mabataki – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Vaundy

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Vaundy's "mabataki," a song that beautifully intertwines deep philosophical questions about memory, forgetting, and human interaction with Vaundy's signature genre-bending sound. Its introspective lyrics, coupled with a captivating narrative in the music video, offer a rich opportunity to engage with the Japanese language and culture, discovering how profound themes are conveyed through evocative lyrical artistry and a unique musical style.

[English]

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't forget

If we happen to meet

Would we stop hating each other?

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't remember

If we pass by each other

Would we start to face each other?

Like how

The enemy you can't see anywhere, right now

People are pointing at it over there

And they've stopped thinking

Fading hopes

Gradually consuming, inside the magazine

People who started to put their wishes in

They end up crying again

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't forget

If we happen to meet

Would we stop hating each other?

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't remember

If we pass by each other

Would we start to face each other?

Like how

Beginning to walk in step

Doubts turned into insults, consuming people

Hearts growing faint

Gradually eating away, into transparent blades

People starting to harbor jealousy

Still unable to stop crying

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't forget

If we happen to meet

Would we stop hating each other?

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't remember

If we pass by each other

Would we start to face each other?

The sadness we wear now

Will hurt others again

Maybe I'll be the first to throw away my gun

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't forget

If we happen to meet

Would we stop hating each other?

If there's nothing at all

In a world I can't remember

If we pass by each other

Would we start to face each other?

If no one

In a world where we can't gaze into each other's eyes

If we happen to meet

Would we hold hands and talk?

If we

If tomorrow is our last

Would we stop hating each other?

Would we start to love each other?

...

[Japanese]

もし何も

忘れられない世界で

出会い会ってしまったら

憎み合うのはやめるだろうか

もし何も

覚えられない世界で

すれ違ってしまったら

振り向き合うようになるだろうか

なんて

どこにも見えない敵を今

そこにあてがい人々は

考えることをやめていた

薄れてく希望は

徐々に蝕み弾倉の中に

願いを込め始めた人々は

また泣き出してしまう

もし何も

忘れられない世界で

出会い会ってしまったら

憎み合うのはやめるだろうか

もし何も

覚えられない世界で

すれ違ってしまったら

振り向き合うようになるだろうか

なんて

足並みを揃え始めた

疑いは罵倒となり人を食べた

薄れてく心は

徐々に蝕み透明な刃に

嫉みを込め始めた人々は

まだ泣き止まずにいる

もし何も

忘れられない世界で

出会い会ってしまったら

憎み合うのはやめるだろうか

もし何も

覚えられない世界で

すれ違ってしまったら

振り向き合うようになるだろうか

纏う悲しみが今

また人を傷つけてしまう

もう僕が先に銃を捨てよう

もし何も

忘れられない世界で

出会い会ってしまったら

憎み合うのはやめるだろうか

もし何も

覚えられない世界で

すれ違ってしまったら

振り向き合うようになるだろうか

もし誰も

見つめ合えない世界で

出会い会ってしまったら

手を握って話すだろうか

もし僕ら

明日が最後としたら

憎み合うのはやめるだろうか

思い合うようになるだろうか

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
世界 /seɪkai/ A2	noun - world
出会い /deai/ B1	noun - encounter
憎み /nikumi/ B2	noun - hatred
希望 /kibou/ B1	noun - hope
心 /kokoro/ A2	noun - heart/mind
悲しみ /kanashimi/ B2	noun - sadness
手 /te/ A1	noun - hand
話す /hanasu/ A2	verb - to speak/talk
泣く /naku/ A1	verb - to cry
傷つける /kizutsukeru/ B2	verb - to hurt
思い /omoi/ B1	noun - thought/feeling
敵 /teki/ B1	noun - enemy
疑い /utagai/ B2	noun - doubt
蝕む /mushibu/ C1	verb - to erode/corrupt
透明 /toumei/ B2	adjective - transparent
銃 /juu/ B2	noun - gun

Key Grammar Structures

• 〜てしまったら

  ➔ If (something) has been done, then (something else) happens

  ➔ Used to express a hypothetical situation where an action has already been completed, often implying a consequence or a reflective nuance.

• 〜ようになる

  ➔ To begin to do something / to become able to do something

  ➔ Expresses the transition into a new state or the gradual development of ability or habit.

• 〜か / 〜だろうか

  ➔ Expressing doubt, uncertainty or a rhetorical question about something

  ➔ Used to question or contemplate something with uncertainty or skepticism.

• 〜のは/のが

  ➔ Nominalization of verbs or adjectives, often turning actions or qualities into noun phrases

  ➔ Turns verbs or adjectives into noun phrases to emphasize or categorize an action or trait.

• 〜は / 〜も

  ➔ Topic marker particle, indicating the theme or subject of the sentence

  ➔ Marks the main topic or subject of the sentence, often highlighting contrast or emphasis.

• 〜だろうか

  ➔ Expresses conjecture, hesitation, or wondering about something

  ➔ Used when contemplating or questioning something uncertain or speculative.