Tokyo Bon 東京盆踊り 2020 (Makudonarudo) – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Namewee 黄明志, Meu Ninomiya 二宮芽生
• Album: All Eat Asia

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a unique linguistic adventure with Namewee and Meu Ninomiya's 'Tokyo Bon 東京盆踊り 2020 (Makudonarudo)'! This catchy song offers a playful and memorable way to encounter 'Japanglish' – English words adopted into Japanese – and understand how foreigners perceive them. By exploring its lyrics and cultural context, you'll gain insights into Japanese pronunciation, everyday vocabulary, and the joyful spirit of the traditional Bon dance, making it a special gateway to Japanese language and culture.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
speak /spiːk/ A1	verb - to say something; to talk
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have strong feelings of affection for someone or something noun - a strong feeling of affection
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, manner, or style of doing something noun - a direction or route
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move or travel to a place
big /bɪɡ/ A1	adjective - large in size
language /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a system of communication
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives adverb - to or at the place where one lives
foreigner /ˈfɔːrənər/ B1	noun - a person who comes from a foreign country
Tokyo /ˈtoʊkioʊ/ A1	noun - the capital of Japan
body /'bɒdi/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal
Shinjuku /ʃɪnˈdʒuːkuː/ A1	noun - a special ward in Tokyo
Ramen /ˈrɑːmən/ A1	noun - a Japanese noodle soup dish
Tempura /ˈtɛmpərə/ A1	noun - a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables
Doraemon /ˌdɔːrɪˈɛmɒn/ A1	noun - a Japanese manga character
Makudonarudo /ˌmækdəˈnɑːrəldoʊ/ A1	noun - McDonald's (in Japanese)
Sutabakkusu /stʌˈbækəs/ A1	noun - Starbucks (in Japanese)

Key Grammar Structures

• Ohayō Tokyo Konichiwa

  ➔ Use of greetings - 'Ohayō' (Good morning) and 'Konichiwa' (Good day/Hello).

  ➔ This line demonstrates basic Japanese greetings. It's a common way to start a conversation, even if you don't know much else. The sentence structure is simply listing greetings.

• Sumimasen I'm foreigner

  ➔ Use of 'Sumimasen' (Excuse me/Sorry) as a polite introductory phrase, even when not apologizing.

  ➔ Japanese culture often uses 'Sumimasen' as a general politeness marker. Here, it's used to politely introduce oneself as a foreigner, acknowledging potential inconvenience or lack of understanding.

• When you say Wakarimashita

  ➔ Use of 'Wakarimashita' (I understand) as a key phrase in Japanese communication.

  ➔ 'Wakarimashita' is a crucial response in Japanese conversations, indicating comprehension. It's often used even if you only partially understand, to show you're trying.

• I say Hitachi Toyota

  ➔ Listing of Japanese brand names as a substitute for actual Japanese vocabulary.

  ➔ This line exemplifies the song's humor. The speaker doesn't know Japanese, so instead of responding with actual words, they list well-known Japanese brands. This highlights the cultural recognition without linguistic ability.

• You speak Japanglish

  ➔ Use of the portmanteau 'Japanglish' to describe a mix of Japanese and English.

  ➔ 'Japanglish' is a commonly recognized phenomenon in Japan, where English words are often adopted and adapted into Japanese conversation. The line acknowledges this linguistic reality.