Mine or Yours – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 宇多田ヒカル

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth of Hikaru Utada's “Mine or Yours,” a beautifully nuanced song that offers a unique window into both the Japanese language and the universal themes of relationships and self-reflection. This track stands out for its honest exploration of life's paradoxes and the subtle dynamics of intimacy, providing rich, relatable content for language learners. Discover how everyday moments and profound societal observations are woven together with poignant Japanese expressions, making it an engaging and insightful listen to enhance your understanding of the language and culture.

[English]

Yesterday’s me

was far from the me I imagine

The guy who couldn’t be honest and made you cry

I’m disappointed in him

Until I learn to take care of myself

I can’t protect anything

What do you want to eat? I’ll find a place

Let’s laze around until you feel better

Want something to drink? I’ll boil water

You’re coffee, I’m green tea, the usual

No matter which path I choose

I lose the roads untaken—loneliness included

What year of Reiwa will it be when this country

allows married couples to have separate surnames?

If it gets cold, we can just warm it up again

Even worries can be seasoned to taste

I want to be with you forever, but

being together every day might be tough

Need anything? I’ll pick it up

You’re coffee, I’m green tea, the usual

I love making love to you

A button done up wrong

undoing them one by one

tentatively, carefully

The more I get used to freedom

the more I wonder why no one

ever warned us about its limits

You’re coffee, I’m green tea, the usual

[Japanese]

昨日の僕は

僕が思う僕とはかけ離れていた

素直になれず君を泣かせるやつには

失望している

自分を大事にできるようになるまで

なんにも守れない

なにが食べたい？　店探すよ

元気出るまでダラダラしよう

なにか飲むかい？　お湯沸かすよ

君はコーヒー　僕は緑茶、いつもの

どの道を選ぼうと

選ばなかった道を失う寂しさとセット

令和何年になったらこの国で

夫婦別姓OKされるんだろう

冷めたら温め直せばいい

不安材料も味付け次第

ずっと一緒にいたいけれど

毎日一緒はしんどいかも

なにかいるかい？　買って行くよ

君はコーヒー　僕は緑茶、いつもの

I love making love to you

掛け違えたボタン

一つ一つ外す

恐る恐る

自由に慣れれば慣れるほど

不自由だって、どうして誰も

僕らに教えてくれなかったの

君はコーヒー　僕は緑茶、いつもの

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
僕 ぼく (boku) A1	noun - I (male)
君 きみ (kimi) A1	noun - you
思う おもう (omou) A1	verb - to think
泣かせる なかせる (nakaseru) B1	verb - to make someone cry
自分 じぶん (jibun) A2	noun - oneself
大事 だいじ (daiji) A2	adjective - important; precious
食べる たべる (taberu) A1	verb - to eat
探す さがす (sagasu) A2	verb - to search
飲む のむ (nomu) A1	verb - to drink
コーヒー コーヒー (kōhī) A1	noun - coffee
緑茶 りょくちゃ (ryokucha) A2	noun - green tea
道 みち (michi) A1	noun - road; path; way
失う うしなう (ushinau) B1	verb - to lose
夫婦 ふうふ (fūfu) A2	noun - married couple
冷める さめる (sameru) A2	verb - to cool down
材料 ざいりょう (zairyō) A2	noun - ingredient; material
一緒 いっしょ (issho) A1	adverb - together
自由 じゆう (jiyuu) A2	noun - freedom
不自由 ふじゆう (fujiyuu) B1	adjective - inconvenience; lack of freedom

Key Grammar Structures

• 僕が思う僕とはかけ離れていた

  ➔ Past progressive (～ていた)

  ➔ The phrase "かけ離れていた" is the past progressive form of "かけ離れる", indicating a state that existed in the past: "was far apart".

• 素直になれず君を泣かせるやつには

  ➔ Negative conjunctive ～ず (classical)

  ➔ The ending "なれず" attaches to the verb "なれる" and means "without becoming", showing a negative condition.

• 自分を大事にできるようになるまで

  ➔ Become able to (～ようになる)

  ➔ "できるようになる" means "to become able to do"; here it expresses acquiring the ability to cherish oneself.

• なんにも守れない

  ➔ Potential negative (～できない)

  ➔ "守れない" is the negative potential form of "守る", meaning "cannot protect".

• 元気出るまでダラダラしよう

  ➔ Volitional form (～しよう)

  ➔ "しよう" is the volitional form of "する", used here to suggest "let's be lazy until you feel better".

• 令和何年になったらこの国で

  ➔ Conditional (～たら)

  ➔ "になったら" forms a conditional meaning "if/when it becomes", asking about a future year in the Reiwa era.

• 夫婦別姓OKされるんだろう

  ➔ Speculation (～んだろう)

  ➔ "んだろう" adds conjecture, translating to "I guess it will be allowed".

• 冷めたら温め直せばいい

  ➔ Conditional + suggestion (～たら ... ～ばいい)

  ➔ "冷めたら" is a conditional "if it gets cold", and "温め直せばいい" suggests "you should reheat it".

• 不安材料も味付け次第

  ➔ Dependence (～次第)

  ➔ "次第" means "depending on"; here it says "the anxiety depends on how you season it".

• 自由に慣れれば慣れるほど

  ➔ Comparative degree (～ば～ほど)

  ➔ "慣れれば慣れるほど" uses the pattern "～ば～ほど" meaning "the more you get used to, the more ...".