まぶた – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: Vaundy

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through Vaundy's "Mabuta" offers a unique opportunity to explore nuanced expressions of empathy and connection. The song's lyrical depth, centered around the metaphor of closing one's eyes to truly understand another, provides a rich context for learning vocabulary related to emotions and non-verbal communication. What makes "Mabuta" special is its gentle melody paired with a powerful message, making the language both accessible and deeply meaningful.

[English]

Even now, you

Bite your lip and shed tears

The words you release

Are stained with blood

Surely (surely)

The scent of daily frustrations lingers

It stings (it stings)

Like a piercing (like a piercing)

Sadness is stabbing your eyes

If only

I could take your hand, but if sadness doesn't fade

Forget it

Until my eyelids grow tired

By closing our eyes together

We might gradually understand

Maybe

The more we turn our backs

Confirming each other

We are alive

...

Even now, you

Seem to be in pain, biting your nails

The words you release

Wrap around and take root

That is (that is)

Like the tip of a needle touching your fingertip

It stings (it stings)

Like a piercing (like a piercing)

Loneliness is stabbing your eyes

If only

Because it's wet, if frost starts to form

Let it flow

Until my eyelids grow tired

By closing our eyes together

We might gradually understand

Maybe

The more we turn our backs

Confirming each other

We are alive

...

If only

Because it has withered, if it starts to hurt with fragrance

Remember

Until my eyelids grow tired

By closing our eyes together

We might gradually understand

Maybe

The more we turn our backs

Confirming each other

We are alive

By closing our eyes together

Without stretching ourselves

We might avoid getting tired

At the point where we support each other

We gaze at each other

We can live

...

[Japanese]

あなたが今も

口をはにかみ 涙流すから

放つ言葉も

血が滲んでる

きっと (きっと)

日々の蟠りが香るにおいで

つーんと (つーんと)

刺すような (刺すような)

悲しみが瞳を刺してる

もしも

その手取れど 悲しみが消えぬなら

忘れて

瞼が疲れるほど

僕ら 目を閉じあうことで

少しずつわかるように

なるかもね

背を向け合うほどね

確かめ合い

生きてる

あなたが今も

苦しそうに 爪を噛むから

放つ言葉は

まきつき根を張った

それは (それは)

針の先に指先が触れるような

つーんと (つーんと)

刺すような (刺すような)

寂しさが瞳を刺してる

もしも

濡れているせいで 霜が着き始めたら

流して

瞼が疲れるほど

僕ら 目を閉じあうことで

少しずつわかるように

なるかもね

背を向け合うほどね

確かめ合い

生きてる

もしも

枯れ果てたせいで 香りだし痛むなら

思い出して

瞼が疲れるまで

僕ら 目を閉じあうことで

少しずつわかるように

なるかもね

背を向け合うほどね

確かめ合い

生きてる

僕ら 目を閉じあうことで

背伸びせずに

疲れないで済むかもね

背で受け合う先で

見つめ合い

生きられる

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
涙 /なみだ/ A2	noun - tear
悲しみ /かなしみ/ B1	noun - sadness
瞳 /ひとみ/ B2	noun - pupil (of the eye)
香り /かおり/ B2	noun - fragrance
生きる /いきる/ B1	verb - to live
確かめる /たしかめる/ B2	verb - to confirm
疲れる /つかれる/ B1	verb - to get tired
言葉 /ことば/ A2	noun - word
苦しむ /くるしむ/ B2	verb - to suffer
思い出す /おもいだす/ B1	verb - to remember
背 /せ/ A2	noun - back
目 /め/ A1	noun - eye
手 /て/ A1	noun - hand
刺す /さす/ B1	verb - to stab
流す /ながす/ B1	verb - to flow
枯れる /かれる/ B2	verb - to wither

Key Grammar Structures

• 〜ている

  ➔ Progressive aspect / continuous tense

  ➔ Expresses an ongoing action or state, such as in "口をはにかみ" (smile shyly) and "涙流す" (tear flows).

• 〜ながら

  ➔ While doing something (simultaneous actions)

  ➔ Connects two actions happening at the same time, as in "目を閉じあうことで" (by closing eyes together).

• 〜ことによって

  ➔ By doing something / due to something

  ➔ Indicates that a certain result is achieved through an action, as in "〜ことによって" (by doing so).

• 〜ほど

  ➔ To the extent of / as much as

  ➔ Indicates the degree or extent of something, often used with exhaustion or comparison, e.g., "瞼が疲れるほど" (to the point eyes are tired).

• 〜たら

  ➔ If / when (conditional clause)

  ➔ Expresses a conditional situation, such as "霜が着き始めたら" (if frost begins to form).

• 〜ように

  ➔ So that / in order to

  ➔ Indicates purpose or goal, as in "少しずつわかるように" (so we understand little by little).

• 〜てくれる

  ➔ Someone does something for someone / giving a favor

  ➔ Indicates that someone does a favor or action for oneself, often softening requests or expressing appreciation, as in "僕ら 目を閉じあうことで" (by closing eyes together).