BOW AND ARROW – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 米津玄師 (Kenshi Yonezu)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of Japanese with Kenshi Yonezu's exhilarating track, "BOW AND ARROW." Originally crafted as the opening theme for the anime "Medalist," this song offers a vibrant mix of J-pop energy and uplifting lyrics, perfect for learners eager to explore themes of perseverance and achieving dreams.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
汚れ(yogore) /joɡɔɾɛ/ B1	noun - dirt, filth, stain verb - to become dirty
雨 (ame) /ame/ A1	noun - rain
夢 (yume) /jɯme/ A1	noun - dream
声 (koe) /koꜜe/ A1	noun - voice
君 (kimi) /kimi/ A1	noun - you (informal)
速度 (sokudo) /sokɯdo/ B1	noun - speed, velocity
時 (toki) /toki/ A1	noun - time, moment
未来 (mirai) /miɾai/ A2	noun - future
風 (kaze) /kaze/ A1	noun - wind
視線 (shisen) /ɕisɛ̃/ B2	noun - gaze, line of sight
指 (yubi) /jɯbi/ A1	noun - finger
謎 (nazo) /nazo/ B1	noun - riddle, mystery
大人 (otona) /otona/ A2	noun - adult
痛み (itami) /itami/ B1	noun - pain, ache
弓 (yumi) /jɯmi/ B1	noun - bow (archery)
掌 (tenohira) /te̞no̞çiɾa/ B2	noun - palm (of hand)
矢 (ya) /ja/ B1	noun - arrow
場所 (basho) /baɕo/ A2	noun - place, location
輝き (kagayaki) /kaɡajaki/ B2	noun - brightness, radiance

Key Grammar Structures

• 気づけば靴は汚れ　錆びついた諸刃を伝う雨

  ➔ Verb in te-form + ば (kizukeba)

  ➔ "Kizukeba" (気づけば) translates to 'when I noticed' or 'now that I realize'. The grammar point is the use of the verb in the te-form followed by 'ba'. This creates a conditional statement, implying 'if I notice' or 'when I notice' something, then something else happens. It expresses a realization or discovery.

• 聞こえたその泣き声　消えいる手前の咽ぶソワレ

  ➔ Noun + の + Verb (te-form) + 手前 (temae)

  ➔ "Kieiru temae" (消えいる手前) means 'just before fading away'. The grammar structure expresses that something is about to happen or is in the state immediately preceding a certain action. The word "temae" means right before/just before.

• きっとこの時を感じる為に生まれてきたんだ

  ➔ Verb (dictionary form) + 為に (tame ni)

  ➔ "Tame ni" (為に) expresses purpose or reason. In this case, it means 'in order to' or 'for the purpose of'. The sentence implies that the speaker was born with the purpose of feeling this particular moment.

• 今に見なよ　きっと君の眩しさに誰もが気づくだろう

  ➔ だろう (darou): conjecture, probability

  ➔ The use of "darou" (だろう) at the end of the sentence indicates a conjecture, probability, or guess. It's expressing that the speaker is guessing or assuming that everyone will notice the person's brilliance. It's not a certainty, but a strong likelihood.

• 見違えていく君の指から今 手を放す

  ➔ Verb (potential form) + いく (iku)

  ➔ "Mimachigaete iku" (見違えていく) expresses a gradual change or progression. It means 'to gradually become unrecognizable' or 'to change so much that one becomes unrecognizable'. The verb "iku" (いく) is used to show the progression of this change over time.

• あの頃焦がれたような大人になれたかな

  ➔ 〜ような (you na)

  ➔ "~you na" (~ような) means 'like' or 'similar to'. In this case, it means 'I wonder if I've become the kind of adult I longed to be back then.' It implies comparison and uncertainty.

• 僕は弓になって　君の白んだ掌をとって強く引いた

  ➔ Verb (te-form) + Noun (ni naru)

  ➔ "Ni natte" (になって) means 'to become'. It indicates a transformation or change into something else. In this context, the speaker is saying that they have become a bow.