おにごっこ – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 優里
• Album: 弐

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depths of Yuuri's "おにごっこ" (Onigokko), a song that beautifully intertwines the simple game of 'tag' with complex feelings of belated love and regret. Through its rich, nostalgic melodies and introspective lyrics, learners can explore conversational Japanese related to past relationships, emotions, and subtle expressions of longing. The narrative style and relatable themes make it an excellent choice for understanding contemporary Japanese storytelling in music.

[English]

The park swings are boring now

I chased after your back

Because you're going far away to another town

I didn't want to go home

When you came to pick me up, you walked away

A car started chasing, I ran after it

I waved goodbye until I couldn't see you anymore

I was faster than you, right?

This time, I'll be the one chasing you

Tag, I always win at hide and seek

I didn't realize I was falling in love

Only when I was the one chasing did I understand

I ran because I wanted to touch your back

...

We had no way to contact each other

I almost forgot about your back

At the opposite platform, there's a lingering memory

You were there

Maybe I’m just mistaken

Could it be, ah...

I lack the courage to say something

I don't want to admit it, it's so annoying

Even though it feels like so long ago

Hide and seek, you always win

This feeling can't be hidden

Even when we meet, I don't know what to say

I don’t know

Don’t decide how it ends

You were chasing after me

I was used to being liked

Loving you just because we might never see each other again

That’s unfair, ah...

You can't play hide and seek alone, you know

Love can’t even be born

Only when I’m the one chasing did I realize

I want to touch your back

Hide and seek, you win again

My love still hurts

Hurry up and let me touch your back

Just once more

End this game of tag

Let's go home quickly

...

[Japanese]

公園 ブランコも飽きて

君の背中 追いかけ走った

遠くの街に行ってしまうから

帰りたくなかった

迎えが来て 遠ざかる君

走り出す車 追いかけた

見えなくなるまで手を振ったよ

僕の方が足が速かったね

今度は僕が追いかけるね

鬼ごっこはいつも僕の勝ちで

恋心に気付けなかった

追いかける番になって初めてわかったよ

その背中に触れたくて 走ってた事

連絡取り方も無くて

君の背中 忘れかけてた

向かいのホーム 面影残した

君が居たんだ

多分見間違いだけどさ

もしかしたらって あぁ

声をかける勇気もないのに

認めたくないよ 女々しくって嫌だな

ずいぶんと前の事なのに

かくれんぼは君の勝ちで

隠せないまま この気持ちは

会えてもどう話せばいい？

わからないよ

終わり方も決めないで

君が僕を追いかけてた

好かれることに慣れていたんだ

会えなくなるから好きだなんて

ずるいよな あぁ

鬼ごっこは一人じゃできないよ

恋心も生まれないよ

追いかける番になって初めてわかったよ

その背中に触れたくて

かくれんぼは君の勝ちで

恋心がまだ痛くて

早くその背中に触れて

もう一度

鬼を終わらせてくれよ

早く帰ろう

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
公園 /kōen/ A1	noun - park
背中 /senaka/ A2	noun - back (of a person)
走る /hashiru/ A1	verb - to run
街 /machi/ A2	noun - town, city
気持ち /kimochi/ B1	noun - feeling, emotion
勝ち /kachi/ B1	noun - victory, win
恋心 /koigokoro/ B2	noun - romantic feelings
勇気 /yūki/ B2	noun - courage
触れる /fureru/ B2	verb - to touch
帰る /kaeru/ A1	verb - to return, to go home
声 /koe/ A2	noun - voice
気付く /kizuku/ B1	verb - to notice, to realize
話す /hanasu/ A1	verb - to speak, to talk
隠す /kakusu/ B2	verb - to hide
決める /kimeru/ B1	verb - to decide
一人 /hitori/ A2	noun - one person, alone

Key Grammar Structures

• 君の背中 追いかけ走った

  ➔ Verb + (を) + 追いかける (to chase) in past tense

  ➔ Using the verb "追いかける" in past tense (‘走った’) indicates a completed action of "chasing" in the past.

• きっと見間違いだけどさ

  ➔ Particle "だけど" (but) expressing contrast or contradiction

  ➔ The particle "だけど" is used here to contrast or introduce a contradiction to the previous idea, meaning "but" or "although".

• 会えてもどう話せばいい？

  ➔ Conditional form "ても" (even if) + verb "話す" (to talk)

  ➔ The "ても" form expresses "even if" or "regardless of" the action, here used to question what to do "even if" they meet.

• 早くその背中に触れて

  ➔ Verb "触れる" (to touch) in imperative form "触れて" (please touch)

  ➔ The imperative form "触れて" is used here to request or urge someone to "touch" the back quickly.

• もう一度

  ➔ "もう一度" (once more / one more time) - adverb indicating repetition

  ➔ The phrase "もう一度" is used to express the desire or request to do something "again" or "once more".