おはなしゆびさん – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the joy of learning Japanese through “Ohanashi Yubi-san,” a delightful children's song that brings language and family values together. This song offers a unique way to learn about family members and their characteristics, all while enjoying a catchy tune and playful hand gestures.

[English]

This finger is Papa, chubby Papa

Hello, hello, hello, hello

Wahaha hahaha

Will tell a story

This finger is Mama, kind Mama

My, my, my, my

Ohoho hohoho

Will tell a story

This finger is Big Brother, big brother

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Ehehe hehehe

Will tell a story

This finger is Big Sister, stylish sister

Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my

Ufufu fufufu

Will tell a story

This finger is Baby, wobbly baby

Goo goo, goo goo, goo goo, goo goo

Bububu bububu

Will tell a story

This finger is Papa, chubby Papa

Hello, hello, hello, hello

Wahaha hahaha

Will tell a story

This finger is Mama, kind Mama

My, my, my, my

Ohoho hohoho

Will tell a story

This finger is Big Brother, big brother

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Ehehe hehehe

Will tell a story

This finger is Big Sister, stylish sister

Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my

Ufufu fufufu

Will tell a story

This finger is Baby, wobbly baby

Goo goo, goo goo, goo goo, goo goo

Bububu bububu

Will tell a story

[Japanese]

このゆびパパ ふとっちょパパ

やあ やあ やあ やあ

ワハハハハハハ

おはなしする

このゆびママ やさしいママ

まあ まあ まあ まあ

オホホホホホホ

おはなしする

このゆびにいさん おおきい にいさん

オス オス オス オス

エヘヘヘヘヘヘ

おはなしする

このゆびねえさん おしゃれな ねえさん

アラ アラ アラ アラ

ウフフフフフフ

おはなしする

このゆび あかちゃん よちよち あかちゃん

ウマ ウマ ウマ ウマ

アブブブブブブ

おはなしする

このゆびパパ ふとっちょパパ

やあ やあ やあ やあ

ワハハハハハハ

おはなしする

このゆびママ やさしいママ

まあ まあ まあ まあ

オホホホホホホ

おはなしする

このゆびにいさん おおきい にいさん

オス オス オス オス

エヘヘヘヘヘヘ

おはなしする

このゆびねえさん おしゃれな ねえさん

アラ アラ アラ アラ

ウフフフフフフ

おはなしする

このゆび あかちゃん よちよち あかちゃん

ウマ ウマ ウマ ウマ

アブブブブブブ

おはなしする

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ゆび /jɯbi/ A1	noun - finger; toe
パパ /papa/ A1	noun - dad; papa
ふとっちょ /fɯto̞t̚t͡ɕo̞/ A2	noun - a plump person; fatty adjective - plump; stout; chubby
おはなし /o̞hanaɕi/ A2	noun - talk; chat; story
する /sɯɾɯ/ A1	verb - to do; to perform; to make
ママ /mama/ A1	noun - mom; mama
やさしい /jasaɕiː/ A2	adjective - kind; gentle; tender
にいさん /niːsaɴ/ A1	noun - older brother
おおきい /o̞ːkiː/ A1	adjective - big; large; great
ねえさん /neːsaɴ/ A1	noun - older sister
おしゃれ /o̞ɕaɾe/ A2	noun - dressing up; smartness; fashion adjective - fashionable; stylish
あかちゃん /akaˌt͡ɕaɴ/ A1	noun - baby; infant
よちよち /jot͡ɕiˌjot͡ɕi/ A2	adverb - toddling; wobbly (describing a baby's walk)

Key Grammar Structures

• このゆびパパ

  ➔ Demonstrative "この" (kono) + Noun

  ➔ "この" is a demonstrative adjective meaning "this" or "these". It is always placed directly before the noun it modifies and indicates something close to the speaker. For example, "この"ゆび means "this finger".

• ふとっちょパパ

  ➔ Descriptive Noun/Adjective-like Noun modifying another Noun

  ➔ "ふとっちょ" is an informal noun for a chubby person. When placed before another noun (like "パパ"), it acts descriptively, forming a compound noun meaning "chubby dad". This pattern is common for nouns that characterize another noun.

• おはなしする

  ➔ Noun + する (suru) verb construction

  ➔ Many Japanese nouns can be combined with the verb "する" (suru, to do) to form a new verb. "おはなし" (talk/story) + "する" means "to talk" or "to tell a story". This is a highly productive way to create verbs in Japanese.

• やさしいママ

  ➔ い-adjective + Noun construction

  ➔ "やさしい" is an い-adjective (adjective ending in -い). When an い-adjective modifies a noun, it directly precedes the noun without any connecting particle, describing the quality or characteristic of that noun.

• おしゃれな ねえさん

  ➔ な-adjective + Noun construction

  ➔ "おしゃれな" is a な-adjective (also known as adjectival noun or keiyō dōshi). Unlike い-adjectives, な-adjectives require the particle "な" (na) when they directly precede and modify a noun.

• よちよち あかちゃん

  ➔ Mimetic word / Onomatopoeia + Noun construction

  ➔ "よちよち" is a mimetic word (gitaigo) describing the unsteady, wobbly way a baby walks. Many such words can directly precede nouns to describe them, functioning like adjectives or adverbs.

• ワハハハハハハ

  ➔ Onomatopoeia (Giongo)

  ➔ "ワハハハハハハ" is an onomatopoeia (giongo) representing the sound of loud, hearty laughter. Japanese extensively uses onomatopoeia to express sounds, states, or feelings vividly.

• おはなしする

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis and rhythmic effect

  ➔ The repetition of "おはなしする" (to talk/tell a story) at the end of each verse serves as a refrain, creating a rhythmic effect and emphasizing the central action of communication within the family. Repetition is a common literary device in songs and poems.