三文小説 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: King Gnu

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and King Gnu's "三文小説" is a perfect companion. The song's rich, poetic lyrics offer a beautiful way to learn expressive and emotional Japanese vocabulary. Its theme of finding meaning in one's own story is universal, and Satoru Iguchi's stunning vocal performance makes it a truly special and memorable piece of music to connect with.

[English]

In this world, everyone

may forget you,

they say you've aged quite a bit,

but today, I still laugh beside you.

You don't have to be afraid,

it's okay to be just as you are.

Counting the number of wrinkles beside you,

...

Even if our lives

are just a cheap novel,

I have no intention of throwing it away,

I'll rewrite it as many times as needed.

Everyone entrusts their love,

destined to wander forever.

At the end of this novel,

I'll add what comes next.

To face the truth,

there are times when you have to be alone.

Even knowing it's a mistake,

there's a story I want to keep drawing.

Ah,

with a script full of nonsense

and a cheap play, I want to keep

hanging on forever.

Ah,

with your clumsy

expressions and words,

I find salvation in you.

...

Even if the brilliance of those days

has faded away,

they say you've aged quite a bit,

but tomorrow, I will still laugh beside you.

You don't have to be sad,

it's okay to be just as you are.

Counting the passing seconds beside you,

the tears that flow endlessly

divide life into many chapters,

just like a novel.

Even knowing it's foolish,

there's a story I must keep struggling with.

Ah,

standing still,

I can now push strongly against

that unreliable back from that day.

Ah,

with my silly

expressions and words,

I see you smiling.

...

Ah,

with a script full of nonsense

and a cheap play, I want to keep

hanging on forever.

Ah,

with your clumsy

expressions and words,

I find salvation in you.

Ah,

standing still,

I can now push strongly against

that unreliable back from that day.

Ah,

with my silly

expressions and words,

I see you smiling.

In this world, everyone

may forget you,

they say you've aged quite a bit,

but today, I will still laugh beside you.

You don't have to be afraid,

it's okay to be just as you are.

Counting the number of wrinkles beside you,

...

[Japanese]

この世界の誰もが

君を忘れ去っても

随分老けたねって

今日も隣で笑うから

怯えなくて良いんだよ

そのままの君で良いんだよ

増えた皺の数を隣で数えながら

僕らの人生が

三文小説だとしても

投げ売る気は無いね

何度でも書き直すよ

誰もが愛任せ

いつまでも彷徨う定め

この小説の果ての

その先を書き足すよ

真実と向き合うためには

一人にならなきゃいけない時がある

過ちだと分かっていても尚

描き続けたい物語があるよ

あゝ

駄文ばかりの脚本と

三文芝居にいつ迄も

付き合っていたいのさ

あゝ

君の不器用な

表情や言葉一つで

救われる僕がいるから

あの頃の輝きが

息を潜めたとしても

随分老けたねって

明日も隣で笑うから

悲しまないで良いんだよ

そのままの君が良いんだよ

過ぎゆく秒針を隣で数えながら

止めどなく流るる泪雨が

小説のように人生を何章にも

区切ってくれるから

愚かだと分かっていても尚

足掻き続けなきゃいけない物語があるよ

あゝ

立ち尽くした

あの日の頼りない背中を

今なら強く押して見せるから

あゝ

僕のくだらない

表情や言葉一つで

微笑んだ君がいるから

あゝ

駄文ばかりの脚本と

三文芝居にいつ迄も

付き合っていたいのさ

あゝ

君の不器用な

表情や言葉一つで

救われる僕がいるから

あゝ

立ち尽くした

あの日の頼りない背中を

今なら強く押して見せるから

あゝ

僕のくだらない

表情や言葉一つで

微笑んだ君がいるから

この世界の誰もが

君を忘れ去っても

随分老けたねって

今日も隣で笑うから

怯えなくて良いんだよ

そのままの君で良いんだよ

増えた皺の数を隣で数えながら

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
世界 /seɪkai/ A2	noun - world
君 /kimi/ A2	noun - you (informal)
笑う /warau/ A2	verb - to laugh
良い /yoi/ A2	adjective - good
人生 /jinsei/ B1	noun - life
物語 /monogatari/ B1	noun - story
書く /kaku/ A2	verb - to write
悲しむ /kanashimu/ B1	verb - to be sad
強い /tsuyoi/ B1	adjective - strong
過ち /ayamachi/ B2	noun - mistake
果て /hate/ B2	noun - end
不器用 /bukiyou/ B2	adjective - clumsy
救う /sukuu/ B2	verb - to save
皺 /shiwa/ B2	noun - wrinkle
定め /sadame/ C1	noun - destiny
彷徨う /samayou/ C1	verb - to wander

Key Grammar Structures

• ても

  ➔ conjunctive particle meaning 'even if' or 'regardless of'

  ➔ Used to indicate a contrast or concession, meaning 'even if' or 'regardless of' the situation.

• ながら

  ➔ conjunctive particle meaning 'while' or 'simultaneously'

  ➔ Used to indicate two actions happening at the same time.

• ために

  ➔ phrase meaning 'for the purpose of' or 'in order to'

  ➔ Indicates the purpose or aim of an action.

• とともに

  ➔ phrase meaning 'together with' or 'along with'

  ➔ Indicates doing something simultaneously or in conjunction with something else.

• ながら

  ➔ used for 'while' or 'despite' in concessive sense

  ➔ Indicates contrast or concession, often translating as 'although' or 'despite'.

• ばかり

  ➔ particle indicating 'nothing but' or 'only'

  ➔ Used to emphasize that something is only or just the amount or thing mentioned.

• ことがある

  ➔ phrase indicating 'there are times when' or 'sometimes'

  ➔ Indicates that something happens occasionally or under certain circumstances.