主人公 – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: SUPER BEAVER
• Album: 主人公

Lyrics & Translation

Ready to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of the Japanese language? SUPER BEAVER's "Shujinkou" offers a profound yet accessible entry point. This uplifting rock anthem, brimming with encouraging lyrics about finding your inner protagonist and embracing every new day, uses everyday vocabulary and relatable themes that make it perfect for language learners. Discover how the song beautifully conveys complex emotions and universal truths, providing a unique window into Japanese culture and thought.

[English]

Whether it's kindness or something silly,

Or delicious food, or a melody,

For moments when your heart can just smile,

A song wishing for days that offer salvation.

Unknown places, unknown people, everyone is a supporting character and the protagonist.

Did you wait anxiously, or did you greet it after a sleepless night? The sky is growing light.

Rain, wind, clear skies outside the window – how we see it, surely everyone is different.

Sometimes we encounter things and develop a good image of the future,

Or things suddenly disappear, yet our stomachs still rumble.

"That's that, this is this,"

They're equal, yet that's why it's so hard.

Even rock bottom, boredom, and ecstasy live on in the same morning.

Since we are all unique, I want to keep on thinking.

Whether it's kindness or something silly,

Or delicious food, or a melody,

A song wishing for days of salvation, where your heart can truly cry.

Rather than seeing the forest, like looking at the trees,

I want to see people, one by one.

The feelings I've submerged as if to hide them,

Wanting to scoop them up, I'm choosing this present moment.

Working backs, the sound of scooters, the smell of coffee –

Even in each light that oversees "beauty," there's daily life.

People coming and going – I think of that station before it was rebuilt.

Somehow, well, I'm doing fine.

"I can't see you, so I want to,"

Ah, I'm alive.

"That's that, now is now,"

Let's strive, I want to love today.

Before others' ways, first consider my own.

And then we live together.

Since we are all unique, we can feel.

Whether it's kindness or something silly,

Or delicious food, or a melody,

For moments when your heart can just smile,

A song wishing for days that offer salvation.

Rather than seeing the forest, like looking at the trees,

I want to see people, one by one.

The feelings I've submerged as if to hide them,

Wanting to scoop them up, I'm choosing this present moment.

Unknown places, unknown people –

Everyone is a supporting character and the protagonist.

Do you know?

The center of the world is always yourself.

It's me, it's you, it's that person.

[Japanese]

