へび – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: ヨルシカ
• Album: Digital Single「へび」

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Japanese through Yorushika's "Hebi" offers a unique opportunity to engage with poetic and literary language. The song's lyrics are rich with metaphors and allusions to classical Chinese poetry, providing a deeper cultural and linguistic experience. The gentle melody and clear vocals of suis make it easier to follow along and appreciate the nuances of the Japanese language, turning language learning into an emotional and artistic journey.

[English]

I saw that cloud whose whereabouts are unknown

My scales resembled you

With two tongues, eyelids never sleep

There’s a vague scent of mugwort

Under that cloud whose whereabouts are unknown

My heart was like sparks flying

Without shoes, unaware of ears

Listening to winter's breathing

Sliding on a bluebell bed, it feels like spring

Is that how chickadees sing?

Unaware of the ocean, not appreciating flowers, looking up at the sky

Just want to see that mystical cloud again

Beneath that cloud whose whereabouts are unknown

Your scales resembled sunlight

Unknowing rain, feeling it warm to the touch

There’s a vague scent of mugwort again

Rolled on a bed of sprouting moss

Like those days

Is the creeping oxalis this soft?

Unaware of spring, not admiring flowers, tasting the wind

Just want to see how deep the sea is

If I go through that vast ocean

And see the whiteness of that cloud

After dreaming of you

There’s nothing else

Sliding on a bluebell bed, when spring comes

Does the yellow-breasted bunting laugh like that?

Unaware of the sea, not admiring flowers, looking up at the sky

I just want to see you

Beneath that cloud whose whereabouts are unknown

My heart resembled yours

With two tongues, eyelids never sleep

Like that snake I saw someday

[Japanese]

行方知らずのあの雲を見た

わたしの鱗はあなたに似ていた

舌は二つ、まぶたは眠らず

ぼやけたよもぎの香りがする

行方知らずのあの雲の下

わたしの心は火の粉に似ていた

靴はいらず、耳は知らず

冬の寝息を聞く

ブルーベルのベッドを滑った　春みたいだ

シジュウカラはあんな風に歌うのか

海を知らず、花を愛でず、空を仰ぐわたしは

また巫山の雲を見たいだけ

行方知らずのあの雲の下

あなたの鱗は日差しに似ていた

雨を知らず、触れて熱く

ぼやけたよもぎの香りがする

芽吹く苔のベッドを転がった

あの頃みたいに

カタバミはこんな風に柔いのか

春を知らず、花を愛でず、風を舐めるわたしは

ただ海の深さを見たいだけ

あの大きな海を経れば

あの雲の白さを見れば

あなたとの夢の後では

他には

ブルーベルのベッドを滑った　春になれば

ホオジロはあんな風に笑うのか

海を知らず、花を愛でず、空を仰ぐわたしは

ただあなたを見たいだけ　

行方知らずのあの雲の下

わたしの心はあなたに似ていた

舌は二つ、まぶたは眠らず

いつか見たへびに似る

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
雲 (kumo) /kumo/ A2	noun - cloud
鱗 (uroko) /ɯɾo̞ko̞/ B1	noun - scale (of a fish or reptile)
舌 (shita) /ɕi̥ta/ A2	noun - tongue
眠る (nemuru) /ne̞mɯɾɯ/ A2	verb - to sleep
香 (kaori) /ka̠o̞ɾʲi/ B1	noun - fragrance, scent, aroma
心 (kokoro) /ko̞ko̞ɾo̞/ A2	noun - heart, mind
火 (hi) /hi/ A1	noun - fire
粉 (kona) /ko̞na̠/ B1	noun - powder, flour
靴 (kutsu) /kɯt͡sɯ/ A1	noun - shoes
耳 (mimi) /mimi/ A1	noun - ear
冬 (fuyu) /ɸɯjɯ/ A1	noun - winter
寝息 (neiki) /ne̞ːiki/ B2	noun - breathing (in sleep)
春 (haru) /ha̠ɾɯ/ A1	noun - spring
海 (umi) /ɯmi/ A1	noun - sea, ocean
花 (hana) /ha̠na̠/ A1	noun - flower
空 (sora) /so̞ɾa̠/ A1	noun - sky
雨 (ame) /a̠me̞/ A1	noun - rain
苔 (koke) /ko̞ke̞/ B1	noun - moss
風 (kaze) /ka̠ze̞/ A1	noun - wind
夢 (yume) /jɯme/ A2	noun - dream

Key Grammar Structures

• わたしの鱗はあなたに似ていた

  ➔ The use of the particle "に" to indicate "likeness" or "comparison" between two nouns.

  ➔ "に" marks the noun that the subject is being compared to, showing likeness or relationship.

• 舌は二つ、まぶたは眠らず

  ➔ Use of the particle "は" to highlight the topic of the sentence, contrasting or emphasizing aspects.

  ➔ "は" marks the topic of the sentence, often contrasting or emphasizing the noun or phrase.

• 行方知らずのあの雲を見た

  ➔ Use of the relative clause "知らずの" to describe "雲" (cloud) as "unknown" or "untraceable".

  ➔ "知らずの" is a relative clause that modifies "雲" (cloud), indicating it is "unknown" or "untraceable".

• あなたとの夢の後では

  ➔ Use of the phrase "の後で" to mean "after" or "following".

  ➔ "の後で" indicates that an event occurs "after" or "following" another event.

• いつか見たへびに似る

  ➔ Use of the verb "似る" in its plain form to express "to resemble"; with "に" indicating the thing that is being resembled.

  ➔ "似る" means "to resemble"; the particle "に" shows the thing that the subject resembles.

• いつか見たへびに似る

  ➔ Use of the verb "似る" in the plain form "似る" with "に" to express "to resemble" something seen in the past.

  ➔ The plain form "似る" with "に" indicates resemblance to something the speaker saw in the past.