いろはにほへと – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 椎名林檎, Sheena Ringo

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the profound beauty of the Japanese language with Sheena Ringo's "Iroha ni Hoheto." The song's title and lyrical themes are rooted in a classic Heian-era poem about impermanence, offering a unique opportunity to learn about Japanese literary traditions and philosophical concepts through its poetic and emotionally rich lyrics. Its blend of modern pop and traditional Japanese musical elements makes it a captivating piece for any language learner.

[English]

Oh blue sky, why do you run with clouds in your embrace?

Are you gently chasing someone you long for?

Oh sweet fruit, why do you hide your nectar and stay silent?

Are you leaving the delicious parts for someone else?

Please tell me, I won't be deceived anymore.

I'm tired of just the temporary saturation.

...Throw away the colored glasses...

...

Oh red sky, why do you melt the sun away?

Do you blur today with your fleeting tears?

I understand, I can see it clearly.

Just the density of monochrome is enough for me.

...Stop the color tricks...

Even you, noble one, are a part of this great nature.

Show me now the still uncharted source.

Your life, living and vibrant, is colorless and transparent.

...

Oh yellow lily, why do you bloom at the moment of parting?

Is wanting eternal permanence called futility?

Everything I sought with my round eyes is dear to me.

Shallow dreams, come and see, come and see.

...

[Japanese]

青い空よなぜ雲をかかえて走っていく

恋しいだれかをそっと追い掛けるの?

甘い果実よなぜ蜜を隠して黙っている

美味しい所をだれかに残しているの?

おしえてよもう騙されないわ

仮初めの彩度だけぢゃ厭なの

‥色眼鏡割り棄てて‥

赤い空よなぜ太陽なんて溶かしていく

敢えないなみだに今日を滲ませるの?

判るのよちゃんと見極めるわ

モノクロの濃度だけで好いの

‥色仕掛取り止めて‥

気高いあなたもこの大自然の一端ね

わたしに見せてよ今尚未開拓の根源

生きているあなたいのちは無色透明

黄色い百合よなぜ別れ際に咲っている

万代不易を欲するのは無為と云うの?

丸い目をすかして求めた全部が愛しい

浅い夢見やしゃんせさあ見やしゃんせ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
空 /sora/ A2	noun - sky
雲 /kumo/ A2	noun - cloud
走って /hashitte/ B1	verb - to run
恋しい /koishii/ B2	adjective - dear; missed; beloved
甘い /amai/ A2	adjective - sweet
蜜 /mitsu/ B2	noun - honey
黙って /damatte/ B2	verb - to be silent
美味しい /oishii/ A2	adjective - delicious
残して /nokoshite/ B1	verb - to leave behind
騙されない /damasarenai/ B2	verb - not to be deceived
彩度 /saido/ C1	noun - saturation (of color)
色眼鏡 /irome-gane/ C1	noun - colored glasses; biased perspective
太陽 /taiyō/ A2	noun - the sun
滲ませる /namasaseru/ C1	verb - to make penetrate; to soak through
濃度 /nōdo/ B2	noun - concentration
大自然 /dai-shizen/ B1	noun - the natural world
見せて /misete/ A2	verb - to show
未開拓 /mikaitaku/ C1	noun - unexplored; uncharted

Key Grammar Structures

• 青い空よなぜ雲をかかえて走っていく

  ➔ Why is the blue sky running while holding clouds?

  ➔ The phrase "なぜ" (naze) is used to ask 'why', indicating curiosity or questioning.

• 甘い果実よなぜ蜜を隠して黙っている

  ➔ Why is the sweet fruit hiding its nectar and remaining silent?

  ➔ The phrase "黙っている" (damatte iru) indicates a state of being silent or not speaking.

• 判るのよちゃんと見極めるわ

  ➔ I understand and can see it clearly.

  ➔ The phrase "判る" (wakaru) means 'to understand' or 'to know'.

• 気高いあなたもこの大自然の一端ね

  ➔ You, noble one, are also a part of this great nature.

  ➔ The phrase "気高い" (kedakai) means 'noble' or 'elevated', indicating a high status.

• 生きているあなたいのちは無色透明

  ➔ Your life that is alive is colorless and transparent.

  ➔ The phrase "無色透明" (mushoku toumei) means 'colorless and transparent', indicating purity.