ダンスに間に合う – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 小泉今日子, 中井貴一

Lyrics & Translation

Thinking about learning Japanese? Let 'Dance ni Ma ni Au' be your joyful introduction! This soulful duet between actors Kyoko Koizumi and Kiichi Nakai is not just a song, but a story of hope. Its clear, conversational lyrics make it easy to follow along and pick up encouraging phrases about perseverance. The song's charm lies in its simple yet profound message: no matter what, you can still 'make it to the dance.' It's a perfect way to learn optimistic, everyday expressions while enjoying a truly heartwarming melody.

[English]

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if it's been a terrible day

Even if I'm feeling awful

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if we don't understand each other

Even if we're far apart

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if I have nothing

Even if I'm always losing things

I can make it to the dance tonight

Ah

As long as I don't give up

Tonight, with that song from those days

Somewhere, someone else

Feels like they're dancing too

The steps of a dancer I haven't met yet

Remind me of you

I have that feeling

There are so many things that are

Hopelessly too late

So much so that I'm tired of it

But the music is still playing

Here with me

And in your city too

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if it's been a terrible day

Even if I'm feeling awful

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if we don't understand each other

Even if we're far apart

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if I have nothing

Even if I'm always losing things

I can make it to the dance tonight

Ah

As long as I don't give up

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if it's been a terrible day

Even if I'm feeling awful

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if we don't understand each other

Even if we're far apart

I can make it to the dance tonight

Even if I have nothing

Even if I'm always losing things

I can make it to the dance tonight

Ah

As long as I don't give up

[Japanese]

今夜ダンスには間に合う

散々な日でも

ひどい気分でも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

分かり合えなくても

離れ離れでも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

何も持ってなくても

無くしてばかりでも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

Ah

諦めなければ

今夜あの日の歌で

どこかの誰かも

踊ってる気がする

まだ見ぬダンサーが踏むステップ

君に似ている

そんな気がする

あまりにも手遅れなことが

うんざりするほど

たくさんあるけど

まだ音楽は鳴ってる

僕のところでも

君の街でも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

散々な日でも

ひどい気分でも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

分かり合えなくても

離れ離れでも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

何も持ってなくても

無くしてばかりでも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

Ah

諦めなければ

今夜ダンスには間に合う

散々な日でも

ひどい気分でも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

分かり合えなくても

離れ離れでも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

何も持ってなくても

無くしてばかりでも

今夜ダンスには間に合う

Ah

諦めなければ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ダンス /daɰsɯ/ A1	noun - dance
間に合う /maniɰawɯ/ A2	verb - to be in time
散々 /zanzan/ B1	adjective - terrible
ひどい /hidoi/ A2	adjective - awful
気分 /kibun/ A2	noun - mood
分かり合う /wakariau/ B1	verb - to understand each other
離れ離れ /hanarebanare/ B1	adjective - separated
諦める /akirameru/ B1	verb - to give up
歌 /uta/ A1	noun - song
踊る /odoru/ A2	verb - to dance
ステップ /suteppu/ A2	noun - step
手遅れ /oteokure/ B2	noun - too late
うんざり /unzari/ B1	adjective - fed up
音楽 /ongaku/ A1	noun - music
鳴る /naru/ A2	verb - to sound

Key Grammar Structures

• でも

  ➔ conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however'.

  ➔ Used to contrast two ideas or clauses.

• 間に合う

  ➔ verb phrase meaning 'to be in time' or 'to make it'.

  ➔ Expresses the idea of being on time or making it before a deadline.

• 離れ離れでも

  ➔ conjunctive phrase meaning 'even if separated' or 'despite being apart'.

  ➔ Indicates that the action or state persists despite separation.

• 何も持ってなくても

  ➔ phrase meaning 'even if you don't have anything' or 'despite lacking everything'.

  ➔ Expresses concession or contrast, implying action or state despite lacking resources.

• 諦めなければ

  ➔ conditional phrase meaning 'if you do not give up'.

  ➔ Indicates that the action depends on not giving up; if the condition is met, then something follows.

• 踊ってる気がする

  ➔ phrase meaning 'I feel like I'm dancing' or 'it seems like someone is dancing'.

  ➔ Expresses a subjective feeling or impression about dancing or movement.