Milestone – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: BoA

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into BoA's reflective ballad, "Milestone," a special release marking her 10th anniversary in Japan. This emotionally resonant pop song offers a beautiful way to engage with Japanese lyrics, as it delves into themes of self-discovery, memory, and enduring personal growth, all set to a captivating melody.

[English]

Even I don't understand myself

I want you to understand everything only about me

I know I can't say it

If I could shape my white breath into something, I wonder if it would reach you...

Every time the seasons change

The world moves faster than my feelings

Even those emotions

Disappear in the fleeting moment of a blink

If only I could stay unaware, that would be enough

When I stop, I suddenly feel winter's approach

Every time the seasons change

The world moves faster than my feelings

So that those feelings don't fade away

I etch them into my body and heart

Now hang on to this world

Because everything goes by so quickly

So I won't forget tears or smiles

Every time the seasons change

Even if the world surpasses my senses

There is an unshakable milestone in my heart

Each time, I will carve it into myself...

[Japanese]

自分のことでさえ 分からないのに

あなただけに全て 分かって欲しいなんて

言えないの 知ってるけど

白い吐息を 形にできたとしたら つたわるかなあ…

季節が移ろう度に

世界が感覚を追い越して行く

そんな想いさえも

瞬きの間の刹那に消えて逝く

きづかずにいられれば それでよかった

立ち止まればふと 冬の気配

季節が移ろう度に

世界が感覚を追い越して行く

そんな想いさえ 消えないように

身体に心に 刻んで行く

now hang on to this world

すごく速いから

涙も笑顔も忘れないように

季節が移ろう度に

世界が感覚を追い越したとしても

揺るぎのない 胸のMilestone

その度 わたしが刻むから…

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
自分 /じぶん/ A2	noun - oneself
全て /すべて/ A2	noun - everything
季節 /きせつ/ B1	noun - season
世界 /せかい/ A2	noun - world
感覚 /かんかく/ B2	noun - sensation
想い /おもい/ B1	noun - thought, feeling
瞬き /まばたき/ B2	noun - blink
消える /きえる/ B1	verb - to disappear
刻む /きざむ/ B2	verb - to carve, to engrave
胸 /むね/ A2	noun - chest
涙 /なみだ/ A1	noun - tear
笑顔 /えがお/ A2	noun - smile
速い /はやい/ A2	adjective - fast
揺るぎ /ゆるぎ/ C1	noun - unwavering, stability
Milestone /ˈmaɪlstoʊn/ B2	noun - a significant event or point in development

Key Grammar Structures

• 自分のことでさえ 分からないのに

  ➔ やすい form /～のに / expressing contrast or unexpected result

  ➔ Expresses a contrast between what is expected and what actually is.

• 季節が移ろう度に

  ➔ ~たびに / every time / whenever

  ➔ Indicates that something happens each time a certain event occurs.

• 世界が感覚を追い越して行く

  ➔ Vて行く / to go; to continue to do something

  ➔ Describes the action of moving forward or continuing in a certain direction or state.

• 身体に心に 刻んで行く

  ➔ に / indicating target or location

  ➔ Marks the target of the action, such as where or what is being affected.

• 今 hang on to this world

  ➔ hang on to / to hold tightly, to cling to

  ➔ To maintain a grip or attachment to something, both physically and metaphorically.

• 涙も笑顔も忘れないように

  ➔ ように / in order to / so that

  ➔ Expresses purpose or intention of doing something.

• 揺るぎのない 胸のMilestone

  ➔ の / possessive or descriptive particle

  ➔ Indicates possession or descriptive relation between nouns.