Plazma – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 米津玄師

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the intricate world of Kenshi Yonezu's "Plazma," a song that weaves together themes of fate, memory, and the impact of pivotal life choices. Through its dynamic electronic soundscape and introspective lyrics, "Plazma" offers a unique window into human connection and the journey of self-discovery, making it a compelling listen for both anime fans and music enthusiasts alike.

[English]

If I had just kept walking past that ticket gate,

would I have lived happily without ever knowing your face?

...

If I hadn't snuck out beyond that back gate,

the sparkle of the stars I gazed up at would have turned into just dirt on my shoes.

Lying on the linoleum floor, my hands scraped from doing a handstand.

Realizing this place was also the edge of the galaxy, I felt dizzy before dawn.

"Hear me, answer me, reach me," I yearned, shining, shining, shining, I cried out.

I rolled over the wire fence and fell; in that instant, the world began to color itself.

Fly out beyond the universe, plasma blasting through my eyes.

I just gazed intently, unaware of any bruises or wounds.

Even if we're light-years apart, my body, once it steps out, won't stop.

Now I can hear your voice in the distance.

It's lighting up.

...

Particles pass through my mouth again, piercing my skin.

Shooting stars in the alley's night sky, terribly scurrying rats.

If I hadn't let go of your hand in front of that crowd,

if I had tightly swallowed that sudden sound that came out,

if I had just kept walking past that ticket gate,

you wouldn't be anywhere, and I wouldn't be here either.

That day, the ball you threw hit me in the forehead,

and the instant I fell, I clearly saw

the contrail streaking across the navy sky.

I knew this was love.

Fly out beyond the universe, plasma blasting through my eyes.

I just gazed intently, not even noticing the pain.

Even if we're light-years apart, my body, once it steps out, won't stop.

Now I can hear your voice in the distance, lighting up.

It's lighting up.

...

[Japanese]

もしもあの改札の前で 立ち止まらず歩いていれば

君の顔も知らずのまま 幸せに生きていただろうか

もしもあの裏門を越えて 外へ抜け出していなければ

仰ぎ見た星の輝きも 靴の汚れに変わっていた

寝転んだリノリウムの上 逆立ちして擦りむいた両手

ここも銀河の果てだと知って 眩暈がした夜明け前

聞こえて 答えて 届いて 欲しくて 光って 光って 光って 叫んだ

金網を越えて転がり落ちた 刹那 世界が色づいてく

飛び出していけ宇宙の彼方 目の前をぶち抜くプラズマ

ただひたすら見蕩れていた 痣も傷も知らずに

何光年と離れていても 踏み出した体が止まらない

今君の声が遠く聞こえている

光っていく

改メ口の中くぐり抜け 肌を突き刺す粒子

路地裏の夜空に流れ星 酷く逃げ惑う鼠

もしもあの人混みの前で 君の手を離さなければ

もしも不意に出たあの声を きつく飲み込んでいれば

もしもあの改札の前で 立ち止まらず歩いていれば

君はどこにもいやしなくて 僕もここにいなかった

あの日君の放ったボールが額に当たって

倒れる刹那僕は確かに見た

ネイビーの空を走った飛行機雲を

これが愛だと知った

飛び出していけ宇宙の彼方 目の前をぶち抜くプラズマ

ただひたすら見蕩れていた 痛みにすら気づかずに

何光年と離れていても 踏み出した体が止まらない

今君の声が遠く聞こえている 光っていく

光っていく

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
光る hikaru A2	verb - to shine; to glow; to sparkle
宇宙 uchuu B1	noun - universe; cosmos; space
プラズマ purazuma B2	noun - plasma (physics); blood plasma
刹那 setsuna B2	noun - moment; instant; split second
世界 sekai A2	noun - world; society; universe
変わる kawaru A2	verb - to change; to be transformed; to vary
飛び出す tobidasu B1	verb - to jump out; to burst out; to fly out
輝き kagayaki B1	noun - brilliance; sparkle; radiance; glow
見蕩れる mitoreru B2	verb - to be fascinated by; to gaze in admiration; to be captivated
愛 ai A2	noun - love; affection
星 hoshi A1	noun - star; planet (esp. in astrology)
遠い tooi A1	adjective - far; distant
声 koe A1	noun - voice; sound
眩暈 memai B2	noun - dizziness; vertigo
ぶち抜く buchinuku C1	verb - to pierce through; to smash through; to break right through (colloquial, emphatic)
傷 kizu A2	noun - wound; injury; scratch; scar
光年 kounen B2	noun - light-year (unit of astronomical distance)
体 karada A1	noun - body; physique
夜明け yoake B1	noun - dawn; daybreak
飛行機雲 hikoukigumo B2	noun - contrail; vapor trail (from an airplane)

