ON THE WAY ～抱きしめるよ～ – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: WONHO

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the tender emotions of WONHO's “ON THE WAY ～抱きしめるよ～,” his first Japanese single entirely written, composed, and produced by him. This beautiful ballad offers a unique opportunity to learn Japanese phrases directly from an artist's heartfelt message, particularly expressions of love, gratitude, and reunion, making language learning an emotional and engaging experience.

[English]

It's been a while since we last met, and I'm surrounded by the faint scent of you.

The fragrance of you, whom I miss so dearly.

Memories of our time together.

Remain etched in my mind.

Wanna stay inside your heart.

I'm on the way.

It's been a while since I've seen you.

Thank you for waiting for me.

I want to hold you close in my heart.

It's been a while since I've seen you.

Thank you for waiting for me.

I'll fly down to where you are.

Like falling leaves, I'll gently descend.

And settle beside you.

My heart, which holds you tight.

Will one day become a forest.

And rustle the leaves to envelop you.

I'll become a forest.

And hold you close forever.

The path that you and I have walked together.

Even when our hands, which were once connected, suddenly parted ways.

Don't worry about a thing.

Everything will be alright.

Wanna stay inside your arms.

I'm on the way.

It's been a while since I've seen you.

Thank you for waiting for me.

I want to hold you close in my heart.

It's been a while since I've seen you.

Thank you for waiting for me.

I'll fly down to where you are.

Like falling leaves, I'll gently descend.

And settle beside you.

My heart, which holds you tight.

Will one day become a forest.

And rustle the leaves to envelop you.

I'll become a forest.

And hold you close forever.

I'm on the way.

It's been a while since I've seen you.

Thank you for waiting for me.

I want to hold you close in my heart.

It's been a while since I've seen you.

Thank you for waiting for me.

I'll hold you close in my heart.

[Japanese]

しばらく会ってないよ。ふわり漂う

恋しい君の その香り

僕たちの思い出

記憶に残る

Wanna stay inside your heart

I’m on the way

久しぶりに君へ

待ってくれてありがとう

僕のこの胸に君を抱きしめたい

久しぶりに君へ

待ってくれてありがとう

君がいる場所へ

舞い降りる

落ち葉のごとく降り積む

君抱（いだ）く僕の

この心　いつか森のごと

葉を揺らし　君包むよ

森になり僕は

いつまでも君を抱きしめるよ

君と僕が共に歩んできた道

繋ぐ手ふいに分かつ時もあった

何も心配ないよ

もう大丈夫

Wanna stay inside your arms

I’m on the way

久しぶりに君へ

待ってくれてありがとう

僕のこの胸に君を抱きしめたい

久しぶりに君へ

待ってくれてありがとう

君がいる場所へ

舞い降りる

落ち葉のごとく降り積む

君抱（いだ）く僕の

この心　いつか森のごと

葉を揺らし　君包むよ

森になり僕は

いつまでも君を抱きしめるよ

I’m on the way

久しぶりに君へ

待ってくれてありがとう

僕のこの胸に君を抱きしめたい

久しぶりに君へ

待ってくれてありがとう

僕のこの胸に君を抱きしめるよ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
会う /au/ A1	verb - to meet
恋しい /koishii/ B1	adjective - dear, beloved, longed for
思い出 /omoide/ B1	noun - memory, recollection
心 /kokoro/ A2	noun - heart, mind, spirit
抱きしめる /dakishimeru/ B2	verb - to hug, to embrace
道 /michi/ A2	noun - road, path
待つ /matsu/ A1	verb - to wait
ありがとう /arigatou/ A1	phrase - thank you
舞い降りる /maioriru/ B2	verb - to descend gracefully, to come down
葉 /ha/ A2	noun - leaf
分かつ /wakatsu/ B1	verb - to separate, to divide
大丈夫 /daijoubu/ A2	phrase - it's okay, no problem
胸 /mune/ B1	noun - chest, breast
君 /kimi/ A1	noun - you (informal)
共に /tomo ni/ B1	adverb - together

Key Grammar Structures

• Wanna stay inside your heart

  ➔ Use of 'Wanna' as a colloquial contraction of 'Want to', expressing desire.

  ➔ 'Wanna' is a casual contraction used in spoken English instead of 'Want to'.

• 待ってくれてありがとう (Matte kurete arigatou)

  ➔ Use of the te-form 'て' in 'くれて' to indicate giving a favor, combined with 'ありがとう' to express gratitude.

  ➔ The te-form 'くれて' expresses that someone has done something for you, often used with 'ありがとう' (thank you).

• 葉を揺らし (Ha wo yurashi)

  ➔ Use of the causative form '揺らし' (yurashi) from '揺れる' to indicate causing something to shake or sway.

  ➔ '揺らし' is the causative form of '揺れる', meaning to cause something to shake or sway.

• 森になり (Mori ni nari)

  ➔ Use of the 'になる' construction to indicate transform or becoming, here meaning 'to become a forest'.

  ➔ 'になる' is a Japanese grammatical structure indicating change or transformation into something.

• いつまでも (Itsumademo)

  ➔ Adverb meaning 'forever' or 'always', indicating permanence or continuity.

  ➔ 'いつまでも' is an adverb expressing permanence or an eternal duration.

• いつか森のごと (Itsuka mori no goto)

  ➔ Use of 'のごと' (like 'like' or 'as') to compare or liken one thing to another, here comparing to a forest.

  ➔ 'のごと' is a classical or literary way to liken or compare something to something else, similar to 'like' or 'as'.