Display Bilingual:

ねえ 00:11
もしも子供のころに戻って 00:12
何か出来るのなら 00:17
何をしたいですか? 00:21
hey 00:24
最後に教えてあなたの好きな、 00:26
映画や本のこと 00:32
休みにしたいこと 00:35
聞きたいな 00:37
教えてあげないわ 00:39
もっと会話して 00:46
イメージしてからね 00:48
ちょっと趣味が違うくらいが、ちょうど興味そそられ 00:52
重なってく vibration woo 01:03
ドキドキして開いた 01:07
明け方送信した 01:10
メール越しにあなたを知りたいな 01:13
まだ通らないルートで 01:20
遠回りをしようよ 01:24
答え急がないで 01:27
ねえ 01:37
いつか地球を離れるとして 01:37
誰かといるのなら 01:44
誰といたいですか? 01:47
hey 01:50
次は話してあなたが思う 01:52
小説のあらすじや 01:57
選んだ背景と、そのわけを 02:01
ありのままを言えば 02:05
返事が途絶えて会えなくなりそう 02:11
けれど 02:17
背伸びをし続けても 02:18
そのうちにバレちゃう 02:22
ひらきなおる シチュエーション 02:25
わかってもらいたいひと 02:32
しかってもらいたいひと 02:36
そんなに簡単には見つからない 02:39
言葉ひとつひとつに 02:46
ヒントが隠されてる 02:49
答え急がないで 02:53
文字で交わした 03:00
これまでの話を 03:03
貴方の声で聞く為に 03:06
待ち合わせ場所まで 03:12
早めに着きそうね 03:16
ゆっくり歩かせて 03:19
ひと言目を思いつくまで 03:22

文通 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

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By
imase, 松任谷由実
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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 you could return to your childhood days
What would you do?
What would you want to try?
Hey
Tell me one last thing—your favorite
Movies, books you love
Things you’d do on days off
I want to hear
But I won’t tell you yet
Let’s talk a little more
Imagine it first, then
Our different tastes spark just enough interest
Overlapping vibrations, woo
With a pounding heart, I opened it
Sent it as dawn approached
I want to know you through emails
Let’s take detours
On paths still unfamiliar
Don’t rush the answer
Hey
If someday we left Earth behind
Who would you want
By your side?
Hey
Next, tell me your thoughts about
A novel’s storyline
The reasons behind your choices
If I speak my truth
The replies might stop, we might drift apart
But
Even if I keep pretending
It’ll show eventually
A situation where I can be myself
Someone who’ll understand me
Someone who’ll scold me too
It’s not so easy to find
Each word holds a hidden hint
In every single line
Don’t rush the answer
To hear the stories we’ve shared
Through written words
In your own voice
I’ll head to our meeting spot
Might arrive too early, so
Let me walk slowly
Until I find the first words to say
[Japanese] Show

Key Vocabulary

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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

/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

Do you remember what “子供” or “戻る” means in "文通"?

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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."