Hange – English Lyrics

• By: Oki Dub Ainu Band
• Album: Sakhalin Rock

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a unique linguistic and cultural journey with "Hange" by the Oki Dub Ainu Band. This song offers a rare opportunity to experience the sound of the Ainu language, a critically endangered indigenous language of Japan. Through its compelling blend of traditional Ainu instruments and modern dub beats, you can connect with a rich oral tradition and a culture that holds a deep, spiritual connection to nature. Let the music of Oki Dub Ainu Band introduce you to the soulful expressions of the Ainu people.

[English]

Hrr...

Huntaarii huchii ka ah-ha-a-u-o-o-o-u a-u-u a-a-a-a-u ha-a-u-e-e a-a-o-o-u

Huntaarii huchii ka ah-ha-a-u-o-o-o-u a-u-u a-a-a-a-u ha-a-u-e-e a-a-o-o-u

Hrr...

Instrumental

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun

Instrumental

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun

Instrumental

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

A-rur oro-o-e, A-rur oro-o-e

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun, Ha-ike Kuedun

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Huntaarii /hun.taː.ɾiː/ B1	verb - to wait, to expect, to anticipate, to long for
Huchii /hu.tʃiː/ A2	noun - voice, sound, cry (e.g., animal's cry, lament)
Tekina /te.ki.na/ A1	pronoun - our (exclusive, including speaker but not listener); my
Hange /han.ge/ A2	noun - heart, soul, spirit, mind
Kumui /ku.mu.i/ B1	noun - god, deity, spirit, sacred bear (as a manifestation of a spirit/deity)
Koroy /ko.ɾo.i/ A1	verb - to have, to possess, to own
Moshiri /mo.ʃi.ɾi/ A2	noun - land, country, world, earth
Sanke /san.ke/ B1	verb - to go down, to descend, to fall; to come down (from heavens/spirits)
Ha-ike /ha.i.ke/ B1	verb - to cry, to weep, to lament
Kuedun /ku.e.dun/ A1	verb - to speak, to tell, to say

Key Grammar Structures

• Tekina Hange

  ➔ Adjective modifying a Noun

  ➔ In Ainu, adjectives typically precede the noun they modify. Here, "Tekina" (beautiful, wonderful) modifies "Hange" (a powerful spirit or deity).

• Huntaarii huchii

  ➔ Noun-Noun Compound / Noun Phrase

  ➔ This phrase combines two nouns, "Huntaarii" (hunting) and "huchii" (old woman/grandmother), to form a concept like 'a hunting old woman' or 'old woman of the hunt'. Ainu often forms such descriptive noun phrases by simple juxtaposition.

• Kumui Koroy Moshiri

  ➔ Possessive Construction (Noun + Possessive Marker + Noun)

  ➔ "Kumui" (bear deity/spirit) is the possessor, and "Moshiri" (world/land) is the possessed. "Koroy" acts as a postpositional or particle-like element, signifying 'of' or 'belonging to', forming the possessive phrase 'Kumui's world'.

• Sanke

  ➔ Intransitive Verb (Action/State)

  ➔ "Sanke" means 'to descend', 'to go down', or 'to enter/dwell'. It is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. In this context, it suggests the world or spirit descending or manifesting.

• Ha-ike

  ➔ Interjection / Exclamation

  ➔ "Ha-ike" is an exclamation or interjection commonly used in Ainu to express strong emotion, similar to 'Oh!' or 'Ah!' in English. It often introduces a phrase or adds emphasis.

• Kuedun

  ➔ Verbal Noun / Infinitive-like form

  ➔ "Kuedun" means 'to pray' or 'a prayer/request'. It functions as a verbal noun or an infinitive-like form, often used in chants, invocations, or calls to action, especially after an exclamation like "Ha-ike".

• ka

  ➔ Particle (Emphatic/Connective)

  ➔ "Ka" is a versatile Ainu particle that can denote a question, add emphasis, or serve as a conjunction. In songs and poetic contexts, it often adds a rhythmic or emphatic quality to the preceding phrase.

• Tekina Hange Kumui Koroy Moshiri Sanke

  ➔ Complex Sentence Structure (Subject-Predicate)

  ➔ This full line represents a complete thought: 'The beautiful Hange (spirit), Kumui's (bear deity's) world, descends/dwells'. It showcases a subject phrase (incorporating an adjective and a possessive construction) followed by a predicate verb, typical of Ainu narrative or descriptive expressions.