Kotonoha – English Lyrics

• By: Piko

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the delicate world of Japanese with Piko's "Kotonoha," a song that beautifully illustrates the nuances of the language through its exploration of love, loss, and fleeting moments. Experience how words can paint vivid emotional landscapes and gain insight into the cultural emphasis on transience and connection .

[English]

Kotonoha tada tada

Omou hodo toozakaru

Kage moyou ni hibiki wataru semishigure

Utaeba koi tomedonaku afuru

Saku no wa hana yume maboroshi

Sore wa sore wa toki no kanata he

Awaku awaku nao hakanaku

Yagate yagate utakata to kiete yuku darou

Kotonoha tada tada

Hitori kiri ukabete wa

Kurikaeshite kakera wo sagashite

Soredemo tada tada

Omou hodo toozakaru

Kage moyou ni hibiki wataru semishigure

Tsudzureba koi tomedonaku afuru

Nozomu wa ama tsuyusora kumo

Sore wa sore wa nagi no minamo ni

Sayaka sayaka mada kiezu ni

Setsuna setsuna kokoro wo shimetsuke tsudzukeru

Kotonoha tada tada

Hitori kiri kanadete wa

Kaze ni nosete sora he to kaeshite

Soredemo tada tada

Ajisai wa ama michi ni

Itsukushimi no iro tataete sakihokoru

Fui ni mimi kasumeta koe ni ashi wo tomete furikaeredo...

Kotonoha tada tada

Hitori kiri ukabete wa

Kurikaeshite kakera wo sagashite

Soredemo tada tada

Omou hodo toozakaru

Kage moyou ni hibiki wataru semishigure

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
omou /omoʊ/ B2	verb - to think, believe, or feel
kage /kaːɡe/, /kɑːɡe/ A2	noun - shadow, shade
hana /ha na/ A2	noun - flower
koi /kɔɪ/ B1	noun - love, romantic affection
semishigure /seːmiːʃigure/ C1	noun - drizzle, light rain
kurenai /kuːre naɪ/ C2	adjective - crimson, deep red
hibiku /hi bi ku/ C1	verb - to resonate, reverberate
tada /ta da/ A1	adverb - just, only, merely
watashi /wa ta ʃi/ A2	pronoun - I, me (formal)
kanata /ka na ta/ B1	noun - beyond, in the distance

Key Grammar Structures

• Kotonoha tada tada Omou hodo toozakaru

  ➔ hodo (ほど): As...as; to the extent that...

  ➔ The grammar "hodo" is used to express a proportional relationship. Here, "omou hodo toozakaru" means "the more I think, the further it goes away".

• Utaeba koi tomedonaku afuru

  ➔ -ba (～ば) conditional form: If/when...

  ➔ The "-ba" conditional form expresses a condition or hypothetical situation. "Utaeba" means "if I sing" or "when I sing".

• Awaku awaku nao hakanaku

  ➔ nao (尚): still, even more

  ➔ "nao" emphasizes the degree of "hakanaku" (fleeting). It means "even more fleeting".

• Yagate yagate utakata to kiete yuku darou

  ➔ yuku (行く) auxiliary verb: Indicates a gradual change or movement towards a certain state.

  ➔ "kiete yuku" means "gradually disappearing". The "darou" adds speculation: "will probably disappear".

• Kaze ni nosete sora he to kaeshite

  ➔ ～にのせて (ni nosete): carrying on, putting on (wind, song, etc.)

  ➔ "Kaze ni nosete" means "carrying on the wind". It implies the words are being carried by the wind.

• Ajisai wa ama michi ni Itsukushimi no iro tataete sakihokoru

  ➔ tataete (称えて): Praising, honoring. In this context, it implies embodying or showing.

  ➔ "Itsukushimi no iro tataete" means "showing the color of affection/tenderness/love".

• Fui ni mimi kasumeta koe ni ashi wo tomete furikaeredo...

  ➔ ～edo (～けど/けれども): Even though, although

  ➔ "Furikaeredo..." means "Even though I turned around...". It sets up a contrast or unfulfilled expectation.