Niramekko – Bilingual Lyrics Japanese/English

• By: 友成空, Tomonari Sora

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the playful yet intense world of Tomonari Sora's 'Niramekko' and learn Japanese through its catchy and rhythmic lyrics! This song is special because it cleverly uses the traditional children's game of 'Niramekko' (a staring contest) as a metaphor for the uncertainties of a budding romance. You can learn playful onomatopoeia and common phrases that question truth and deception, all wrapped up in a captivating blend of modern J-pop and traditional Japanese sounds.

[English]

Oh no, oh no

Did it again

Even though I know falling in love is the end

Uh-oh, uh-oh

Our eyes just met

That girl over there is truly special

Me and you

It feels like we're a perfect match

Let’s enjoy ourselves and have some fun

Is it true? Or just a lie?

Can I fall for you?

Is it true? Or just a lie?

Before I realized, I was already hooked

Crying means giving up

Hehe, how silly

Come here, just come over

Good children sleep outside the town

Wait, no, that’s not allowed

That special girl won’t obey

Sweet and fiery

Lured by your fragrance

Body and soul alive in another world

Is it true? Or just a lie?

Will you fall for me?

Is it true? Or just a lie?

Raise your finger, I’ll jump

If I don’t make a move, I lose

Hehe, how silly

You’re so lovable, yet frustrating

I love you more than anything

You are my everything…

Deep red and delicate

Your side profile

Your eye, like rain, as you stare

Is it true? Or just a lie?

Can I fall for you?

Is it true? Or just a lie?

Before I knew it, I was already lost in you

Crying means defeat

Hehe, how silly

[Japanese]

あっちゃぁ　あっちゃぁ

またやった

惚れたら最後と分かるのに

やっべぇ　やっべぇ

眼が合った

危ないあの子は別品さん

アタシとあなた

ぴったりな氣がするの

愉しい事して游びましょ

本当ですか　嘘ですか

アンタに恋していいですか

本当ですか　嘘ですか

気づいた時にはいっちゃった

泣いたら負けやで

あっぷっぷ

こっちおいで　ほらおいで

良い子は寝んねよ町外れ

ちょっと待って　駄目だって

云うこと聞かない別品さん

甘くて熱い

匂ひに誘われて

軀も心もあの世生き

本当ですか　嘘ですか

アンタは恋してくれますか

本当ですか　嘘ですか

この指とまれや　トんじゃった

出さなきゃ負けやで

あっぷっぷ

憎らしいほど

愛おしいのよ

私の命はアンタだけ…

紅くて淡い

あなたの横顔を

見つめる其の眼は雨模様

本当ですか　嘘ですか

アンタに恋していいですか

本当ですか　嘘ですか

気づいた時にはいっちゃった

泣いたら負けやで

あっぷっぷ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
惚れる (horeru) /hoɾeɾɯ/ B2	verb - to fall in love; to be charmed by
最後 (saigo) /saigo/ A2	noun - the end, last
眼 (me) /me/ A1	noun - eye
危ない (abunai) /abɯnai/ A2	adjective - dangerous, risky
別品 (beppin) /beppɯ̃/ B2	noun - remarkably beautiful woman; something special
氣 (ki) /ki/ B1	noun - feeling, spirit, mood
愉しい (tanoshii) /tanoʃiː/ A2	adjective - enjoyable, fun
游ぶ (asobu) /asobu/ A1	verb - to play, to enjoy oneself
恋 (koi) /koꜜi/ A2	noun - love, romance
泣く (naku) /näkɯ/ A1	verb - to cry
良い (ii) /iː/ A1	adjective - good
寝る (neru) /neɾɯ/ A1	verb - to sleep
町外れ (machihazure) /mat͡ɕihad͡zɯɾe/ B2	noun - outskirts of town, edge of town
甘い (amai) /amai/ A2	adjective - sweet
熱い (atsui) /at͡sɯi/ A2	adjective - hot
匂い (nioi) /nʲioi/ B1	noun - smell, scent
誘う (sasou) /sasoː/ B1	verb - to invite, to tempt
軀 (karada) /kaɾada/ B2	noun - body
心 (kokoro) /kokoro/ A2	noun - heart, mind
あの世 (anoyo) /anojo/ B2	noun - the next world, the afterlife
憎らしい (nikurashii) /nikɯɾaʃiː/ C1	adjective - hateful, detestable
愛おしい (itooshii) /itoːʃiː/ C1	adjective - lovely, dear, beloved
命 (inochi) /inot͡ɕi/ A2	noun - life
紅い (akai) /akai/ A1	adjective - red
淡い (awai) /awai/ B1	adjective - light, faint, pale
横顔 (yokogao) /jokogao/ B2	noun - profile (of a face)
見つめる (mitsumeru) /mitsuɾeɾɯ/ B1	verb - to gaze at, to stare at
眼 (me) /me/ A1	noun - eye
雨模様 (amemoyou) /amemojoː/ B2	noun - threatening rain, rainy weather

Key Grammar Structures

• 惚れたら最後と分かるのに

  ➔ Conditional form + と (to) + する / 分かる

  ➔ The particle "と" is used here after a verb in the plain form to indicate a conditional or hypothetical situation, similar to "if". The phrase "惚れたら最後" means "if you fall in love, then (it's) the end".

• 泣いたら負けやで

  ➔ Conditional form + ら + 負け (lose)

  ➔ The conditional "ら" is attached to the verb "泣いた" (cried) to form "泣いたら" meaning "if I cry". The phrase "負けやで" is a colloquial way to say "you lose" or "it's over".

• 本当ですか　嘘ですか

  ➔ Question structure with ですか (polite question)

  ➔ The phrase "ですか" is used at the end of a sentence to turn it into a polite question. Here, it asks "Is it true? Or is it a lie?".

• 気づいた時にはいっちゃった

  ➔ たら / ば conditional + なる / 〜てしまう

  ➔ The phrase "気づいた時にはいっちゃった" combines the past tense "気づいた" (noticed), conditional "〜たら" implied by "時には" (when), and "いっちゃった" which is a colloquial contraction of "行ってしまった" meaning "went and (did something) completely" or "ended up doing".