海の幽霊 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 米津玄師
• Album: STRAY SHEEP

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the serene and evocative world of "海の幽霊" by 米津玄師, where you can explore the beauty of unspoken emotions and the mysteries of the ocean. This song offers a unique opportunity to learn Japanese through its poetic lyrics and cultural context, enhanced by 米津玄師's distinctive musical style and the stunning visuals from the movie, “Children of the Sea”.

[English]

Wide open

No one’s here in this room

The scent of the sea breeze

A single chair, stained and faded

So you wouldn’t get lost

I’ll leave it open

Knocking on the creaking door

I wonder how to start talking to you

Would I get confused?

On a starry night, I met you

I’ll never forget that night

Some things are just beyond words

Everything that happened on that summer day

What shines unexpectedly is

The ghost of the sea

On a burning summer evening

The treetops see the boat off

Whispering a few songs

Scattering flowers

You’re somewhere laughing

I can hear your voice

The feel of warm cheeks

If you take the twisted road ahead

Your eyelids will open

Even when apart, something still stirs

Let’s shout out that we're happy now

Some things are just beyond words

Melt into the bouncing light

On a starry night, I met you

I’ll never forget that moment

Some things are just beyond words

All that happened on that summer day

What unexpectedly shines is

The ghost of the sea

On a fragrant sandy beach

Let’s meet again

[Japanese]

開け放たれた

この部屋には誰もいない

潮風の匂い

滲みついた椅子がひとつ

あなたが迷わないように

空けておくよ

軋む戸を叩いて

なにから話せばいいのか

わからなくなるかな

星が降る夜にあなたにあえた

あの夜を忘れはしない

大切なことは言葉にならない

夏の日に起きた全て

思いがけず光るのは

海の幽霊

茹だる夏の夕に

梢が　船を見送る

いくつかの歌を囁く

花を散らして

あなたがどこかで笑う

声が聞こえる

熱い頬の手触り

ねじれた道を進んだら

その瞼が開く

離れ離れてもときめくもの

叫ぼう今は幸せと

大切なことは言葉にならない

跳ねる光に溶かして

星が降る夜にあなたにあえた

あのときを忘れはしない

大切なことは言葉にならない

夏の日に起きた全て

思いがけず光るのは

海の幽霊

風薫る砂浜で

また会いましょう

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
幽霊 (yūrei) /jɯːɾeː/ B2	noun - ghost, spirit
海 (umi) /ˈuːmi/ A1	noun - sea, ocean
星 (hoshi) /hoɕi/ A1	noun - star
夏 (natsu) /natsɯ/ A1	noun - summer
夜 (yoru) /joɾɯ/ A1	noun - night
部屋 (heya) /heja/ A1	noun - room
風 (kaze) /kaze/ A1	noun - wind
匂い (nioi) /ɲioꜜi/ A2	noun - smell, scent
椅子 (isu) /iꜜsɯ/ A1	noun - chair
言葉 (kotoba) /kotoba/ A1	noun - word, language
声 (koe) /koꜜe/ A1	noun - voice
手触り (tezawari) /tezawaɾi/ B2	noun - texture, feel (to the touch)
幸せ (shiawase) /ɕiꜜawa̠se/ A2	adjective - happy, fortunate noun - happiness, good fortune
光る (hikaru) /hikaɾɯ/ B1	verb - to shine, to glitter
散らす (chirasu) /t͡ɕiɾaꜜsɯ/ B2	verb - to scatter, to disperse

Key Grammar Structures

• この部屋には誰もいない

  ➔ Use of 'には' (ni wa) to indicate the location or place where something exists or occurs.

  ➔ The particle 'には' emphasizes the location ('この部屋') where no one ('誰も') is present.

• 星が降る夜にあなたにあえた

  ➔ Use of 'に' to indicate the time when an event occurs, here '夜に' (at night).

  ➔ 'に' marks the specific point in time ('夜に') when the speaker was able to meet ('あえた') the other person.

• 大切なことは言葉にならない

  ➔ Use of 'は' as the topic marker, contrasted with '言葉にならない' (cannot become words).

  ➔ 'は' indicates the topic ('大切なこと'), emphasizing that essential things cannot be expressed in words.

• 思いがけず光るのは

  ➔ Use of 'は' to mark the topic ('光るのは'), highlighting what unexpectedly shines.

  ➔ 'は' highlights the subject ('光るのは') that shines unexpectedly ('思いがけず').

• また会いましょう

  ➔ Use of volitional form 'ましょう' to express a suggestion or invitation to meet again.

  ➔ 'ましょう' is a volitional ending used to suggest or propose to meet again ('また会いましょう').