Chessboard – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Official髭男dism

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the introspective world of Official髭男dism's 'Chessboard,' a song that masterfully uses the game of chess to illustrate the complexities of life. By exploring themes of uncertainty, choice, and personal growth, this song offers a unique opportunity to learn about Japanese perspectives on life's journey and the importance of finding one's own path. Discover how the lyrics encourage embracing the past while stepping confidently towards the future.

[English]

In this world like a chessboard, we were born

Without any rules

A checkerboard pattern of happiness and sadness

Breathing somewhere within it

On this board where there is no king, what roles have we been given?

Places we can go, places we can't, places we should aim for

Breathing without knowing

知らないままで息をする

Suddenly someone comes beside me

When the wind blows, we drift apart

Memories increase with each emergency landing

Looking back, the cat toy sways gently

Sprouting regardless of black or white

Tickling the heart with its tips

Growing without withering

In this world like a chessboard, we began to find our footing

Eventually, we started to stand on solid ground

Places to go, places not to go, places to return to

Deciding for ourselves and moving forward

Like dandelion fluff, letting the wind take me

I envy the days when I could fly

A small square that you might overlook from the air

That's where I met you

The game continues

On this field, what awaits us this time?

Sowing seeds carefully, step by step…

With big strides

大きな歩幅で

Not every day can be like a knight or queen that leaps

That's why I stumbled

Unable to advance, I turned back

Even on such days, something is sprouting

そんな日にも芽生えてる

From your feet

From your footprints

Repetitions, doubts, regrets, and departures, all of it

A beautiful green

I can see it here

The proof that you lived

Will surely grow with time

A beautiful green

Even useless memories

And pasts I want to erase

Will surely gain color someday

And in this world like a chessboard, even if

The day comes when I lose sight of you

Will we meet again on this endless board?

Until the day that answer awaits

Breathing without knowing, just living

[Japanese]

チェスボードみたいなこの世界へ僕らは

ルールもないままに生まれてきた

幸せと悲しみの市松模様

そのどこかで息をする

王様もいないこの盤上で僕らは

どんな役を与えられたんだろうか？

行ける場所 行けない場所 目指すべき場所

知らないままで息をする

不意に誰か隣に来て

風が吹けば離れ離れ

繰り返す不時着の数だけ増えるメモリー

振り返れば優しく揺れる猫じゃらし

白も黒も関係なく芽生えた

穂先で心をくすぐりながら

枯れることなく伸びている

チェスボードみたいなこの世界で僕らは

いつしか地に足がつき始めた

行く場所 行かない場所 帰るべき場所

自分で決めて歩いていく

綿毛みたいに風に任せ

飛べた頃を羨むけど

空中からじゃ見落とすような小さな1マス

そこであなたに会えたんだ

ゲームは続いてく

このフィールドで今度は

どんな事が待ち受けているのだろう？

一歩づつ大切に種を蒔きながら…

大きな歩幅で

ひとっ飛びのナイトやクイーン

みたいになれる日ばかりじゃない

からこそ躓いた

進めずに引き返した

そんな日にも芽生えてる

あなたの足元から

足跡から

繰り返しも迷いも後悔も旅立ちも全て

美しい緑色

こちらには見えているよ

あなたが生きた証は

時間と共に育つのでしょう　

美しい緑色

役に立たない思い出も

消したいような過去も

いつかきっと色付くのでしょう

そしてチェスボードみたいなこの世界でいつか

あなたの事を見失う日が来ても

果てないこの盤上でまた出会えるかな？

その答えが待つ日まで

知らないままでただ息をする

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
世界 /seɪkai/ A1	noun - world
幸せ /shiawase/ A2	noun - happiness
悲しみ /kanashimi/ A2	noun - sadness
風 /kaze/ A1	noun - wind
記憶 /kioku/ B1	noun - memory
猫じゃらし /nekojarashi/ B2	noun - cat toy (usually a wand with feathers)
心 /kokoro/ B1	noun - heart (emotionally)
種 /tane/ B2	noun - seed
証 /akashi/ C1	noun - proof, evidence
過去 /kako/ B2	noun - past
出会う /deau/ B1	verb - to meet
進める /susumeru/ B2	verb - to advance, to proceed
美しい /utsukushii/ B2	adjective - beautiful
役 /yaku/ B2	noun - role, part
場所 /basho/ A2	noun - place
足元 /ashimoto/ B2	noun - at one's feet, one's feet

Key Grammar Structures

• みたいなこの世界へ僕らは

  ➔ みたいな (mitaina) + noun - 'like, similar to'

  ➔ Used to describe something as similar to or resembling the noun that follows.

• 息をする

  ➔ を (wo) + verb stem - direct object + verb 'to breathe'

  ➔ Particles used to mark the direct object of a verb in Japanese.

• 行ける場所 行けない場所

  ➔ Potential form of verb + 場所 (while indicating 'places where one can or cannot go')

  ➔ Using the potential form of a verb to specify whether one can or cannot perform an action at certain places.

• 知らないままで息をする

  ➔ ままで (mamade) - indicates 'while remaining in a certain state or condition'

  ➔ Used to express doing something without changing or ending the current state.

• 一歩づつ大切に種を蒔きながら…

  ➔ 一歩ずつ (ippo zutsu) - 'step by step'; 活動の継続を示す

  ➔ Indicates gradual progress or careful, deliberate actions taken step by step.

• 大きな歩幅で

  ➔ 大きな (ookina) + 歩幅 (hohaba) - 'large step size'

  ➔ Describes moving forward with large, confident steps or taking bold actions.