I wonder – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Da-iCE

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese with 'I wonder' by Da-iCE offers a unique opportunity to connect with contemporary J-pop and the emotional nuances of the language. The song's lyrics, which revolve around themes of self-discovery and love, provide a window into expressive and metaphorical language. The memorable and impactful opening line, 'Oto ga tomatta, iro ga kawatta' (The sound stopped, the color changed), is a great starting point for understanding how Japanese can convey a dramatic shift in feeling with simple, evocative words. This song is special because it blends a joyful, danceable melody with thoughtful, introspective lyrics, making the language learning process both fun and meaningful.

[English]

The sound has stopped

The colors have changed

It was a blank space, beyond the memories

It feels like a drama

The heartbeat has sounded

I wonder

Following the footprints

Stopping at the crossroads

I masked it with a charming facade

The sparkle is beyond the mist

Tell me the truth

When I met my true self

A future of loving and being loved

Will surely come

I want to keep gazing

A transparent glass canvas

The nuanced colors I painted

Are pale, sweet, and ambiguous

I want to keep searching

With your honest palette

I will only paint the truth

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

I wander, I wonder

The layered colors flow with tears

Because they turn into a rainbow

I want to keep gazing

A transparent glass canvas

The nuanced colors I painted

Are pale, sweet, and ambiguous

I want to keep searching

With your honest palette

I will only paint the truth

The sound has stopped

The colors have changed

Like puzzle pieces, fragments of memories

Someone called out

The heartbeat has sounded

I wonder

...

[Japanese]

音が止まった

色が変わった

空白だった 記憶の彼方

ドラマみたいだ

鼓動が鳴った

I wonder

足跡を辿って

分かれ道で立ち止まってる

八方美人で誤魔化した

燦きは霧の向こう

ホントのこと教えて

ホントの自分に出会えた時

愛し愛される未来が

きっと訪れる

見つめていたい

透明なガラスのキャンバス

彩ったニュアンスカラーは

淡い 甘い 曖昧

探していたい

素直なままの君のパレットで

真実だけ描いていくから

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

I wander, I wonder

重ねた色が涙で流れて

虹色になるから

見つめていたい

透明なガラスのキャンバス

彩ったニュアンスカラーは

淡い 甘い 曖昧

探していたい

素直なままの君のパレットで

真実だけ描いていくから

音が止まった

色が変わった

パズルみたいな 記憶の欠片

誰かが呼んだ

鼓動が鳴った

I wonder

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
音 /on/ A1	noun - sound
色 /iro/ A1	noun - color
記憶 /kioku/ B1	noun - memory
鼓動 /kodō/ B2	noun - heartbeat
未来 /mirai/ B1	noun - future
真実 /shinjitsu/ B2	noun - truth
探す /sagasu/ B1	verb - to search
描く /kaku/ B1	verb - to draw
透明 /tōmei/ B2	adjective - transparent
甘い /amai/ A2	adjective - sweet
淡い /awai/ B2	adjective - pale
曖昧 /aimai/ B2	adjective - ambiguous
立ち止まる /tachidomaru/ B1	verb - to stop
訪れる /otozureru/ B2	verb - to visit
パレット /paretto/ A2	noun - palette
涙 /namida/ A1	noun - tear
虹色 /nijiiro/ B2	adjective - rainbow-colored

Key Grammar Structures

• だった

  ➔ past tense of 'desu' (to be)

  ➔ 'だった' indicates a past state or condition.

• I wonder

  ➔ Expression of curiosity or questioning

  ➔ 'I wonder' is used to express curiosity or to contemplate something uncertain.

• 辿って

  ➔ TE-form of '辿る' (to follow, track)

  ➔ The '辿って' form is the te-form, used here with an auxiliary to indicate continuation or method of following a trail.

• 教えて

  ➔ Imperative form of '教える' (to teach, tell)

  ➔ '教えて' is the imperative form used to request or command someone to tell or teach.

• 自分に出会えた時

  ➔ Relative clause 'when I met myself' with past tense

  ➔ '出会えた' is the potential past form of '出会う' (to meet), indicating a moment in the past.

• 誤魔化した

  ➔ Past tense of '誤魔化す' (to deceive, to conceal)

  ➔ '誤魔化した' indicates a past action of deceiving or hiding the truth.

• 彩った

  ➔ Past tense of '彩る' (to color, decorate)

  ➔ '彩った' describes something that was colored or decorated in the past.