (HEY!)

"You have issues." "You have issues."

That's hilarious, so pure and adorable (HEY!)

A knife I never wanted, I was just holding it

But over time, I strangely grew to like it (Oh)

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

It’s sinking in, I could cry

Sorry, I’m just weak...

Wah, wah, don’t get mad everyone

Wah, wah, have some tea

Let’s shake hands!

No, I’m not acting cocky

Is this some silly memorization game? To break me?

I hate that kind of battle

I won’t give up, not yet

Because kind words make me feel better

In a universe filled with bad endings

I walk a tightrope even in this virtual world

An absurd VIP

Oh, um, who are you again?

I always enjoy working with you...!

Ah

Did it again

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

I’m good, I’m evil, that preconception’s kind of cool (HEY!)

"Goodbye, see you later," "Goodbye, see you later"

Is that so? Is that so? I suppose everyone has their own way (HEY!)

I'm surrounded, on a bed of thorns

But I’ll make wherever I am my home (Oh)

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

Not like this, not like that

Sorry for drawing a defensive line...

I’m not necessarily a good person

But I’m not as terrible as you think

Probably

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

Yeah, okay, yeah, I’m… not what you expected!

A knife I never wanted, I was just holding it

But over time, I strangely grew to like it (Oh)

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

It’s sinking in, I could cry

Sorry, I’m just weak...

I couldn't meet your expectations, my bad ♡

Am I problematic? Am I problematic?

Am I problematic? How about you?

[Japanese]

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

Am I controversial? Not really…

Hold on, why? You're overestimating me

I can't say how I feel, my stomach churns

I live an ordinary life, make ordinary mistakes

To love each other is so nice, isn't it?

The spotlight exposed shadows too

I smile since I'm a coward, it's a defensive instinct

They peek at me as they speak, criticize

Doing what they want, saying what they want

but thank you very much...!

Ah

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

Really? Really? That misconception's awesome (HEY!)

"You have some problems." "You have some problems."

That's hilarious, hilarious, so pure and cute (HEY!)

A knife I never wanted, I was only holding it

But over time, I strangely started to like it (Oh)

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

It's sinking in, I could cry

I'm sorry I'm just weak…

Wah, wah, don't get mad everyone

Wah, wah, have some tea

Let's shake hands!

No, I'm not being cocky

Is this a ridiculous memorization game? To break me?

I hate that kind of battle

I won't surrender, yet

Since warm words make me feel better

In a universe that's full of bad ends

I walk a tightrope even in virtual reality

An absurd V.I.P

Oh, umm, who are you again?

I always enjoy working with you..!

Ah

I did it again

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

I'm good, I'm evil, that preconception's awesome (HEY!)

"Farewell, bye-bye," "Farewell, bye-bye"

Is that so? Is that so? I guess to each his own (HEY!)

I'm surrounded, on a bed of thorns

But I'll make wherever I am my home (Oh)

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

Not like this, not like that

Sorry for drawing a defensive line…

I'm not necessarily a good person

But I'm not as awful a person as you think

Probably

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

Yes okay, yes okay, I'm… not as you expected!

A knife I never wanted, I was only holding it

But over time, I strangely started to like it (Oh)

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

It's sinking in, I could cry

I'm sorry I'm just weak…

I couldn't meet your expectations, my bad ♡

Am I controversial? Am I controversial?

Am I controversial? What about you?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
controversial /ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl/ B2	adjective - causing disagreement or argument
overestimating /ˌoʊvərˈɛstɪmeɪtɪŋ/ C1	verb - to think that someone or something is more important or better than they really are
coward /ˈkaʊərd/ B1	noun - a person who is too afraid to do something
defensive /dɪˈfɛnsɪv/ B2	adjective - intended or used for protecting or defending something
ridiculous /rɪˈdɪkjʊləs/ B2	adjective - extremely silly or unreasonable
memorization /ˌmɛmərɪˈzeɪʃən/ C1	noun - the act of learning something by heart
absurd /ˈæbsərd/ C1	adjective - completely unreasonable or foolish
tightrope /ˈtaɪtrəʊp/ C1	noun - a thin, tightly stretched rope or wire, especially one used by acrobats
virtual /ˈvɜːtʃʊəl/ B2	adjective - existing or done on computers or the internet
V.I.P /ˌviː aɪ ˈpiː/ B1	noun - a very important person
thorns /θɔːrnz/ B2	noun - sharp points on a plant, especially a rose
expectations /ˌɛkspekˈteɪʃənz/ C1	noun - a feeling or belief about what will happen or what someone will do
weak /wiːk/ A2	adjective - not strong or healthy
cocky /ˈkɒki/ B2	adjective - too confident or arrogant
battle /ˈbætəl/ B1	noun - a fight or war between two or more groups of people
surrender /səˈrɛndər/ B2	verb - to give up or stop fighting

Key Grammar Structures

• Am I controversial?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence with inverted subject-verb order used to ask yes/no questions.

  ➔ "Am I controversial?" is a yes/no question formed by inverting the subject "I" and the auxiliary "Am".

• I can't say how I feel

  ➔ Modal verb "can" with negative form "can't" expressing inability.

  ➔ "I can't say how I feel" uses "can't" to express inability or difficulty in expressing emotions.

• Make wherever I am my home

  ➔ Use of the causative "make" followed by a relative clause to indicate transforming a place into a home.

  ➔ "Make wherever I am my home" uses "make" as a causative verb to express transforming any place into a home.

• Sorry for drawing a defensive line

  ➔ Gerund "drawing" following "for" to indicate the reason or purpose.

  ➔ "Sorry for drawing a defensive line" uses the gerund "drawing" after "for" to explain the reason for the apology.

• I was only holding it

  ➔ Past continuous tense "was holding" to describe an ongoing action in the past.

  ➔ "I was only holding it" uses the past continuous "was holding" to indicate an ongoing action in the past that was limited or simple.

• I'm surrounded, on a bed of thorns

  ➔ Adjective phrase "surrounded" with prepositional phrase "on a bed of thorns" describing the circumstances.

  ➔ "I'm surrounded, on a bed of thorns" uses an adjective phrase and prepositional phrase to vividly describe a difficult or painful situation.

• Am I controversial?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence with inverted subject-verb order used to ask yes/no questions.

  ➔ This is an example of an inverted question structure to form yes/no questions in English.