ねっこ – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: TAKI

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of the Japanese language through 'Nekko.' This song is a perfect tool for language learners to practice emotive vocabulary and common metaphors used to describe family and selfhood in Japanese culture.

[English]

A humble little flower is enough

It doesn't need to be grand

As long as it holds

Value to you

Even if no one notices

A common, single bloom is enough

One that takes root

Right where you hang your head in sorrow

That kind of flower is enough

[Roots]

I'll just silently stretch my roots deeper

And wait to be found by you

Because the stride of time is too large

Today, too, to the point of weariness

I learn the limits of my own reach

Even if we don't want it, the hands of the clock keep moving

The more we reach for them, the further they drift—the things that matter most

Are swept away by the winds of time

I am rooting myself in the rubble of memories

I will wait right here forever

Thinking of you again today

An unadorned flower is enough

It doesn't need to be flashy

If only I could take root

Upon your pain

So it won't be washed away

By a passing rainstorm

Something that gently makes you forget a sudden sorrow

That kind of flower is enough

That's the kind of flower I want to be

If you cry, then I will cry too

These roots, growing beautiful and strong

May be invisible to everyone else

But bloom in full glory atop this impermanence

If you cry, then I will cry too

Two hearts, sharing a single sorrow

A flower that will keep blooming for decades to come

Come now, bloom in full glory atop this impermanence

A humble little flower is enough

It doesn't need to be grand

Even if I must face countless storms with you

I will never break

That's the kind of flower I want to be

A humble little flower is enough

It doesn't need to be grand

As long as it holds

Value to you

Even if no one notices

A common, single bloom is enough

One that takes root

Right where you hang your head in sorrow

An unadorned flower is enough

It doesn't need to be flashy

If only it could bear fruit

Upon your joy

So it won't be washed away

By a passing rainstorm

Something that gently makes you forget a sudden sorrow

That's the kind of flower I want to be

[Japanese]

ささやかな花でいい

大袈裟でなくていい

ただあなたにとって

価値があればいい

誰も気づかない

有り触れた一輪でいい

あなたが項垂れた

その先に根を張る

そんな花でいい

[ねっこ]

ただ黙々とねっこ伸ばして

あなたに見つかるのを待つの

時の歩幅が大き過ぎるから

今日も倦んざりする程に

此の身の丈を知るの

望まぬとも 時計の針は進み続ける

求める程遠ざかる 大事な者こそ

時の風が攫ってゆく

思い出の瓦礫に根を張ってる

此処で何時迄も待っている

今日もあなたを想っている

飾らない花でいい

華やかでなくていい

あなたの痛みの上に

根を張れればいい

一頻りの雨に

流されぬような

ふとした悲しみを そっと忘れさせるような

そんな花でいい

そんな花がいい

ただ君が泣くなら僕も泣くから

その美しく強く伸びた根は

誰にも見えやしないけれど

無常の上に咲き誇れ

ただ君が泣くなら僕も泣くから

心ふたつ悲しみひとつで

何十年先も咲き続ける花

無常の上に さあ咲き誇れ

ささやかな花でいい

大袈裟でなくていい

ただあなたと 幾度もの嵐を迎えようと

決して折れはしない

そんな花がいい

ささやかな花でいい

大袈裟でなくていい

ただあなたにとって

価値があればいい

誰も気づかない

有り触れた一輪でいい

あなたが項垂れた

その先に根を張る

飾らない花でいい

華やかでなくていい

あなたの喜びの上に

実が生ればいい

一頻りの雨に

流されぬような

ふとした悲しみを そっと忘れさせるような

そんな花がいい

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ささやか sasayaka N2	adjective - modest; little; small
大袈裟 oogesa N1	adjective - exaggerated
価値 kachi N3	noun - value
一輪 ichirin N2	noun - one flower
項垂れる utsumukeru N1	verb - to hang one's head; to be dejected
黙々 mokumoku N2	adjective - silently
歩幅 hohaba N2	noun - stride; step
倦んざり unzari N1	adjective - fed up; weary
身の丈 minotake N2	noun - stature; one's own level
瓦礫 gareki N1	noun - rubble; debris
飾る kazaru N4	verb - to decorate; to adorn
華やか hanayaka N2	adjective - showy; brilliant
一頻り hitoshikiri N1	noun - for a while
無常 mujou N1	noun - impermanence
咲き誇る sakihokoru N1	verb - to bloom in glory
幾度 ikudo N2	noun - many times

Key Grammar Structures

• 大袈裟でなくていい

  ➔ ～なくていい (Negation + necessity)

  ➔ Used to express that something is not required. Here, ""なくていい"" indicates that being ostentatious is not necessary.

• 求める程遠ざかる

  ➔ ～程 (The more... the more... / degree)

  ➔ Correlative structure where ""求める程"" (the more you seek) leads to the consequence (it drifts further away).

• 時の風が攫ってゆく

  ➔ ～てゆく (Process of change/continuance)

  ➔ ""攫ってゆく"" indicates an action (sweeping away) that proceeds from the present into the future.

• 流されぬような

  ➔ ～ぬ (Classical negation)

  ➔ ""流されぬ"" is a literary/classical form of ""流されない"" (not washed away).

• ただ君が泣くなら僕も泣くから

  ➔ ～なら (Conditional: if)

  ➔ Used to establish a condition: ""君が泣くなら"" (if you cry), then the consequence follows.

• 誰にも見えやしないけれど

  ➔ ～やしない (Emphatic negation)

  ➔ A colloquial, emphatic way of saying ""見えない"" (cannot be seen at all).

• 幾度もの嵐を迎えようと

  ➔ ～ようと (Even if / No matter how much)

  ➔ Indicates concession: ""迎える"" + ""ようと"" means ""even if we encounter (many storms)""...

• 実が生ればいい

  ➔ ～ればいい (Expressing a wish/desire)

  ➔ Used to express a hope or desire: ""If only fruit would grow.""