文通 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: imase, 松任谷由実

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the art of thoughtful communication through 'Buntsu' by imase and Yumi Matsutoya. This song, with its gentle Bossa Nova rhythm and conversational lyrics, offers a unique way to learn Japanese by following a dialogue between two people getting to know each other. It's a special song that reminds us of the beauty of taking our time in a fast-paced world, making it a rewarding experience for both language learners and music lovers.

[English]

Hey

If I could go back to when I was a child

and could do something,

what would you want to do?

Hey

Finally, tell me the things you love,

like movies and books,

or what you'd like to do on a holiday.

I want to hear them.

I won't tell you.

Talk more with me.

First imagine it, okay?

Just a slight difference in hobbies is enough to spark my interest.

Let the vibrations overlap, woo.

My heart raced and opened.

I sent it at dawn.

I want to get to know you through email.

Taking a route that hasn't been walked yet,

let's go the long way.

Don't rush the answer.

Hey

Suppose one day we leave Earth,

and we are with someone,

who would you want to be with?

Hey

Next, tell me what you think,

the plot of a novel,

the background you chose and why.

If I speak plainly,

it feels like the reply would stop and we could no longer meet.

But

even if I keep stretching myself,

eventually it will be found out.

A situation that keeps unfolding.

Someone I want to understand me,

someone I want to be scolded by,

that's not easy to find.

In each word,

a hidden hint is placed.

Don't rush the answer.

We exchanged messages in writing,

the stories we've shared so far,

to hear them in your voice.

Until the meeting place,

we'll probably arrive early.

Let’s walk slowly,

until I think of the first words.

[Japanese]

ねえ

もしも子供のころに戻って

何か出来るのなら

何をしたいですか？

hey

最後に教えてあなたの好きな、

映画や本のこと

休みにしたいこと

聞きたいな

教えてあげないわ

もっと会話して

イメージしてからね

ちょっと趣味が違うくらいが、ちょうど興味そそられ

重なってく vibration woo

ドキドキして開いた

明け方送信した

メール越しにあなたを知りたいな

まだ通らないルートで

遠回りをしようよ

答え急がないで

ねえ

いつか地球を離れるとして

誰かといるのなら

誰といたいですか？

hey

次は話してあなたが思う

小説のあらすじや

選んだ背景と、そのわけを

ありのままを言えば

返事が途絶えて会えなくなりそう

けれど

背伸びをし続けても

そのうちにバレちゃう

ひらきなおる シチュエーション

わかってもらいたいひと

しかってもらいたいひと

そんなに簡単には見つからない

言葉ひとつひとつに

ヒントが隠されてる

答え急がないで

文字で交わした

これまでの話を

貴方の声で聞く為に

待ち合わせ場所まで

早めに着きそうね

ゆっくり歩かせて

ひと言目を思いつくまで

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
子供 /kodomo/ A1	noun - child
戻る /modoru/ A2	verb - to return
好きな /suki na/ A1	adjective - favorite
映画 /eiga/ A2	noun - movie
本 /hon/ A1	noun - book
会話 /kaiwa/ A2	noun - conversation
イメージ /imēji/ B1	noun - image
趣味 /shumi/ A2	noun - hobby
ドキドキ /dokidoki/ B1	adjective - excited
メール /mēru/ A2	noun - email
ルート /rūto/ B1	noun - route
遠回り /tōmawari/ B1	noun - detour
小説 /shōsetsu/ A2	noun - novel
あらすじ /ārasuji/ B2	noun - plot
背伸び /senobi/ B2	noun - stretching verb - to reach beyond one's means
ひらきなおる /hirakinaoru/ C1	verb - to become defiant
待ち合わせ /machiawase/ B1	noun - appointment

Key Grammar Structures

• もしも子供のころに戻って 何か出来るのなら 何をしたいですか？

  ➔ Moshimo... no nara (Hypothetical Conditional)

  ➔ 「**Moshimo**」 emphasizes "moshi" (if), expressing a strong or less likely hypothetical situation. 「**Dekiru no nara**」 combines the potential form 「出来る」 (can do) with 「のなら」 (if that's the case), setting a hypothetical condition. It's often used for strong or less probable assumptions.

• あなたの好きな、 映画や本のこと 休みにしたいこと

  ➔ ~koto (Nominalizer)

  ➔ Adding 「**koto**」 after a verb or adjective phrase allows you to treat its content as a noun. Here, it nominalizes phrases like "things you like (movies or books)" and "things you want to do on your day off," expressing them as abstract "matters" or "facts."

• 教えてあげないわ

  ➔ ~te ageru (Benefactive Verb)

  ➔ 「~**te ageru**」 expresses the nuance that the speaker does something for the benefit of the listener or provides a favor. Here, it's in the negative form "oshiete agenai," meaning "I won't tell (for your benefit)." 「wa」 is a feminine or soft emphatic sentence-ending particle, or can be assertive.

• イメージしてからね

  ➔ ~te kara (Sequence of actions / Condition)

  ➔ Adding 「**kara**」 after the te-form of a verb indicates a sequence of actions ("after doing X, then Y") or a condition where the next action occurs only after the previous one is completed. Here, it implies "after you imagine (then let's talk)."

• メール越しにあなたを知りたいな

  ➔ ~goshi ni (Across / Through / Via)

  ➔ 「~**goshi ni**」 indicates something on the other side of an obstruction, or doing something through or via something else. Here, it expresses the desire to get to know the other person "via the medium of email."

• いつか地球を離れるとして

  ➔ ~to shite (Assuming / Supposing that)

  ➔ 「~**to shite**」 is used to state a premise or a hypothetical condition, meaning "assuming that..." or "if we suppose that...". It sets up a scenario for discussion or further thought. This usage often implies that the speaker is considering a specific situation.

• 会えなくなりそう

  ➔ ~sou (Looks like / Seems like)

  ➔ 「~**sou**」 is attached to the stem of a verb or i-adjective (or na-adjective + そう) to express that something "looks like" or "seems like" it will happen or is in a certain state, based on observation. Here, 「会えなくなりそう」 means "it looks like I won't be able to meet (you) anymore."

• そのうちにバレちゃう

  ➔ ~chau (Casual contraction of ~te shimau)

  ➔ 「~**chau**」 is a casual, contracted form of 「~te shimau」. It indicates that an action is completed, often with a nuance of regret, unintended outcome, or simply completion. Here, 「バレちゃう」 (from バレてしまう) means "it will end up being found out" or "it will be exposed (unintentionally/unfortunately)."

• わかってもらいたいひと しかってもらいたいひと

  ➔ ~te moraitai (Want someone to do something for me)

  ➔ 「~**te moraitai**」 expresses the speaker's desire for someone else to perform an action for their benefit. It's a combination of the te-form, 「もらう」 (to receive), and 「たい」 (want). Here, 「わかってもらいたいひと」 means "a person whom I want to understand me," and 「しかってもらいたいひと」 means "a person whom I want to scold me."

• 貴方の声で聞く為に

  ➔ ~tame ni (In order to / For the purpose of)

  ➔ 「~**tame ni**」 is used to express the purpose or reason for an action. When preceding a verb, it is attached to the plain form of the verb. Here, it means "in order to hear (the previous stories) in your voice."

• ゆっくり歩かせて

  ➔ ~saseru (Causative form)

  ➔ 「~**saseru**」 is the causative form of a verb, meaning "to make/let someone do something." It can express permission or compulsion. Here, 「歩かせて」 (from 歩かせる) in a request context implies "please let me walk slowly" or "allow me to walk slowly."