MASK – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 浜崎あゆみ

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant world of Ayumi Hamasaki's "MASK," a captivating J-pop track that offers a unique window into Japanese lyricism and cultural expression. Through its "sad but powerful" message and reflective lyrics about inner struggles, you can explore nuanced Japanese vocabulary related to emotions, self-reflection, and societal facades. The song's blend of classic J-pop sounds with modern themes makes it an excellent choice for language learners to experience the depth and artistry of Japanese music.

[English]

Lalalalalalala uhuhuh-

Night deepens, and the reflection in the window shows myself...

With a tired face, I let out a big sigh at the end of today...

Losing the courage to speak the truth, I no longer see the point...

Even when I see someone’s cold, indifferent eyes, I’m not surprised...

Since then, we've overcome many pains...

Pretending everything’s fine, just covering old scars with new wounds...

Blaming the times, letting go of my feelings...

But even so, I believe there's a reason to keep moving forward into the future...

And thinking of someone who said that, I stand up again...

Listing only what I can't do anymore, making excuses...

When did I start forcing a smile just to go along...

Crying and shouting until I was understood, that’s how I used to communicate...

How long can I keep facing someone like this?

Uh-lalalala uh-lala

The wind is getting colder...

Winter is getting very close...

Now I only want to hear gentle songs...

And so I hide my wounds behind more wounds...

[Japanese]

Lalalalalalala uhuhuh-

夜が深まって　窓ガラスに映った自分が

疲れ果てた顔で　今日の終わりに大きなため息

ホントを口にする価値も見失って

誰かの冷めた瞳を見ても驚かない

あれから僕らはいくつもの痛み乗り越えた

フリをしてただ傷跡を新しい傷で塞いだ？

時代のせいにして　手放した感情たち

それでも進む意味が未来にあるからと

言ってくれたあの人を想いまた立ち上がる

出来なくなった事ばかり並べて理由つけて

とりあえずの笑顔作るようになったのはいつから？

泣きながらでも伝えた伝わるまで叫んでた

そんな風に誰かと向き合えたのは一体いつまで？

Uh-lalalala uh-lala

風が冷たくなってきたね

もう冬がそこまで近付いてきたね

優しい歌だけが聴きたくなってる

そうしてまた傷を傷で隠すの

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
夜 /や/ A1	noun - night
顔 /かお/ A1	noun - face
痛み /いたみ/ B1	noun - pain
感情 /かんじょう/ B1	noun - emotion
未来 /みらい/ B1	noun - future
傷 /きず/ B2	noun - wound
歌 /うた/ A1	noun - song
冬 /ふゆ/ A1	noun - winter
理由 /りゆう/ B2	noun - reason
立ち上がる /たちあがる/ B1	verb - to stand up
伝える /つたえる/ B1	verb - to convey
驚く /おどろく/ B2	verb - to be surprised
冷たい /つめたい/ B1	adjective - cold
進む /すすむ/ B1	verb - to advance
作る /つくる/ A1	verb - to make

Key Grammar Structures

• 疲れ果てた顔で

  ➔ Using the noun "顔" (face) + "で" to denote the means or manner in which an action is performed.

  ➔

• 今日の終わりに

  ➔ Using "に" to indicate the point in time when an action occurs, here "at the end of today".

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• 傷跡を新しい傷で塞いだ

  ➔ Using "を" to mark the direct object "傷跡" (scars), "で" to indicate the means "新しい傷" (new wounds) used to cover them, and the verb "塞いだ" (covered).

  ➔

• 未来にあるからと

  ➔ Using "に" to indicate the target "未来" (future), combined with the phrase "あるからと" indicating reason or motivation for action.

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• 手放した感情たち

  ➔ Using "たち" to pluralize or refer collectively to "感情" (emotions), with "手放した" (let go of).

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• 伝わるまで叫んでた

  ➔ Using "まで" to indicate "until" a certain point, here "until it is conveyed", and "てた" as the past continuous form of "ている".

  ➔

• 傷を傷で隠すの

  ➔ Using "の" at the end of a sentence to nominalize the previous phrase, turning it into a noun phrase, here "hiding wounds with wounds".

  ➔