手紙 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: back number
• Album: アンコール

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the touching sentiment behind back number's "手紙," a song that beautifully encapsulates the gratitude and love for family. Delve into the emotional lyrics and discover how this song can help you explore and express your own feelings of appreciation.

[English]

When something happy happens

I just want to tell someone about it

Because there are people who’ll be happier than me

People who raised me, that’s probably why

When my body feels tired

I remember, even if it’s annoying, with ginger and honey

Even when I’m irritable, I can’t help but think of you

Even when we’re apart, I’m still protected

You’ve always waved and smiled at me

So I wouldn’t get lost on my way home

Even when I can’t face forward anymore

I want you to see me if I look back

That I’m loved

And that I’m aware of it properly

Someday I’ll write it into a song

Getting carried away and leaving town

I learned my lesson, then was at a loss, confused

Sometimes I resented those who pass me by

But still, I want to someday be proud of myself

And when that day comes

I want you to be proud of me too

The day I scraped my knees and still went home

For some reason, I looked more hurt than you

Those memories still linger now, taking different forms

Even when we’re apart, I’m still protected

You’ve always waved and smiled at me

So I wouldn’t get lost on my way home

Even when I can’t face forward anymore

I want you to see me if I look back

That I’m loved

And that I realize it properly

Someday I’ll put it into a song

Something I want to truly give back

Someday I’ll write it into a song

...

[Japanese]

嬉しい事があった時に

誰かに言いたくなるのは

自分よりも喜んでくれる人に

育ててもらったからなんだろうな

身体がだるくなった時は

確か生姜とハチミツで

口うるさくて嫌でも思い出すよ

離れていても守られているんだ

あなたはずっと手を振って笑ってくれた

帰り道迷わないように

もし前を向けなくなった時も

振り返ればいつも見えるように

愛されている事に

ちゃんと気付いている事

いつか歌にしよう

思い上がって街を出て

思い知った挙句 途方に暮れて

追い越していく人を恨んでみたりして

それでもいつか自分の事

誇れるように そしてその時は

誇らしく思ってもらえるように

膝すりむいて帰った日は

なぜか僕より痛そうで

そんな記憶が形を変え今も

離れていても守られているんだ

あなたはずっと手を振って笑ってくれた

帰り道迷わないように

もし前を向けなくなった時も

振り返ればいつも見えるように

愛されている事に

ちゃんと気付いている事

いつか歌にしよう

ちゃんと返したい事

いつか歌にしよう

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
嬉しい /ureshii/ A2	adjective - happy
言いたくなる /iitakunaru/ B1	verb - to want to say
喜んで /yorokonde/ A2	verb - to be glad
守られている /mamorareteiru/ B2	verb - to be protected
思い出す /omoidasu/ B1	verb - to remember
愛されている /aisareteiru/ B2	verb - to be loved
気付いている /kizuiteiru/ B2	verb - to be aware
歌 /uta/ A1	noun - song
記憶 /kioku/ B1	noun - memory
誇れる /hokareru/ B2	verb - to be proud
痛そう /itasou/ A2	adjective - looks painful
迷わない /mayowanai/ B1	verb - not to get lost
帰り道 /kaerimichi/ A2	noun - way home
振って /futte/ A2	verb - to wave

Key Grammar Structures

• 時は経つに従って

  ➔ The phrase 'に従って' expresses 'according to' or 'as something happens'.

  ➔ The particle 'に' indicates the target or basis, and '従って' is the te-form of '従う' (to follow).

• 離れていても

  ➔ 'ても' is a concessive suffix meaning 'even if' or 'although'.

  ➔ The form is the te-form of '離れる' (to leave) plus 'も', indicating 'even if' or 'despite being apart'.

• 気付いている事

  ➔ 'ている' indicates an ongoing state or awareness.

  ➔ The verb '気付く' (to notice) in the te-iru form shows that the subject is currently aware of something.

• 歌にしよう

  ➔ 'にしよう' is the volitional form meaning 'let's make it ...' or 'I will ...'.

  ➔ The volitional form of 'する' (to do) is 'しよう', and combined with 'に', it expresses 'let's make it into a ...'.

• 振り返れば

  ➔ 'ば' is a conditional suffix meaning 'if' or 'when'.

  ➔ The form '振り返れば' is the conditional '振り返る' (to look back) plus 'ば', meaning 'if you look back'.