虹 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 菅田将暉
• Album: COLLAGE

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and 'Niji' by Masaki Suda is a perfect song for Japanese learners. Its clear and heartfelt lyrics, sung with straightforward emotion, make it easy to follow along and pick up new vocabulary related to love, family, and daily life, such as 'isshō' (forever) and 'soba ni iru' (to be by someone's side). The song's special charm lies in its universal message of finding extraordinary meaning in ordinary moments, a beautiful cultural value to learn alongside the language.

[English]

You can cry, just say that word

And I’m saved, really, thank you

It’s pathetic, clumsy maybe

But just thinking of you makes tomorrow shine

It’s okay to be just as we are

Let’s find a sunbeam and play

A small rainbow by your feet as you water the plants on the balcony

I’ll be by your side forever, stay with me

Never leave me for a lifetime, with all your heart

So your tightly tied eyes won’t come apart

I won’t let go of our firmly held hands

...

Mom’s gentle kindness, Dad’s tears

They’re just like us, and I love our future so much

It’s okay not to have big dreams

As long as you can be yourself

When you’re lost and alone

Remember those days

I want you to entrust me with your lonely nights

Let’s laugh through every happy day

Maybe words aren’t enough

Because I touched your warmth

...

About family and friends, about someone like me

You always smile, and that’s what makes me cry

It shone alone in the empty sky

Words that turn into thank you

I’ve been searching for them

I’ll be by your side forever, stay with me

Never leave me for a lifetime, with all your heart

So your tightly tied eyes won’t come apart

I won’t let go of our firmly held hands

I won’t let go

...

[Japanese]

泣いていいんだよ そんなひとことに

僕は救われたんだよ ホントにありがとう

情けないけれど だらしないけれど

君を想うことだけで 明日が輝く

ありのままの2人でいいよ

陽だまり見つけて遊ぼうよ

ベランダで水をやる君の足元に小さな虹

一生そばに居るから 一生そばに居て

一生離れないように 一生懸命に

キツく結んだ目がほどけないように

硬く繋いだ手を離さないから

ママの優しさと パパの泣き虫は

まるで僕らのようでさ未来が愛おしい

大きな夢じゃなくていいよ

自分らしくいれたらいいよ

ひとりぼっち迷った時は

あの頃を思い出して

寂しい夜を半分僕に預けて欲しい

嬉しい日々は充分に笑いあっていたい

どんな言葉でも足りないのが

君の温もりにふれたせいかな

家族や友達のこと こんな僕のこと

いつも大事に笑うから泣けてくるんだよ

なんにも無かった空に ポツンと輝いていた

ありがとうに変わる言葉

ずっと探していたんだ

一生そばに居るから 一生そばに居て

一生離れないように 一生懸命に

キツく結んだ目がほどけないように

硬く繋いだ手を離さないから

離さないから

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
泣く /naku/ A2	verb - to cry
救う /sukuu/ B1	verb - to save
明日 /ashita/ A1	noun - tomorrow
輝く /kagayaku/ B2	verb - to shine
夢 /yume/ A2	noun - dream
温もり /nukumori/ B1	noun - warmth
家族 /kazoku/ A1	noun - family
友達 /tomodachi/ A1	noun - friend
言葉 /kotoba/ B1	noun - word
嬉しい /ureshii/ A2	adjective - happy
寂しい /sabishii/ B1	adjective - lonely
未来 /mirai/ A2	noun - future
遊ぶ /asobu/ A2	verb - to play
探す /sagasu/ B1	verb - to search
結ぶ /musubu/ B2	verb - to tie
離れる /hanareru/ B1	verb - to separate

Key Grammar Structures

• 泣いていいんだよ

  ➔ The use of the ～ていい (te ii) form to express permission or allowance.

  ➔ The pattern ～ていい is used after a verb to mean "may" or "can" do something.

• 君を想うことだけで明日が輝く

  ➔ The use of の after 想う to nominalize the verb, turning it into a noun phrase.

  ➔ の is used here to turn the verb 想う (to think/feel) into a noun, forming 'thinking about you,' which is the subject of the sentence.

• 一生そばに居るから

  ➔ The use of から to express reason or cause; 'because'.

  ➔ から is a conjunction that means 'because' or 'since,' connecting the reason for the promise.

• 離さないから

  ➔ The negative form of 離す (to let go), combined with から to indicate reason or assurance.

  ➔ 離さない is the negative form of 離す, meaning 'will not let go,' emphasizing the firm commitment.

• 硬く繋いだ手を離さないから

  ➔ The use of 繋いだ (past tense of 繋ぐ) to describe a 'held hand,' combined with 離さない to emphasize 'not letting go.'

  ➔ 繋いだ is the past tense of 繋ぐ (to connect, to tie), describing a held hand, and 離さない emphasizes the act of not letting go.