天体観測 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: BUMP OF CHICKEN

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the universe of Japanese rock with BUMP OF CHICKEN's iconic hit, "Tentai Kansoku"! This song, whose title means "Astronomical Observation," offers a unique gateway to understanding Japanese through its rich, metaphorical lyrics and captivating storytelling. You can learn poetic expressions and delve into themes of youth, searching for meaning, and resilience. Its relatable narrative and emotional depth make it a special piece that transcends language, inviting listeners to connect with universal feelings while picking up on nuances of the Japanese language.

[English]

2 AM, I carried my telescope to break the dawn

The radio tied to my belt says rain's not falling

You arrived two minutes later, carrying an exaggerated load

Shall we begin? Stargazing, searching for a shooting star

Doing our best not to be swallowed by the deep darkness

I tried to hold your trembling hand that day

Looking into the telescope, trying to see the unseen things

Breaking through the silence, numerous voices were born

Even if tomorrow calls us, we barely responded

Chasing the 'Now'—that shooting star, just the two of us

Before I knew it, I was always searching for something

For the meaning of happiness or where sadness belongs

Since birth, I’ve been searching until I die

So, shall we begin? Stargazing, searching for a shooting star

I remember everything I've found so far

The pain of not being able to hold your trembling hand

Trying to learn what I don’t know, looking into the telescope

Seeking a faint light that could illuminate the darkness

And I still remember that pain I came to understand

That shooting star called 'Now,' I’m still chasing it alone

As I grew taller, the things I wanted to tell you increased

Unsent letters piled up, heavy and collapsing

I'm doing well, with few worries

But I still remember one thing to this day

Like being struck by unexpectedly heavy rain, on the verge of crying

That day I couldn’t hold your trembling hand

Overlooking what I saw, I carried the telescope again

Running along the road of silence and darkness

And the pain I learned still supports me now

That shooting star called 'Now,' I’m still chasing it alone

Trying to see you once more, carrying the telescope again

Same as before, 2 AM, racing to Fumikiri

Shall we begin? Stargazing, even if you don't come in two minutes

That shooting star called 'Now'

Chasing it with you, just the two of us

[Japanese]

午前二時　フミキリに　望遠鏡を担いでった

ベルトに結んだラジオ　雨は降らないらしい

二分後に君が来た　大袈裟な荷物しょって来た

始めようか　天体観測　ほうき星を探して

深い闇に飲まれないように　精一杯だった

君の震える手を　握ろうとした　あの日は

見えないモノを見ようとして　望遠鏡を覗き込んだ

静寂を切り裂いて　いくつも声が生まれたよ

明日が僕らを呼んだって　返事もろくにしなかった

「イマ」という　ほうき星　君と二人追いかけていた

気が付けばいつだって　ひたすら何か探している

幸せの定義とか　哀しみの置き場とか

生まれたら死ぬまで　ずっと探している

さぁ　始めようか　天体観測　ほうき星を探して

今まで見つけたモノは　全部覚えている

君の震える手を　握れなかった痛みも

知らないモノを知ろうとして　望遠鏡を覗き込んだ

暗闇を照らす様な　微かな光　探したよ

そうして知った痛みを　未だに僕は覚えている

「イマ」という　ほうき星　今も一人追いかけている

背が伸びるにつれて　伝えたい事も増えてった

宛名の無い手紙も　崩れる程　重なった

僕は元気でいるよ　心配事も少ないよ

ただひとつ　今も思い出すよ

予報外れの雨に打たれて　泣きだしそうな

君の震える手を　握れなかった　あの日を

見えてるモノを見落として　望遠鏡をまた担いで

静寂と暗闇の帰り道を　駆け抜けた

そうして知った痛みが　未だに僕を支えている

「イマ」という　ほうき星　今も一人追いかけている

もう一度君に会おうとして　望遠鏡をまた担いで

前と同じ　午前二時　フミキリまで駆けてくよ

始めようか　天体観測　二分後に君が来なくとも

「イマ」という　ほうき星

君と二人追いかけている

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
望遠鏡 /bōenkyō/ B1	noun - telescope
天体観測 /tentai kansoku/ B2	noun - astronomical observation
星 /hoshi/ A2	noun - star
手 /te/ A1	noun - hand
叫ぶ /sakebu/ B2	verb - to shout
静寂 /seijaku/ B2	noun - silence, quiet
光 /hikari/ A2	noun - light
悲しみ /kanashimi/ B2	noun - sadness
未来 /mirai/ B1	noun - future
嘘 /uso/ A2	noun - lie, falsehood
夢 /yume/ B1	noun - dream
君 /kimi/ A1	noun - you (familiar)

Key Grammar Structures

• 始めようか　天体観測

  ➔ Let's start (shall we?)

  ➔ The verb "始めよう" is the volitional form of "始める" plus "か" to express a suggestion or invitation.

• 静寂を切り裂いて　いくつも声が生まれたよ

  ➔ Tearing apart the silence, many voices were born

  ➔ The phrase "切り裂いて" is the te-form of "切り裂く" (to tear) used to connect actions, indicating the action of tearing apart the silence.

• 見えないモノを見ようとして　望遠鏡を覗き込んだ

  ➔ Trying to see the invisible things, I looked into the telescope

  ➔ The phrase "見ようとして" combines the volitional form "見よう" of "見る" with "とする" to express an attempt or intention to do something.

• もう一度君に会おうとして　望遠鏡をまた担いで

  ➔ Trying to see you once again, I carried the telescope again

  ➔ The phrase "会おうとして" is the volitional form "会おう" of "会う" plus "とする" indicating an attempt or plan to meet again.

• 君の震える手を　握れなかった痛みも

  ➔ The pain of not being able to hold your trembling hand

  ➔ The form "握れなかった" is the past negative potential form of "握れる" (can hold), indicating inability in the past.