優しさでも くだらなさでも

おいしいものでも メロディでも

心がふと笑えるような

救いのある日々を願った歌

知らない場所 知らない人 誰しも脇役で 主人公

待ち侘びたのか 眠れぬまま迎えたのか 白む空

雨 風 晴れ 窓の外 どう見るのか きっとみんな違うな

めぐりあって 好くなった 未来のイメージがあったり

急に居なくなったり それでも僕らの 腹は鳴ってしまう

「それはそれ、これはこれ」

等しくて だから 難しいよ

どん底 退屈 有頂天も 同じ朝に暮らす

銘々 ゆえに 想いたいな

優しさでも くだらなさでも

おいしいものでも メロディでも

心がちゃんと泣けるような 救いのある日々を願った歌

森ではなく 木を見るように

人を見たい ひとりとひとり

隠すように沈めた気持ち

掬い上げたくて この今を選んでいる

働く その背中 原付の音 コーヒーの匂い

「綺麗」を司る 灯り一つ一つにも営み

行く人 帰る人 建て直す前の あの駅を想う

何だかんだ まあ 元気してるよ

会えないから 会いたい なんて

ああ、生きてるわ

「それはそれ、今は今」

勤しもう 愛したいぜ 今日を

人の振りより まず我が振り

そして共に暮らす

銘々 ゆえに 想えるんだ

優しさでも くだらなさでも

おいしいものでも メロディでも

心がふと笑えるような

救いのある日々を願った歌

森ではなく 木を見るように

人を見たい ひとりとひとり

隠すように沈めた気持ち

掬い上げたくて この今を選んでいる

知らない場所 知らない人

誰しも脇役で 主人公

知っているかい？

世界の中心は 何時だって自分だよ

僕で、君で、あの人だ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
主人公 /ɕu.d͡ʑiŋ.ko̞ː/ B1	noun - protagonist, main character
脇役 /wa.kʲi.ja.kɯ/ B2	noun - supporting role, side character
優しさ /ja.sa.ɕi.sa/ A2	noun - kindness, gentleness, tenderness
心 /ko̞.ko̞.ɾo̞/ A1	noun - heart, mind, spirit
救い /sɯ.kɯ.i/ B1	noun - salvation, relief, help, rescue
願う /ne̞.ɡa.ɯ/ B1	verb - to wish, to hope, to pray
日々 /hi.bʲi/ B1	noun - days, daily, every day
暮らす /kɯ.ɾa.sɯ/ B1	verb - to live, to make a living
想う /o̞.mo̞.ɯ/ B1	verb - to think deeply, to feel (often about someone/something, with affection or longing)
等しい /hi.to̞.ɕiː/ B2	adjective - equal, equivalent, identical
難しい /mɯ.zɯ.ka.ɕiː/ A1	adjective - difficult, hard, complicated
どん底 /do̞n.d͡zo̞.ko̞/ C1	noun - rock bottom, the very depths (of despair, poverty, etc.)
有頂天 /ɯ.t͡ɕo̞ː.te̞n/ C1	noun - ecstasy, elation, being in seventh heaven
生きる /i.kʲi.ɾɯ/ A1	verb - to live, to exist
世界 /se̞.ka.i/ A1	noun - world, society, public
自分 /d͡ʑi.bɯn/ A1	noun - oneself, myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, themselves
隠す /ka.kɯ.sɯ/ B1	verb - to hide, to conceal
掬い上げる /sɯ.kɯ.i.a.ɡe̞.ɾɯ/ B2	verb - to scoop up, to rescue (from difficulty), to pick up (a dropped item)

Key Grammar Structures

• 優しさでも くだらなさでも おいしいものでも メロディでも

  ➔ Noun + Demo (Inclusive Listing)

  ➔ The particle 「**でも**」 (demo) following a noun is used to list various possibilities or examples, implying 'even if/whether it's Noun A, or Noun B, or Noun C...' It suggests inclusiveness or a wide range of options. In this line, it lists different things that could make one's heart spontaneously smile.

• 心がふと笑えるような 救いのある日々を願った歌

  ➔ Clause + You na (Descriptive Comparison)

  ➔ 「**ような**」 is used to provide an example, comparison, or describe something by its characteristic, meaning 'like,' 'such that,' or 'as if.' Here, it describes the 'days' (日々) as 'days *such that* the heart can spontaneously smile and find salvation.'

• 知らない場所 知らない人 誰しも脇役で 主人公

  ➔ Dare shimo (Everyone/Anyone)

  ➔ 「**誰しも**」 means 'everyone' or 'anyone.' It implies that without exception, every single person fits the description, emphasizing universality. It is often used in slightly formal or reflective contexts.

• 眠れぬまま迎えたのか

  ➔ Verb + Mama (Maintaining State)

  ➔ 「**まま**」 indicates that a state or condition remains unchanged. It means 'as is,' 'while remaining,' or 'without changing.' Here, 「眠れぬ**まま**」 means 'while unable to sleep' or 'without having slept,' emphasizing that the action of 'welcoming' occurred in that continuous state.

• 未来のイメージがあったり

  ➔ Verb (ta-form) + Tari (Listing Examples)

  ➔ 「**たり**」 is used to list a few examples of actions or states, implying that there are other similar things happening or possibilities. It suggests an incomplete list or a variety of instances, giving a sense of 'doing X, doing Y, among other things.' Here, 「あったり」 implies 'there might be X (future images), among other possibilities.'

• それても僕らの 腹は鳴ってしまう

  ➔ Verb (te-form) + Shimau (Completion/Regret)

  ➔ 「**てしまう**」 indicates that an action is completed, often completely or unexpectedly. It can also convey a sense of regret, misfortune, or that something happened despite one's intentions. Here, 「鳴って**しまう**」 means 'ends up rumbling' or 'unavoidably rumbles,' perhaps with a hint of resignation that basic needs persist regardless of circumstances.

• 「それはそれ、これはこれ」

  ➔ X wa X, Y wa Y (Idiomatic Distinction)

  ➔ This idiomatic expression 「**XはX、YはY**」 emphasizes the distinctness or separation of two things, suggesting that they should be treated independently. It translates to 'that's that, and this is this,' or 'let's separate the two (issues/matters).' It implies that despite a superficial similarity or connection, they are fundamentally different.

• 銘々 ゆえに 想いたいな

  ➔ Noun/Clause + Yue ni (Therefore/Because)

  ➔ 「**ゆえに**」 is a more formal or literary equivalent of 「だから」 (therefore) or 「〜ので」 (because). It indicates a reason or cause leading to a consequence, often used in written language, academic texts, or more poetic contexts. Here, it suggests 'because each person is unique, (therefore) I want to think/feel deeply.'

• 森ではなく 木を見るように

  ➔ Noun + De wa naku (Not X, but Y)

  ➔ 「**ではなく**」 means 'not X, but Y.' It's used to negate the preceding noun and introduce an alternative or corrected statement, clarifying what something is *not* in contrast to what it *is*. Here, it emphasizes focusing on 'individual trees' rather than the 'forest' as a whole, metaphorically advocating for seeing individuals rather than a collective.

• 会いたい なんて

  ➔ Clause/Noun + Nante (Expressing Emotion/Emphasis)

  ➔ 「**なんて**」 is a versatile particle used to express a strong emotional reaction, such as surprise, disbelief, contempt, admiration, or to emphasize a statement. Here, 「会いたい **なんて**」 expresses a realization or strong feeling of wanting to meet someone, perhaps with a touch of irony or self-awareness ('to think I'd want to meet them!').