RIVER – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: AKB48

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a musical journey with AKB48's "RIVER," a powerful anthem that uses the imagery of a river to teach perseverance and self-belief. Learn how this iconic J-pop track combines uplifting melodies with a message of resilience, perfect for anyone looking to expand their understanding of Japanese culture and language through song.

[English]

AKB~!

48!

Keep moving forward! (Got it!)

Don’t stop! (Got it!)

Aim for the place where the sun rises

Walk down the road of hope!

Obstacles ahead, River! River! River!

The lying River!

The destiny River! River! River!

Tested by the River!

Throw away your doubts!

Show some guts!

Don’t hesitate!

Right now

Take that first step! Believe in yourself!

Forward, forward!

Keep straight ahead!

Cross the river!! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Dreams are always

Visible in the distance

Feel like they’re just out of reach

Pick up a stone at your feet

Throw yourself into it recklessly

And see what happens!

The river flows before you

It’s a wide, big river

Even if it’s dark and deep

Even if the currents are fast

You don’t have to be afraid

Even if you’re far away

Yes, there’s a bank on the other side

Believe in yourself more

Swim through the darkness!

Don’t look back! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

闇の中を

ひたすら泳げ！

振り返るな! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Reach out your hand, and

There’s a future waiting

Don’t give up on what’s out of reach!

The stones you throw

Make your dreams come true

You won’t hear the sound of falling

The river flows through

Your heart too

It’s a river of painful trials

Even if things don’t go well

Even if you drown sometimes

Just keep trying again

Don’t give up

The shore is out there

Eventually, you’ll reach it

Get over it!

River!

Ah—Ah—Ah—Ah—

Don’t make excuses anymore!

Ah—Ah—Ah—Ah—

You won’t know until you try!

Ah—Ah—Ah—Ah—

There’s only one way—forward!

Keep walking, keep walking, keep walking

Along the path you choose!

The river flows before you

It’s a wide, big river

Even if it’s dark and deep

Even if the currents are fast

You don’t have to be afraid

Even if you’re far away

Yes, there’s a bank on the other side

Believe in yourself more

The river flows in your heart too

It’s a river of sweat and tears!

Even if you fail

Even if you are swept away

Just start again

Don’t be weak and whiny

Hold on to your dreams

Until the day your wishes come true

Cross the river!

You can do it!

願い 叶う日が来るまで

川を渡れ！

You can do it!

[Japanese]

AKB~!

48!

前へ進め!(Got it!)

立ち止まるな!(Got it!)

目指すは陽が昇る場所

希望の道を歩け！

行く手 阻(はば)む River! River! River!

横たわるRiver!

運命のRiver! River! River!

試される River!

迷いは捨てるんだ！

根性を見せろよ！

ためらうな！

今すぐ

一歩 踏み出せよ! Believe yourself!

前へ 前へ!

まっすぐ進め！

川を渡れ!! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

いつだって夢は

遠くに見える

届かないくらい距離感じる

足下(あしもと)の石を

ひとつ拾って

がむしゃらになって

投げてみろ!

君の目の前に

川が流れる

広く 大きな川だ

暗く深くても

流れ速くても

怯えなくていい

離れていても

そうだ 向こう岸はある

もっと 自分を信じろよ

闇の中を

ひたすら泳げ！

振り返るな! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

手 伸ばせば そこに

未来はあるよ

届かないものとあきらめないで!

放り投げた石は

夢を叶えて

落ちる音なんか聞こえない

君の心にも

川が流れる

つらい試練の川だ

上手くいかなくても

時に溺れても

繰り返せばいい

あきらめるなよ

そこに 岸はあるんだ

いつか 辿り着けるだろう

Get over it!

River!

AH- AH- AH- AH-

自分に言い訳するんじゃねえ!

AH- AH- AH- AH-

やってみなけりゃわかんねえ!

AH- AH- AH- AH-

まっすぐ進むしかねえ!

ずっと ずっと ずっと

歩き続けろ

決めた道を!

君の目の前に

川が流れる

広く 大きな川だ

暗く深くても

流れ速くても

怯えなくていい

離れていても

そうだ 向こう岸はある

もっと 自分を信じろよ

君の心にも

川が流れる

汗と涙の川だ!

失敗してしまっても

流されてしまっても

やり直せばいい

弱音吐くなよ

夢にしがみつくんだ

願い 叶う日が来るまで

川を渡れ！

You can do it!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
進め /susume/ A2	verb - to move forward, to proceed
止まる /tomaru/ A2	verb - to stop, to come to a halt
希望 /kibō/ B1	noun - hope, wish for something good
道 /michi/ A2	noun - way, path
川 /kawa/ A1	noun - river
流れる /nagareru/ B1	verb - to flow, to stream
夢 /yume/ A2	noun - dream, aspiration
傷つく /kizutsu/ B2	verb - to get hurt, to be wounded
試す /tamesu/ B1	verb - to try, to test
迷う /mayou/ B2	verb - to get lost, to hesitate
信じる /shinjiru/ B1	verb - to believe, to trust
離れる /hanareru/ B2	verb - to separate, to be apart
未来 /mirai/ B1	noun - future

Key Grammar Structures

• 今すぐ一歩踏み出せよ！

  ➔ Imperative form with 〜よ for emphasis or command

  ➔ Use the imperative form with 〜よ to give a strong command or encouragement.

• 迷いは捨てるんだ！

  ➔ Imperative form with んだ (nda) for explanation or emphasis

  ➔ Use the imperative form with んだ to give a command with an explanatory tone or emphasis.

• Try to believe in yourself!

  ➔ Verb phrase with infinitive+to for expressing effort or intention

  ➔ Use an infinitive phrase with 'to' to indicate effort, intention, or purpose.

• 試されるRiver!

  ➔ Passive form of a verb with the suffix -られる (rarely used directly in English)

  ➔ Use the passive form of a verb with 〜られる to express that something is being tested or experienced.

• 勇気を持て！

  ➔ Imperative form with object particle を for encouragement

  ➔ Use the imperative form with the object particle を to give encouragement or commands.

• 離れていても そうだ 向こう岸はある

  ➔ Conditional clause using ても to express 'even if'

  ➔ Use 〜ても to form a conditional clause meaning 'even if' or 'although'.

• 自分を信じろよ！

  ➔ Imperative form of 信じる (to believe) with 〜よ for emphasis

  ➔ Use the imperative form of a verb with 〜よ to give a strong command or encouragement.