As some of you probably know, I've been studying Japanese for quite a few years now. I love finding fun ways to practice what I've studied and apply it to daily life and/or fun shit that I enjoy doing, to keep the learning process entertaining while practicing what I've grasped so far. I've done this in a bunch of different ways, including playing Phoenix Wright in the original Japanese (hooo boy) and developing a taste for Japanese music. The natural next step to that, then, was translating what music I was listening to into English.
I was digging through my hard drive on my old computer and found some of the old translations that I did a few years back. As they're just kinda sitting around collecting dust at the moment, I thought I'd share one with you guys. I'm including the original Japanese, my romaji on the off-chance you wanna sing along (lol), and then finally the English translation, along with a slew of translation notes, because I am nit-picky and too detailed for my own good.
The song is by a group called LM.C. You can read their wiki page for background information on them if you want. This song is called "HAUNTED HOUSE Make a Secret," and was the b-side on their third single, "Oh My Juliet." I'm actually very proud of this translation, as I spent a lot of time on it, working with a few different Japanese buddies of mine to make sure I got the nuances behind all the lines correct. Yes I'm that picky.
FINALLY, if you just so happen to be sitting on some sort of Japanese something or other and are just dying to have it put into The English, hit me up in a PM and we can talk. I have some free time on my hands.
Boku no na wa HORII tonari ni wa HARII itsudemo futari itazura bakari
Toaru hi no yuugure te wo hikare yatte kita ano ko ni hitomebore
Aoi hitomi ni milk no hada nagareru kuriiro ni makka na RIBON
Sono egao wa majutsu datta bokura no mune wo shimetsuketa
Papa ni naisho de bed nukedashi mama no dress de odokete miseru
Sonna ano ko ga waraeba nanairo furubita yashiki wo azayaka ni someru
Takusan no mono takusan no hito soredemo ano ko dokoka sabishisou
Itsumo mujaki wo yosoou sugao hitori bocchi
Dakeredomo HARII Bokura no sukeru karada ja ano ko wo dakishimerarenai
Hoshi ga konna ni kirei na yoru dakara mou sukoshi soba ni itai
Boku no na wa HORII tonari ni wa HARII soshite mou hitori She is like a Lily
Gozen sanji itsumo no heya ni shougou konya mo jikan wo wasure asobou
Demo asa ga nigate na bokura futari itsu made mo issho ni wa irarenai
Soshite kekkyoku ano ko wa kyou mo hitori bocchi
Dakeredomo HARII Bokura no sameta ryoute wa ano ko no namida meguenai
Dakara bokura no himitsu uchiakeyou yoru ga akeru sono mae ni
Kisetsu megureba ano ko mo itsuka otona ni nari bokura ga mienakunaru
Soshite subete wo wasurete shimau darou mado no soto tsuki ga nijimu
Dakeredomo HARII Bokura no sukeru karada ja ano ko wo dakishimerarenai
Hoshi ga konna ni kirei na yoru dakara itsumade mo soba ni itai
Himitsu wa himitsu no mama de
English:
My name is HORII[1] next to me is HARII[2] we're always making mischief together
One evening being led by the hand we fell in love at first sight with that girl who came
With blue eyes and milky white skin a red ribbon in her flowing chestnut hair
That smile was magical our chests grew tight
Without telling her dad, she snuck out of bed played around in her mother's dress
If she smiles, it's like a rainbow[3] it colors this old mansion brightly
Many things many people but she seems somewhat lonely
Always pretending to be innocent but her true face is lonely
But HARII we can't hold her with our transparent bodies[4]
The stars are so beautiful tonight I want to be with her a little longer
My name's HORII next to me is HARII there's one more person She's like a Lily
3am we get together in the same room tonight too, let's forget time and play
But we two who can't handle the morning[5] we can't be with her forever
So after all she'll be alone again today
But HARII we can't dry her tears with our cold hands[6]
So let's reveal our secret before the night becomes dawn
If the seasons turn when the girl becomes an adult, she won't be able to see us
So she'll completely forget everything The moon blurs outside the window[7]
But HARII we can't hold her with our transparent bodies
The stars are so beautiful tonight I want to be by her always
Keep the secret a secret
---
[1] While to most English speakers, this name sounds like Holly, apparently to Japanese ears, this name is somehow masculine sounding. So, assume that the speaker is male.
[2] This name sounded like Harry to me the first time I heard it, but my friends suggested that it's probably Hallie. This person is also male, for the record.
[3] Literally the word is "seven colors," but that makes no sense in English.
[4] Meaning: they're ghosts.
[5] Literally it says that the morning is their "weakness"
[6] Another comment on their state as ghosts.
[7] The ghosts are looking out the window at the moon, and it begins to blur... they're crying.
The story is pretty self-explanatory I think, but lemme know if anyone wants a more concise explanation
天上天下唯我独尊
LordHuffnPuff
Title: Mahna Mahna
Joined: Jan 12 2009
Location: Fairyland
Posts: 552
Posted:
Dec 01 2010 04:13 pm
aika wrote:
playing Phoenix Wright in the original Japanese
The sheer amount of legal mumbo-jumbo to work in a non-native language is ridiculous. I applaud you for managing this, those games are brutal if you're not fluent.
____________Ò‰ÌµÌžÌŸÌ Ì–Ì—Ì˜Ì™ÌœÌÌžÌŸÌ Í‡ÌŠÌ‹ÌŒÌÌŽÌÌ̑̒̓̔̊̋̌ÌÌŽÌÌ̑̒̓̔̿̿̿̕̚̕̚͡͡҉҉)___________
I am currently on an extended hiatus from the IRC chat room. If you need me, send a PM and I will get back to you as promptly as I am able.
aika
Title: Narcissist
Joined: Apr 25 2008
Location: On the table.
Posts: 2041
Posted:
Dec 01 2010 04:19 pm
LordHuffnPuff wrote:
aika wrote:
playing Phoenix Wright in the original Japanese
The sheer amount of legal mumbo-jumbo to work in a non-native language is ridiculous. I applaud you for managing this, those games are brutal if you're not fluent.
It was a great way to pick up some legal vocab and other terminology I wasn't familiar with. You should see my vocab list off just the first case from the first game. I think I have it laying around somewhere...
天上天下唯我独尊
Drew Linky
Wizard
Joined: Jun 12 2009
Posts: 4209
Posted:
Dec 01 2010 10:09 pm
I wanted to learn Japanese for a while. Then I realized that I would go insane trying to remember the terminology.
https://discord.gg/homestuck is where you can find me literally 99% of the time. Stop on by if you feel like it, we're a nice crowd.
i'll_bite_your_ear
Title: Distillatoria
Joined: Jun 09 2010
Location: van down by the river
Posts: 3707
Posted:
Dec 02 2010 07:51 am
Drew Linky wrote:
I wanted to learn Japanese for a while. Then I realized that I would go insane trying to remember the terminology.
Yeah, me to. I realized that i'am just to stupid and lazy to make it.
Bravo, bravo, mademoiselle! You did a great job on translating that. I think i can hardly imagine how much afford you did put into that, but i suggest a lot. Very respectable.
it was the best of times
it was the blurst of times