Hikaru Utada · Japanese · 25 words
Ultra Blue, Part 1
ULTRA BLUE (2006). Keep Tryin' is written in the register of talking yourself into another day - 無い物ねだり, 癒す, ご褒美, 素顔 - Nichiyou no Asa refuses relationship labels (呼び合う, 魅力的, 葬式), and Making Love handles a friend moving away with unusually careful words: 遠距離, 断じて, 範囲, 包み隠す.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 予期 | anticipation, expectation (よき) | 予期せぬ事態に備える。We prepare for unforeseen situations. |
| 奪う | to take away, to rob (うばう) | その景色は見る者の言葉を奪う。The view robs the viewer of words. |
| 決めつける | to jump to a conclusion (きめつける) | 決めつけずに話を聞こう。Let's listen rather than jump to conclusions. |
| 怯える | to be frightened, to cower (おびえる) | 雷に怯える犬をなだめた。I soothed the dog frightened by thunder. |
| さまよう | to wander, to roam | 夜の街をさまよっていた。I was wandering the night streets. |
| 芽生える | to sprout, to begin to stir (めばえる) | 二人の間に友情が芽生えた。A friendship began to stir between them. |
| 安らぎ | peace of mind, calm (やすらぎ) | 海を見ると安らぎを覚える。Looking at the sea brings me calm. |
| 遺伝子 | a gene (いでんし) | 遺伝子の研究が進んでいる。Genetic research is advancing. |
| 無い物ねだり | asking for what cannot be had (ないものねだり) | 無い物ねだりをしても始まらない。Wishing for the impossible gets you nowhere. |
| 癒す | to heal, to soothe (いやす) | 温泉で疲れを癒した。I soothed my tiredness at the hot spring. |
| 面倒くさがり | someone who can't be bothered (めんどうくさがり) | 面倒くさがりだから自炊しない。I can't be bothered, so I don't cook. |
| ご褒美 | a reward, a treat (ごほうび) | 頑張ったご褒美に買った。I bought it as a reward for working hard. |
| 退治 | extermination, getting rid of (たいじ) | 害虫を退治する必要がある。The pests need getting rid of. |
| 素顔 | one's bare face, one's true self (すがお) | 素顔のままの方が好きだ。I prefer you without makeup. |
| 呼び合う | to call each other (by a name) (よびあう) | あだ名で呼び合う仲だ。We're on nickname terms. |
| 魅力的 | attractive, appealing (みりょくてき) | 魅力的な提案だと思う。I think it's an appealing proposal. |
| 葬式 | a funeral (そうしき) | 祖父の葬式で親戚が集まった。Relatives gathered for my grandfather's funeral. |
| 早起き | getting up early (はやおき) | 早起きは三文の徳と言う。They say the early bird catches the worm. |
| 水族館 | an aquarium (すいぞくかん) | 休日に水族館へ行った。I went to the aquarium on my day off. |
| 遠距離 | long distance (えんきょり) | 遠距離の付き合いが続いている。The long-distance relationship continues. |
| 引っ越し | moving house (ひっこし) | 来月引っ越しをする予定だ。I'm moving house next month. |
| 断じて | absolutely, by no means (だんじて) | 断じてそんなつもりはない。I absolutely did not intend that. |
| 範囲 | a range, a scope (はんい) | できる範囲で協力します。I'll help within what I'm able to do. |
| お世辞 | flattery (おせじ) | お世辞でも嬉しいものだ。Even flattery is nice to hear. |
| 包み隠す | to conceal, to keep back (つつみかくす) | 包み隠さず話してほしい。I'd like you to speak without holding back. |
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