あわいに – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: TOMOO

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a beautiful way to connect with a new culture, and TOMOO's "Awai ni" is a perfect song to start your Japanese journey with. The song's title itself, 'Awai ni,' introduces a nuanced Japanese concept of the 'in-between' spaces in life. Through its gentle and positive lyrics, you can learn vocabulary related to emotions and daily scenery while embracing a message of finding joy in subtlety and potential. The song's clear vocals and soothing melody make it an encouraging and enjoyable listening experience for any language learner.

[English]

Stretching my arms, opening the tea leaves dance with steam

When I loosen up, I remember, the way I choose to walk as I like

Paths different from the map too

Even along the map's route

Pick up and gather small scenes

It's like a coloring book

Colors fill the city

Ah, the wind I just blew is more than loneliness

A brush that lightly traces the shape of myself

Ah, just blinked, and someone’s there

In a world full of opportunities to enjoy

A mix of floral patterns, flowers from different seasons and origins

Within one piece of cloth, beautifully mismatched

Comfortable colors and shapes

The temperature of joy, too

There are many

But roots are similar

So, the seeds of happiness are different for each

Ah, yesterday I was peeking from afar

Neither 'difference' nor 'sameness' do I even notice

Ah, when I get closer, I learn kindness again

In a world full of chances to become friends

See you again, moments that are once in a lifetime

Float in the pale light

Like city lights

Ah, the wind I just blew is more than loneliness

A brush lightly tracing the shape of me

Ah, someone is there just after I blink

In this world filled with room to enjoy

There’s so much space to have fun, starting now

...

[Japanese]

伸びをして 開いた 茶葉が湯気と踊るように

ほどけたら 思い出す 思うままの歩き方を

地図とは違う道も

地図通りの道でも

小さな景色を 拾って集めて

それは塗り絵みたいに

街に色が

あ、今吹いた 風はさみしさより

わたしの形を 軽やかになぞる筆

ああ まばたいた 先に誰かがいる

楽しくなる余地ばかりの世界で

混ぜこぜの花模様 生まれも季節も違う花

一枚の布の中 バラバラどうしで美しい

心地いい色や形

喜びの温度も

いくつもあるけど

根っこは似てたり

なら幸せの種は それぞれに

あ、遠くで 覗いてた昨日は

"ちがい"も"おなじ" も まるで気づかなくてさ

ああ 近づいて またやさしさを知る

仲良くなる余地ばかりの世界で

またねも 一期一会も

あわいに 浮かんだ

街明かりのように

あ、今吹いた 風はさみしさより

わたしの形を軽やかになぞる筆

ああ まばたいた先に誰かがいる

味わう余地ばかりのこの世界で

楽しくなる余地ばかりだ 今から

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
伸び /nobi/ B1	noun - stretching
思い出す /omoidasu/ B1	verb - to remember
道 /michi/ A2	noun - road, path
景色 /keseki/ B1	noun - scenery
色 /iro/ A1	noun - color
風 /kaze/ A1	noun - wind
形 /katachi/ A2	noun - shape, form
世界 /sekai/ A2	noun - world
花 /hana/ A1	noun - flower
喜び /yorokobi/ B1	noun - joy
種 /tane/ B2	noun - seed
余地 /yochi/ B2	noun - room, space
美しい /utsukushii/ B1	adjective - beautiful
楽しい /tanoshii/ A2	adjective - fun, enjoyable
近づく /chikazuku/ B1	verb - to approach

Key Grammar Structures

• 開いた

  ➔ past tense form of '開く' (to open) using the plain past form.

  ➔ '開いた' is the plain past tense (た-form) of the verb '開く' meaning 'to open'.

• 思い出す

  ➔ verb '思い出す' in plain form, meaning 'to recall' or 'to remember'.

  ➔ '思い出す' is a plain form verb meaning 'to recall' or 'to remember'.

• も

  ➔ particle 'も' meaning 'also' or 'too', indicating addition or inclusion.

  ➔ 'も' is a particle used to indicate 'also', 'too', or inclusive emphasis.

• 生まれも季節も違う花

  ➔ coordinate 'も' used twice to emphasize 'birth' and 'season' being different, with '違う' as the adjective 'different'.

  ➔ 'も' is used twice to connect two nouns '生まれ' (birth) and '季節' (season), both are described as '違う' (different) adjectives.

• できて

  ➔ te-form of 'できる', meaning 'can do' or 'be able to'.

  ➔ 'できて' is the て-form of 'できる', used to connect clauses or indicate ongoing capability.

• 温度も

  ➔ particle 'も' emphasizing inclusion of 'temperature' in the discussion.

  ➔ 'も' particle emphasizes that '温度' (temperature) is also part of the discussion or list.