Learn Japanese Vocabulary with "Centimeter" from "Rent-A-Girlfriend"

Let's study Japanese with "Centimeter" from Rent-A-Girlfriend. What do you think about the concept of renting a girlfriend?

A Guide to the Japanese Anime Song "Centimeter" from "Rent-A-Girlfriend"

"Rent-A-Girlfriend" is a manga series written by Reiji Miyajima. In 2017, Kazuya Kinoshita, a college student, feeling lonely after being dumped by his girlfriend, decides to rent a girlfriend. The rental girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara, is beautiful and behaves perfectly, seeming like the ideal girlfriend. However, during their second date, Kazuya's behavior causes Chizuru to explode in anger after repeated insults. Right after, Kazuya's grandmother collapses. When they visit her in the hospital, Kazuya introduces Chizuru as his girlfriend to save face. They promise to correct the lie with their families later but end up meeting again at university.

"Centimeter" was used as the opening theme for the first season of the anime adaptation.

The Japanese Lyrics of "Centimeter" from "Rent-A-Girlfriend"

運命なんて言えない あと何センチ近付けば良いんだろう 君がいいと言えないまま見つめてる後ろ姿
Unmei nante ienai Ato nan senchi chikazukeba ii ndarou Kimi ga ii to ienai mama mitsumeteru ushiro sugata

余裕のない日々です デートなんて自信がないな 君が眩しい程 僕は情けなくなってく
Yoyū no nai hibi desu Dēto nante jishin ga nai na Kimi ga mabushii hodo boku wa nasakenaku natteku

(会えない時間＋君が笑った瞬間)÷2のこのときめきと 不器用な僕×強がりな君は案外プラスかもって 気付いてしまったら最後
(Aenai jikan plus Kimi ga waratta jikan)÷2 no kono tokimeki to Bukiyo na boku × tsuyogari na kimi wa angai purasu kamo tte kizuite shimattara saigo

まだね運命なんて言えない あと何センチ近付けばいいんだろう 僕は君に何をしてあげれるかな あの日大丈夫って笑顔 あと何センチ先を歩いてんだろう 君がいいと言えば追いつけるのかな 届くのかな
Mada ne unmei nante ienai Ato nan senchi chikazukeba ii ndarou Boku wa kimi ni nani o shite agerareru ka na Ano hi daijōbu tte egao Ato nan senchi saki o aruiten darou Kimi ga ii to ieba oitsukeru no kana Todoku no kana

ふとした瞬間に 君の寂しさを知ったんだ 弱い僕はほらね 離れられなくなっていく
Futo shita shunkan ni Kimi no sabishisa o shittan da Yowai boku wa hora ne Hanarerarenaku natteiku

(やっと来たチャンス＋いただけないこの会話)÷2で虚しくたって 不確かな今日×不安定な感情だからこそ僕は君を 見つけられたのかもしれない
(Yatto kita chance plus Itadakenai kono kaiwa)÷2 de munashiku tatte Futaraka na kyō × fuantei na kanjō dakara koso boku wa kimi o mitsukerareta no kamo shirenai

だから運命だって信じたい 今数センチ近付いても良いかな 胸を裂くよ 振り向いてくれるたびに 君の笑顔も言葉も もう何センチ 積もって消えやしない 綺麗事じゃ片付けられない程に想っている
Dakara unmei datte shinjitai Ima suu senchi chikazuite mo ii ka na Mune o saku yo furimuite kureru tabi ni Kimi no egao mo kotoba mo Mō nan senchi tsumotte kieyashinai Kireigoto ja katazukerarenai hodo ni omotte iru

運命だって言えるまで 笑ったように見せた君に届くまで 特別じゃない今の僕に出来ること
Unmei datte ieru made Waratta yō ni miseta kimi ni todoku made Tokubetsu ja nai ima no boku ni dekiru koto