Key Grammar Structures

• もしもあの改札の前で 立ち止まらず歩いていれば 君の顔も知らずのまま 幸せに生きていただろうか

  ➔ Conditional / Counterfactual Hypothetical Past (もしも〜ば)

  ➔ The pattern "もしも A ば B だろうか/た" (e.g., "もしも...“歩いていれば”") expresses a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen. It often conveys regret or speculation about a different outcome had circumstances been otherwise.

• 痣も傷も知らずに

  ➔ V-ずに (Negative Te-form)

  ➔ "“知らずに”" is the negative て-form of "知る" (to know), meaning "without knowing" or "unaware of." It indicates that the action described by the main verb occurs without the preceding action or state. It is a more formal or literary alternative to V-ないで.

• 光っていく

  ➔ V-ていく (Directional / Aspectual Verb)

  ➔ The compound verb "“光っていく”" combines "光る" (to shine) with "〜ていく." "〜ていく" indicates a change or action that progresses *away* from the speaker, into the future, or gradually. Here, it suggests something "starting to shine" or "continuously shining" as it moves forward or as time progresses.

• 目の前をぶち抜くプラズマ

  ➔ V-抜く (Compound Verb / Intensive Meaning)

  ➔ The compound verb "“ぶち抜く”" combines "ぶち" (an intensifier, often implying force or breaking) with "抜く" (to pull out, to pass through). "V-抜く" generally means "to do something through to the end," "to do something completely," or "to do something forcefully/thoroughly." Here, it implies the plasma "smashing right through" or "piercing completely through" what's in front.

• 何光年と離れていても

  ➔ V-ても (Concessive Conditional)

  ➔ The pattern "V-ても" (here, "“離れていても”") means "even if" or "no matter how much/what." It expresses a concession, indicating that a certain result or situation will hold true regardless of the condition stated in the first clause.

• 君の顔も知らずのまま

  ➔ V-ずにのまま / Nのまま (State / Manner)

  ➔ "〜“まま”" indicates that a state or condition remains unchanged. "知らずのまま" (from 知る + ず + の + まま) means "as it is, without knowing" or "without having known." It implies that a situation continues without a particular action or change occurring.

• ここも銀河の果てだと知って

  ➔ 〜と知る (Quoting Particle と with 知る)

  ➔ The particle "“と”" is used here as a quotative particle, similar to "that" in English, introducing the content of what is known or thought. "知って" is the て-form of "知る" (to know). So, "〜だと知って" means "knowing that..." or "realizing that...".

• 倒れる刹那僕は確かに見た

  ➔ 〜刹那 (The Instant / The Moment)

  ➔ "“刹那”" means "the instant" or "the moment." When used after a verb in the plain form (e.g., "倒れる“刹那”"), it indicates that the action in the second clause occurs at the very moment the action in the first clause happens or is about to happen.

• 聞こえて 答えて 届いて 欲しくて 光って 光って 光って 叫んだ

  ➔ V-て (Linking / Sequential Actions / Reasons)

  ➔ The て-form (e.g., "“聞こえて”", "“答えて”", "“欲しくて”") connects multiple clauses, indicating a sequence of events, concurrent actions, or a cause/reason. Here, it links a series of actions or states leading up to the final action ("叫んだ" - screamed), suggesting a cumulative effect or progression.

• 痛みにすら気づかずに

  ➔ 〜にすら (Emphasis / Even)

  ➔ "〜“にすら”" combines the particle "に" (to/at) with "すら" (even). "すら" adds emphasis, meaning "even" or "not even." It highlights that something unexpected or extreme is included, or that something very basic or obvious is not. Here, "痛みにすら" means "not even to the pain" or "without even noticing the pain."