言の刃 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: にんじん

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative world of "言の刃" by にんじん, a recent release that offers a fascinating entry point into modern Japanese music. This J-Pop song, with its intriguing title "Blade of Words," provides a unique opportunity to explore contemporary Japanese lyrical expression and the depth of meaning that can be conveyed through its language.

[English]

Emotional, impulsive, reckless, mocking words that cut like a blade

"Something's different"—a nagging feeling starts to grow

What’s different? It seems like I can't quite understand

Like tangled threads, a sense of alienation creeps into my heart

Gradually, a deepening sense of anxiety builds up

Emotional, impulsive, reckless, mocking words

"You're different," "You're different," "You're strange"

Caught under scrutinizing eyes

Because small things tend to stick in our memories

Unnoticed, cracks start to form

Ah, I hold my heart to keep it from breaking, but it seems to darken

Hey, if you can't understand, just leave it alone

I wish you'd just appreciate that all flowers are beautiful

Don’t wave around righteousness with words I didn’t ask for

Someone’s idea of happiness is so painful

It seems like I can't even bloom in perfect colors

Ah, even when I seek diversity, I end up blending into one

Hey, this is just how the world always is

Emotional, impulsive, reckless, mocking words

Cursing me, cursing me, cursing me

A scar that lasts a lifetime

Because I want to live a life with less pain

I don't want to seek meaning in life

If I could meet someone who shares the same hardships

Someone whose gaze and suffering pass right through me

Filled with pure kindness, I want to become transparent

[Japanese]

感情的　短絡的　衝動的　嘲笑的　言の刃で

“何か違う”と　芽生えた　違和感と

何が違うの？　わからないみたい

絡まる様に　心　這う疎外感

だんだん何か　色濃くなる不安

感情的　短絡的　衝動的　嘲笑的　ことば

「きみは違う」「きみは違う」「きみはへん」

突きつけられた視線

些細なことが　記憶に残るから

気が付かないうちに　ひびが入るよ

あぁ　崩れないように　抱えた心　にごりそう

ねぇ　理解出来ないならさ　そっとしといてよ

どの花見ても綺麗だなんて　思ってくれるだけでいいのに

頼んでもない言葉で　正義を振りかざさないで

誰かが決めた“幸せ”が辛いよ

綺麗な色は　咲かせられないみたい

あぁ　多様さを求めても　一つに染まってしまう

ねぇ　世の中は　いつもそう

感情的　短絡的　衝動的　嘲笑的　ことば

僕を呪う　僕を呪う　僕を呪う

一生物の傷跡

痛みの少ない道を　生きたいから

人生に意味を　求めたくないよ

同じ生きづらさ　抱えた君と　出会えたら

どんな視線も　苦しみも　透過するような

澄んだ優しさに　満ちている　透明になりたい

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
感情的 (kanjouteki) /kã̠nʲd͡ʑo̞ːte̞kʲi/ B2	adjective - emotional
短絡的 (tanrakuteki) /tã̠ɰᵝɾa̠kɯ̟ᵝte̞kʲi/ C1	adjective - simplistic, rash, jumping to conclusions
衝動的 (shoudouteki) /ɕo̞ːdo̞ːte̞kʲi/ B2	adjective - impulsive
嘲笑的 (choushouteki) /t͡ɕo̞ːɕo̞ːte̞kʲi/ C1	adjective - mocking, derisive
刃 (yaiba) /jaiba/ B2	noun - blade
芽生える (mebaeru) /mebaeɾɯ/ B2	verb - to sprout, to bud, to dawn (on one)
違和感 (iwakan) /iɰᵝwa̠ka̠ɴ/ B2	noun - sense of discomfort, feeling out of place, incongruity
絡まる (karamaru) /ka̠ɾa̠ma̠ɾɯ/ B1	verb - to entangle, to intertwine
這う (hau) /ha̠ɯ/ B1	verb - to crawl, to creep
疎外感 (sogaikan) /so̞ɡa̠ika̠ɴ/ C1	noun - feeling of alienation, sense of isolation
色濃い (irokoi) /iɾo̞ko̞i/ B2	adjective - deeply colored, strong, intense
不安 (fuan) /ɸɯ̟ᵝwa̠ɴ/ A2	noun - anxiety, unease
視線 (shisen) /ɕiɕe̞ɴ/ B1	noun - gaze, line of sight
些細 (sasai) /sa̠sa̠i/ B2	adjective - trivial, minor, insignificant
傷跡 (kizuato) /kizuato/ B2	noun - scar
多様さ (tayousa) /ta̠jo̞ːsa̠/ B2	noun - diversity
透明 (toumei) /toːmeː/ B2	adjective - transparent, clear

Key Grammar Structures

• 感情的　短絡的　衝動的　嘲笑的　言の刃で

  ➔ The particle 'で' is used to indicate the means or method by which an action is performed.

  ➔

• “何か違う”と　芽生えた　違和感と

  ➔ The particle 'と' is used here to quote or indicate speech or thoughts.

  ➔

• 絡まる様に　心　這う疎外感

  ➔ The phrase '様に' (ように) indicates a manner or similarity, meaning 'like' or 'as if'.

  ➔

• だんだん何か　色濃くなる不安

  ➔ The adverb 'だんだん' means 'gradually' or 'more and more'.

  ➔

• 気が付かないうちに　ひびが入るよ

  ➔ The phrase 'うちに' indicates an unspecific time frame during which an action occurs or an event happens, meaning 'before you realize' or 'while'.

  ➔

• あぁ　崩れないように　抱えた心　にごりそう

  ➔ The phrase 'ように' here indicates purpose or intent, meaning 'in order to not collapse'.

  ➔

• 人生に意味を　求めたくないよ

  ➔ The verb '求めたい' is in the volitional form, expressing a desire or wish to do something.

  ➔