LETTERS – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: BiSH
• Album: Major 3.5th AL「LETTERS」

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through BiSH's 'LETTERS' offers a unique window into direct, heartfelt expression. The song's lyrics, born from a time of global uncertainty, are more straightforward than much of the band's work, making the emotional language easier to grasp. It's a special opportunity to learn how to convey sincere feelings of gratitude and connection, reflecting a pivotal, emotional moment for one of modern Japanese rock's most dynamic groups.

[English]

The world changes so suddenly

The world changes so suddenly

The world changes so suddenly

It’s not about anger

It’s not about rage

Living is so hard, isn’t it?

Face each other honestly

Don’t underestimate the toughness of facing it head-on

I’ll deliver it all—from inside my heart

And shout that I want to protect this world with you

立ち向かう厳しさを

It’s still close, right here with us

すべて届けるよ胸の中

The future may seem buried in darkness

It’s not about sadness; we’re just imperfect

It’s tough to tell how we really feel now

We should stay calm and strong

Because I swear we’ll never forget

Humans are strange, fragile but interesting

I’ll show all my flaws openly

I won’t wait for an unseen tomorrow

The distance between us isn’t far

Without warning, the future

Not because we’re sad

We can’t express ourselves well

Especially now, I think we should

Remember the kindness that fights on

We’ll never forget, I promise

Humans are so interesting, so fragile

Show all your flaws

I won’t wait for the unseen future

The distance between us isn’t far

And will remain so

でもね届けるよ胸の中

ダサい姿も全部晒そう

あなたいるこの世界守りたいと叫ぶ

見えない明日は待たない

今もあなたの無事を祈る

絶対距離は遠くないんだ

今も近くにあるんだ

...

[Japanese]

あまりに突然に世界が

予告もなく変わり果ててしまって

あまりに突然に世界は

真剣に残酷な判断しちゃった

憤ってるとかじゃない

ただ僕ら目をそらさず

上手にかわせてないだけ

生きるのは難しいね

こんなときこそ僕ら

まっすぐにぶつかり合おう

立ち向かう厳しさを

バカにしないでくれ

すべて届けるよ胸の中

ダサい姿も全部晒そう

あなたいるこの世界守りたいと叫ぶ

見えない明日は待たない

今もあなたの無事を祈る

絶対距離は遠くないんだ

今も近くにあるんだ

あまりに突然に未来は

暗闇の中に埋もれたみたいに

悲しんでるとかじゃない

ただ僕ら不器用だから

上手に表せないだけ

伝えるの難しいね

こんなときこそ僕ら

冷静であるべきと思う

立ち向かう優しさを

忘れないでくれ

僕ら必ず忘れないさ

辛さすら飾りにしてやる

本当人間ってやつは面白いけど弱い

でもね届けるよ胸の中

ダサい姿も全部晒そう

あなたいるこの世界守りたいと叫ぶ

見えない明日は待たない

今もあなたの無事を祈る

絶対距離は遠くないんだ

今も近くにあるんだ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
世界 /sekai/ A2	noun - world
変わり果てて /kawarihatete/ B2	verb - to have changed completely
予告 /yokoku/ B1	noun - prediction, notification in advance
世界 /sekai/ A2	noun - world
真剣 /shinken/ B1	noun/adj - seriousness
判断 /handan/ B2	noun - judgment, decision
残酷 /zankoku/ B2	noun/adj - cruelty, brutal
目をそらさず /me o sorasazu/ B2	verb - not to avert one's eyes
生きる /ikiru/ A2	verb - to live
難しい /muzukashii/ A2	adjective - difficult
まっすぐに /massugu ni/ B1	adverb - straightly, directly
ぶつかり合おう /butsukari aou/ B2	verb - to collide, to confront each other
立ち向かう /tachimukau/ B2	verb - to face, to confront
厳しさ /kibishisa/ B2	noun - rigor, severity
届ける /todokeru/ B1	verb - to deliver, to convey
胸の中 /mune no naka/ A2	noun - inside the chest / heart
晒そう /sarasou/ B2	verb - to expose, to show
あなた /anata/ A1	pronoun - you (singular)
守りたい /mamoritai/ B1	verb - want to protect
叫ぶ /sakebu/ A2	verb - to shout
見えない /mienai/ A2	adjective - invisible
無事 /buji/ A2	noun - safety, well-being
祈る /inoru/ A2	verb - to pray
絶対 /zettai/ B2	adverb/adj - absolutely, absolute
距離 /kyori/ A2	noun - distance
遠くない /tōku nai/ B1	adjective - not far
ある /aru/ A1	verb - to exist

Key Grammar Structures

• に突然に

  ➔ Adverbial phrase using に to indicate manner or timing

  ➔ The particle "に" is used here as an adverbial marker to specify "suddenly" as a manner or point in time.

• 目をそらさず

  ➔ Negative te-form of a verb with ず to indicate "without doing"

  ➔ The phrase uses the te-form of a verb combined with ず (an archaic negative) to mean "without" doing the action.

• 伝えるの難しいね

  ➔ Using の to nominalize the adjective 難しい and add ね for affirmation/emphasis

  ➔ The の turns the adjective 難しい into a noun phrase, and ね adds a nuance of seeking agreement or emphasis.

• 守りたいと叫ぶ

  ➔ Verb たい form + と to quote or indicate speaking, with 叫ぶ as "to shout"

  ➔ The たい form indicates desire, and と is used here to quote or mark the expression, with 叫ぶ meaning "to shout".

• 絶対距離は遠くないんだ

  ➔ Phrase using だ as copula in casual form, expressing assertion "is not far"

  ➔ The sentence uses だ as a casual copula to state that the distance is not large, i.e., "is not far".

• 今もあなたの無事を祈る

  ➔ Verb 祈る in plain present form, expressing "to pray" or "wish"

  ➔ The verb 祈る in its plain form means "to pray" or "wish," used here to express hope or prayer for someone's safety.