Silence – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 倖田來未

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through Koda Kumi's 'Silence' offers a unique opportunity to explore the nuances of expressing deep, complex emotions. The song's carefully chosen words, born from a collaboration with a film director, provide a window into how lyrics can convey both gentle comfort and probing questions. Its beautiful ballad melody and clear, emotive vocals make it an accessible and moving piece for language learners to connect with the heart of Japanese pop music.

[English]

Familiar landscapes whisper

The fragility of love

Even the reason for the pain in my heart...

And forgiveness...

Why did I end up like this?

Why was I born this way?

Don't sugarcoat it with words

Are you okay with that?

Is that answer okay?

No matter what form you take

My feelings for you remain unchanged

Can't I save you?

Can I fill the emptiness?

I just wanted to hold you

I searched for you in the space between dreams

Memories resurface

I love you, I love you

It's heartbreaking, but

My true feelings

Are unknown to anyone

Yet our hearts can still connect

Are you okay with that?

Is that answer okay?

No matter what form you take

My feelings for you remain unchanged

Can't I save you?

Can I fill the emptiness?

I just wanted to hold you

Because nobody knows what true love is

Two shadows intersect, changing shape

Why do they disappear again?

It's okay to cry here

It's okay for you to cry

No matter what form you take

My feelings for you remain unchanged

It's okay to cry here

It's okay to cry anytime

Because I'll just hold you

I'll hold you

[Japanese]

見慣れた 風景が語る

愛の儚さを

心の痛みの理由も...

許しも...

どうして こんな風に

生まれてきたんだろう

言葉を並べて ごまかさないで

君はそれでいいのかな？

その答えでいいのかな？

どんな姿であっても

変わらず想ってた

君を救えないのかな？

寂しさ埋められるかな？

君をただ抱きしめたかった

夢の狭間で探した

記憶蘇る

好きだよ 好きだよ

切なくなるけど

本当の気持ちは

誰にもわからない

それでも心は重なり合える

君はそれでいいのかな？

その答えでいいのかな？

どんな姿であっても

変わらず想ってた

君を救えないのかな？

寂しさ埋められるかな？

君をただ抱きしめたかった

誰もが皆 本当の愛を知らないから

2つの影 すれ違って形を変え

どうしてまた消えてく

ここで泣いていいんだよ

君は泣いていいんだよ

どんな姿であっても

変わらず想うから

ここで泣いていいんだよ

いつも泣いていいんだよ

君をただ抱きしめるから

抱きしめるから

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
儚さ /hakanasa/ B2	noun - transience
痛み /itami/ A2	noun - pain
許し /yurushi/ B1	noun - forgiveness
言葉 /kotoba/ A1	noun - words
ごまかさないで /gomakasanai de/ B2	verb - don't deceive
寂しさ /sabishisa/ B1	noun - loneliness
埋められる /umerareru/ B2	verb - to be filled
抱きしめる /dakishimeru/ B1	verb - to hug
夢 /yume/ A1	noun - dream
狭間 /hazama/ B2	noun - narrow space
記憶 /kioku/ B1	noun - memory
蘇る /yomigaeru/ B2	verb - to revive
切なくなる /setsunakunaru/ B2	verb - to become sad
重なり合える /kasanariaeru/ B2	verb - to overlap
影 /kage/ A1	noun - shadow
形を変え /katachi o kaeru/ B2	verb - to change shape

Key Grammar Structures

• どうして こんな風に 生まれてきたんだろう

  ➔ Using the volitional form + んだろう to express conjecture or speculation about a past event.

  ➔ The phrase indicates the speaker's conjecture about why they were born in a certain way.

• 君はそれでいいのかな？

  ➔ Use of かな to express wondering or seeking confirmation in an informal or introspective manner.

  ➔ The phrase expresses the speaker's pondering or wondering about whether their actions or feelings are acceptable.

• どんな姿であっても 想ってた

  ➔ Use of ても to indicate 'regardless of' or 'even if' attached to a noun or clause.

  ➔ The construction indicates that the feeling of thinking about someone remains unchanged regardless of their form or situation.

• 誰にもわからない

  ➔ Use of ない to form the negative of a verb, meaning 'not to know' or 'unknown'.

  ➔ The phrase indicates that nobody truly knows or can understand the speaker's genuine feelings or thoughts.

• いつも泣いていいんだよ

  ➔ Use of いいんだよ (good to) to give permission or reassurance that it is okay to do something.

  ➔ This phrase reassures someone that it's okay to cry whenever they need, providing emotional support.

• 抱きしめるから

  ➔ Using から to indicate reason or cause, meaning 'because I will embrace (you)'.

  ➔ This phrase indicates that the reason for hugging is because the speaker intends to do so, emphasizing emotional support.