Electricity – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 宇多田ヒカル

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through 'Electricity' offers a unique opportunity to explore poetic and metaphorical language set to a captivating electronic beat. The song's lyrics, which touch on themes of love, connection, and even science fiction, provide a rich vocabulary. What makes this song special for learners is its blend of simple, repetitive phrases and deeper, more abstract concepts, allowing for a gradual and engaging learning experience.

[English]

No one can come between you and me

Even if we're apart, it doesn't change

You arrived late at the dimly lit restaurant

Our seats suddenly felt like a different planet

I'm used to conversations that don't go anywhere

When I talk with you, morning comes in no time

It's like electricity or something

Between us

Between us

Electricity between us

Between us

Between us

We moved to this city and made it happen

Convenient routines and friends

Sorry, I don't need them anymore

Beautiful minerals and sunsets

Came to see the famous green

Which galaxy are you from?

It's like electricity or something

Between us

Between us

Electricity between us

Between us

Between us

Fearing things we can't understand

Hooked on conspiracy theories

To all humankind like that

A letter Einstein wrote to his daughter

I want you to read it

Love is light, love is our essence

...

Stories engraved in our details

Even if the words disappear from this star, it won't end

I just want to celebrate with you

I just want to celebrate with you

I just want to celebrate with you

I just want to celebrate with you

...

[Japanese]

君と僕の間に誰も入れやしない

離れていてもそれは変わんない

薄暗いレストランに 遅れてきた君

僕らの席だけ一気に 違う惑星みたい

続かない会話には慣れているんだが

君と話してるとあっちゅう間に朝

Electricityかなにか

Between us

Between us

Electricity between us

Between us

Between us

この街に移り住み 出来た

都合の良いルーティーンやお友達

ごめんなさい もう要らない

美しい鉱物や夕焼け

噂の緑を観に来ました

あなたはどの銀河系出身ですか？

Electricityかなにか

Between us

Between us

Electricity between us

Between us

Between us

解明できないものを恐れたり

ハマる 陰謀論に

そんな人類みんなに

アインシュタインが娘に宛てた手紙

読んでほしい

愛は光 愛は僕らの真髄

私たちの細部に刻まれた物語

この星から文字が消えても終わんない

I just wanna celebrate with you

I just wanna celebrate with you

I just wanna celebrate with you

I just wanna celebrate with you

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
変わる (kawaru) /ka̠wa̠ɾɯ/ A1	verb - to change, to vary
薄暗い (usugurai) /ɯᵝsɯɡɯɾa̠i/ B2	adjective - dim, gloomy
席 (seki) /se̞ki/ A2	noun - seat, place
惑星 (wakusei) /wa̠kɯ̟ᵝse̞ː/ B2	noun - planet
会話 (kaiwa) /ka̠iwa̠/ A2	noun - conversation
朝 (asa) /a̠sa̠/ A1	noun - morning
街 (machi) /ma̠t͡ɕi/ A1	noun - town, city
要る (iru) /iɾɯ/ A1	verb - to need, to want
美しい (utsukushii) /ɯᵝt͡sɯ̥kɯ̟ᵝɕiː/ B1	adjective - beautiful, lovely
鉱物 (koubutsu) /ko̞ːbɯ̟t͡sɯ/ C1	noun - mineral
夕焼け (yuuyake) /jɯːja̠ke̞/ B2	noun - sunset glow
銀河系 (gingakei) /ɡʲĩŋɡa̠ke̞ː/ C1	noun - galaxy
出身 (shusshin) /ɕɯ̟ᵝɕːĩɴ/ B1	noun - one's origin, birthplace
解明 (kaimei) /ka̠ime̞ː/ C1	verb - clarification, elucidation
恐れる (osoreru) /o̞s̠o̞ɾe̞ɾɯ/ B2	verb - to fear, to be afraid of
陰謀論 (inbouron) /ĩmbo̞ːɾo̞ɴ/ C2	noun - conspiracy theory
手紙 (tegami) /te̞ɡa̠mi/ A2	noun - letter
愛 (ai) /a̠i/ A1	noun - love
光 (hikari) /çi̥ka̠ɾʲi/ A1	noun - light
真髄 (shinzui) /ɕĩnzɯi/ C1	noun - essence, quintessence

Key Grammar Structures

• 君と僕の間に誰も入れやしない

  ➔ Inserting 'やしない' to emphasize the negative form, meaning 'no one can enter'.

  ➔ 'やしない' is an archaic or poetic negative form emphasizing that no one is allowed or able to do something.

• 離れていてもそれは変わんない

  ➔ Use of 'ても' to express 'even if' or 'despite', indicating a concessive clause.

  ➔ 'ても' is a conjunction meaning 'even if' or 'despite', used to introduce a contrast to the main clause.

• 続かない会話には慣れているんだが

  ➔ Use of 'には' to specify the target of '慣れている', meaning 'to be accustomed to'.

  ➔ 'には' is a particle used to indicate the target or the person/thing one is accustomed to.

• 愛は光 愛は僕らの真髄

  ➔ Use of の to connect nouns, forming '僕らの真髄' meaning 'our essence'.

  ➔ 'の' is a possessive or descriptive particle used to connect nouns, indicating possession or relation.

• 解明できないものを恐れたり

  ➔ Use of 'できない' (potential negative form) to indicate inability or impossibility.

  ➔ 'できない' is the negative potential form of 'できる', meaning 'cannot do' or 'impossible'.