瞬き – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: back number
• Album: MAGIC

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and emotional journey with back number's "瞬き" (Mabataki). This heartfelt ballad, a theme song for the impactful film 'The 8-Year Engagement,' offers a beautiful window into Japanese expressions of love, devotion, and the profound meaning of happiness. By exploring its carefully crafted lyrics, you can gain insight into nuanced Japanese phrasing related to emotions, relationships, and life's deeper purposes, making it an excellent song for language learners interested in authentic, emotionally rich Japanese.

[English]

Happiness is

Not something that repeats like

A night when stars fall and a dazzling morning

It's being able to hold an umbrella

For someone important when it rains

...

I wonder what I'm living for

It's okay not to have an answer

If I can protect

The people I want to meet and the things I need

Without stretching myself or being humble

Just as I am

If I could sing my affectionate feelings

Happiness is

Not something that repeats like

A night when stars fall and a dazzling morning

It's being able to hold an umbrella

For someone important when it rains

Even if I strain my eyes without blinking

It's not something that can be found

That's why I want you to be by my side

People who lived for their dreams

Those who found the right path by straying

People who spent time for someone else

Those who lived for themselves

I couldn't become anyone

But if you just think you need me today

Happiness is

Not something that repeats like

A night when stars fall and a dazzling morning

It's being able to hold an umbrella

For someone important when it rains

To me, who finds weakness again and hesitates

But can I really do that?

In a place I found with my eyes closed

...

Happiness is

Not something that repeats like

A night when stars fall and a dazzling morning

It's being able to hold an umbrella

For someone important when it rains

And before I know it

I end up being the one who is protected

Always by your side

I always want you to be there

Whether my eyes are open or closed

...

[Japanese]

幸せとは

星が降る夜と眩しい朝が

繰り返すようなものじゃなく

大切な人に降りかかった

雨に傘を差せることだ

何の為に生きていくのか

答えなんて無くていいよ

会いたい人と必要なものを

少し守れたら

背伸びもへりくだりもせずに

僕のそのままで

愛しい気持ちを歌えたなら

幸せとは

星が降る夜と眩しい朝が

繰り返すようなものじゃなく

大切な人に降りかかった

雨に傘をさせることだ

瞬きもせずに目を凝らしても

見付かる類のものじゃない

だからそばにいて欲しいんだ

夢のために生きられた人

逸れた道が正解だった人

誰かの為に費やした人

自分を生きた人

誰にもなれなかったけど

ただ今日も僕を必要だと思ってくれたら

幸せとは

星が降る夜と眩しい朝が

繰り返すようなものじゃなく

大切な人に降りかかった

雨に傘をさせることだ

また弱さ見つけて戸惑う僕に

でもそれが出来るだろうか

目を閉じて見つけた場所で

幸せとは

星が降る夜と眩しい朝が

繰り返すようなものじゃなく

大切な人に降りかかった

雨に傘をさせることだ

そしていつの間にか

僕の方が守られてしまう事だ

いつもそばに

いつも君がいて欲しいんだ

目を開けても目を閉じても

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
幸せ /ɕiːaɾe/ B1	noun - happiness
星 /hoɕi/ A2	noun - star
夜 /ja/ A1	noun - night
朝 /asa/ A1	noun - morning
大切 /taɪ̯t͡sɛt͡su/ B1	adjective - important, precious
雨 /ame/ A1	noun - rain
傘 /kasa/ A2	noun - umbrella
生きる /ikiɾu/ B1	verb - to live
会う /au/ A2	verb - to meet
守る /mamoru/ B1	verb - to protect
夢 /yume/ A2	noun - dream
道 /michi/ B1	noun - road, path
目 /me/ A1	noun - eye
欲しい /hoshii/ A2	adjective - want, desired
出来る /dekiru/ B1	verb - to be able to do

Key Grammar Structures

• 幸せとは星が降る夜と眩しい朝が繰り返すようなものじゃなく

  ➔ ようなものじゃなく

  ➔ Used to compare something to a certain type or category, indicating that it is not similar to that typical example.

• 答えなんて無くていいよ

  ➔ なんて無くていい

  ➔ Expresses that it is okay to not have or need something; emphasizes that something is unnecessary or optional.

• 背伸びもへりくだりもせずに

  ➔ もせずに

  ➔ Indicates doing something without performing certain actions or behaviors; used with verbs to imply a lack of certain efforts or displays.

• 夢のために生きられた人

  ➔ ために

  ➔ Used to indicate the purpose or goal of an action; 'for the sake of' or 'in order to'.

• 誰にもなれなかったけど

  ➔ にもかかわらず

  ➔ A concession grammatical structure indicating contrast or contradiction despite the preceding statement.

• 目を閉じて見つけた場所で

  ➔ て-form + で

  ➔ Connects the action of closing eyes and finding a place, indicating the location or context in which the action happens.