まだね運命なんて言えない あと何センチ近付けば良いんだろう 僕は少し変わっていける気がする 辿り着いた時は君に 大丈夫だよ 僕が先に言うから 君が好きだ 終わらないこの想いが 届きますように
Mada ne unmei nante ienai Ato nan senchi chikazukeba ii ndarou Boku wa sukoshi kawatte ikeru ki ga suru Tadori tsuita toki wa kimi ni Daijōbu da yo boku ga saki ni iu kara Kimi ga suki da Owaranai kono omoi ga Todokimasu yō ni

The English Translation of "Centimeter" from "Rent-A-Girlfriend"

I can't say it's fate, how many more centimeters do I need to get closer? I'm watching your back without being able to say you're good enough.

These days are so tight, I'm not confident in dates, and as you shine brightly, I can't help feeling pathetic.

At this moment of (The time we couldn't meet + the moment you smiled) ÷2 excitement, maybe my clumsiness × your pretense might surprisingly add up, I realized once I noticed.

Still, I can't say it's fate, how many more centimeters do I need to get closer? What can I do for you? That day, your reassuring smile, how many more centimeters are you walking ahead? If I say I like you, can I catch up with you? Can I reach you?

In a sudden moment, I realized your loneliness, weak as I am, I find myself unable to leave you.

Even if it feels empty at (The chance that finally came + this conversation that I couldn't have) ÷2, because of this uncertain today × unstable emotions, maybe I could find you.

So I want to believe it's fate, is it okay to get a few centimeters closer now? It tears my heart apart, every time you turn around, your smile and words, they won't disappear no matter how many centimeters pile up, I'm thinking of you so much that it can't be dismissed as mere pretense.

Until I can say it's fate, until it reaches you who pretends to smile, what I can do as the present me.

Still, I can't say it's fate, how many more centimeters do I need to get closer? I feel like I can change a little. When I finally arrive, I'll tell you it's okay because I love you. May this endless feeling reach you.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning Japanese Vocabulary with "Centimeter" from "Rent-A-Girlfriend"

0:00~
運命なんて言えない あと何センチ近付けば良いんだろう 君がいいと言えないまま見つめてる後ろ姿

I can't say it's fate, how many more centimeters do I need to get closer? I'm watching your back without being able to say you're good enough.

0:22~
余裕のない日々です デートなんて自信がないな 君が眩しい程 僕は情けなくなってく

These days are so tight, I'm not confident in dates, and as you shine brightly, I can't help feeling pathetic.

Related Word to 自信

0:36~
(会えない時間＋君が笑った瞬間)÷2のこのときめきと 不器用な僕×強がりな君は案外プラスかもって 気付いてしまったら最後

At this moment of (The time we couldn't meet + the moment you laughed) ÷2 excitement, maybe my clumsiness × your pretense might surprisingly add up, I realized once I noticed.

1:29~
ふとした瞬間に 君の寂しさを知ったんだ 弱い僕はほらね 離れられなくなっていく

In a sudden moment, I realized your loneliness, weak as I am, I find myself unable to leave you.

1:43~
(やっと来たチャンス＋いただけないこの会話)÷2で虚しくたって 不確かな今日×不安定な感情だからこそ僕は君を 見つけられたのかもしれない

Even if it feels empty at (The chance that finally came + this conversation that I couldn't have) ÷2, because of this uncertain today × unstable emotions, maybe I could find you.

2:02~
だから運命だって信じたい 今数センチ近付いても良いかな 胸を裂くよ 振り向いてくれるたびに 君の笑顔も言葉も もう何センチ 積もって消えやしない 綺麗事じゃ片付けられない程に想っている

So I want to believe it's fate, is it okay to get a few centimeters closer now? It tears my heart apart, every time you turn around, your smile and words, they won't disappear no matter how many centimeters pile up, I'm thinking of you so much that it can't be dismissed as mere pretense.

2:47~
運命だって言えるまで 笑ったように見せた君に届くまで 特別じゃない今の僕に出来ること

Until I can say it's fate, until it reaches you who pretends to smile, what I can do as the present me.