Step by step – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 浜崎あゆみ
• Album: sixxxxxx

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can feel like a big challenge, but Ayumi Hamasaki's “Step by step” reminds us of the power of small, consistent efforts. This song's encouraging lyrics and clear J-pop vocals make it a great and motivating companion for learners. Its message—that every single step forward is meaningful—is a special encouragement for anyone on a learning journey.

[English]

Because I've already got everything I lack

Losing something doesn’t scare me at all

If it’s a small dream, it probably won’t come true

Because it’s a big dream, that’s why I’m still running now

One more step, even if that turns out to be the last one

So I won’t regret, no matter what happens

One more step—our courage to step forward

Holds more meaning than a hundred steps

Rather than counting how many things we don’t have

It’s about how many things we can notice that we do have

You probably couldn’t even imagine on your own

But being together, see, there are infinite possibilities

One more step—no matter how uncool it looks,

Even if people laugh at us, I won’t give up

One more step—the courage in our hearts

Becomes the power to move the world

One more step, even if that’s the last one

So I won’t regret, no matter what happens

One more step—the courage we have to step forward

Holds more meaning than a hundred steps

Rather than counting how many things we lack

It’s about noticing all the good things we have

Even if it seems so uncool, I won’t give up

One more step—the strength of our hearts

...

[Japanese]

足りないモノならとっくにあるから

失う事なんて何にもこわくない

小さな夢ならば叶わないだろう

大きな夢だから今まだ走ってるんだろう

もう一歩って 例えばそれが最後の

一歩になっても悔やまないように

もう一歩って 踏み出す僕らの勇気は

100歩分以上の意味を持つから

無いものいつまで数えてるより

有るものいくつ気付けるかだよ

ひとりじゃ想像も出来なかっただろう

一緒にいることでほら無限の可能性に

あと一歩って どれだけカッコ悪くって

笑われてたって諦めない

あと一歩って 踏ん張る僕らの心が

世界を動かすチカラになる

もう一歩って 例えばそれが最後の

一歩になっても悔やまないように

もう一歩って 踏み出す僕らの勇気は

100歩分以上の意味を持つから

あと一歩って どれだけカッコ悪くって

笑われてたって諦めない

あと一歩って 踏ん張る僕らの心が

世界を動かすチカラになる

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
夢 /yume/ A2	noun - dream
勇気 /yūki/ B1	noun - courage
心 /kokoro/ A2	noun - heart/mind
走る /hashiru/ A2	verb - to run
数える /kazoeru/ B1	verb - to count
可能性 /kanōsei/ B2	noun - possibility
世界 /sekai/ A2	noun - world
意味 /imi/ B1	noun - meaning
踏み出す /fumidasu/ B2	verb - to step out
笑う /warau/ A1	verb - to laugh
悔やむ /kuyamu/ B2	verb - to regret
無限 /mugen/ B2	adjective - infinite
踏ん張る /funbaru/ B2	verb - to brace oneself
カッコ悪い /kakkowarui/ B1	adjective - uncool/awkward

Key Grammar Structures

• なら

  ➔ Conditional form used for 'if' or 'since'.

  ➔ 'なら' indicates a condition or assumption, similar to 'if' or 'since' in English.

• 一歩って

  ➔ Casual shortening of '一歩と', meaning 'one step'.

  ➔ 'って' is a casual quoting particle used here to emphasize or colloquially refer to '一歩' (one step).

• 悔やまない

  ➔ Negative form of '悔やむ', meaning 'not to regret'.

  ➔ '悔やわない' is the negation of '悔やむ', meaning 'to not regret' or 'will not regret'.

• 気付ける

  ➔ Potential form of '気付く', meaning 'to be able to notice or realize'.

  ➔ '気付ける' is the potential form of '気付く', expressing the ability to notice or become aware of something.

• 動かす

  ➔ Verb meaning 'to move' or 'to influence'.

  ➔ '動かす' is a verb meaning 'to move' or 'to influence' something or someone.

• 意味を持つ

  ➔ Expression meaning 'to have meaning' or 'to hold significance'.

  ➔ '意味を持つ' expresses the idea that something 'has meaning' or 'carries significance'.

• 動かす

  ➔ The verb '動かす' is transitive, meaning 'to move (something)'.

  ➔ '動かす' is a transitive verb that requires a direct object, meaning 'to move (something)'.