Let's study Japanese with "Soundscape" from Sound! Euphonium. Can you play any musical instruments?
A Guide to the Japanese Anime Song "Soundscape" from "Sound! Euphonium 2"
Sound! Euphonium is a Japanese novel series written by Ayano Takeda. Kyoto Tachibana High School, where Kumiko Oumae enrolled, used to be a powerhouse in wind ensemble about 10 years ago but has since fallen into decline. Despite hearing a terrible performance of the school anthem at the entrance ceremony, Kumiko, who has been playing wind instruments since elementary school, reluctantly joins the wind ensemble club due to the invitation from her classmates. Kumiko, who has been playing the euphonium for 7 years, along with her classmates, including Midori Kawashima, a double bassist from a top middle school, and Hazuki Katou, who is assigned to play the tuba despite having no experience with wind instruments due to a headcount adjustment, all end up in the low brass section. Kumiko's childhood friend, Shuuichi Tsukamoto, chooses the trombone.
The Japanese Lyrics of "Soundscape" from "Sound! Euphonium 2"
「いま！」という この瞬間 なんだって 音楽に 出来たらいいのに
"Ima!" to iu kono shunkan Nandatte ongaku ni dekitara ii noni
まだ 全力で やり切ってない 悔し涙 拭ったんだ 青春のフレージング
Mada zenryoku de yarikitte nai Kuyashinamida nuguttanda Seishun no fureejingu
奇跡が 努力の 先にあるなら 限界は あたしが決める 響け
Kiseki ga doryoku no saki ni aru nara Genkai wa atashi ga kimeru Hibike
もう一回 大げさな夢を 探しにいこう 止めない 勇気こそ 強さ 何百回 挑戦かさねて ここまで来た チャンスの神様 みててね 忘れたくないメロディ 離したくないメロディ 輝きに変えて 想いよ 届け...！
Mou ikkai oogesa na yume o Sagashi ni ikou Yamenai yuuki koso tsuyosa Nanbyakukai chousen kasanete Koko made kita chansu no kamisama mitetene Wasuretakunai merodi Hanashitakunai merodi Kagayaki ni kaete Omoi yo todoke...!
きっと 誇りに 想うべきは 結果より 過程だって わかってるけど
Kitto hokori ni omou beki wa Kekka yori katei datte wakatteru kedo
無謀？ 本気を 重ねてきたんだ あたしこそ 未知数の 可能性でしょ！！
Mubou? Honki o kasanetekita nda Atashi koso michisuu no kanousei desho!!
先をゆく 先輩(ひと)は 大きく見えるけど 絶対に 追い付いてみせる 君へ
Saki o yuku senpai (hito) wa ookiku mieru kedo Zettai ni oitsuite miseru Kimi e
一生に 一度のために 頑張ってきたんだ
Isshou ni ichido no tame ni Ganbattekita nda
お願い 100%で 挑ませて 曇りない 濁りのない あたしのサウンドスケープ こんな景色じゃ 終われない 自分を変えるメロディ 誰かのためのメロディ そして次の曲へ 奇跡を おこせ...！
Onegai hyaku paasento de idomasete Kumori nai nigori no nai atashi no saundosukeepu Konna keshiki ja owarenai Jibn wo kaeru merodi dareka no tame no merodi soshite tsugi no kyoku he kiseki wo okose…!
才能とか 器量だとか そんなので 決めつけないで ダサくても (何度でも) 泣きながら (立ち上がる) それが あたしだから...！
Sainou toka kiryou dato ka Sonna no de kimetsukenaide Dasakutemo (nando demo) nakinagara (tachiagaru) Sore ga atashi dakara...!
伝えたい 上手くなりたい 特別になりたい 何度だって 息を吹き込む 目指すのは 自分史上最高 輝くメロディ もっと もっと 遠くへ
Tsutaetai umaku naritai Tokubetsu ni naritai Nandodatte iki o fukikomu Mezasu no wa jibun shijou saikou Kagayaku merodi motto motto tooku e
もう一回 大げさな夢を 探しにいこう 止めない 勇気こそ 強さ 何百回 挑戦かさねて ここまで来た チャンスの神様 みててね 忘れたくないメロディ 離したくないメロディ 輝きに変えて 想いよ 届け...！
Mou ikkai oogesa na yume o Sagashi ni ikou Yamenai yuuki koso tsuyosa Nanbyakukai chousen kasanete Koko made kita chansu no kamisama mitetene Wasuretakunai merodi Hanashitakunai merodi Kagayaki ni kaete Omoi yo todoke...!
そして次の曲が始まる 奇跡を おこせ...！
Soshite tsugi no kyoku ga hajimaru Kiseki o okose...！
The English Translation of "Soundscape" from "Sound! Euphonium 2"
"If only this moment, 'Now!' could be turned into music, that would be wonderful.
Still, I haven't given it my all yet. I wiped away my frustrated tears, the phrasing of youth.
If miracles lie beyond effort, then I'll decide my limits. Resonate!
Let's go search for another extravagant dream once more. I won't stop; courage is strength. Stack up hundreds of attempts; I've come this far. Oh, god of chances, watch over me. I don't want to forget this melody, I don't want to let it go. Transform into radiance, and let my feelings reach…!
Surely, what I should take pride in is not just the outcome, but the process, I know.
Rash? I've stacked up my seriousness. I am the one with countless possibilities!!
Seniors seem so far ahead, but I'll definitely catch up to you.
I've worked hard for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Please, let me challenge it with 100%. My sound-scape, clear and pure, can't end with this scenery. A melody that changes myself, a melody for someone, and onto the next song. Bring forth miracles…!
Don't judge based on talent or aptitude. Even if it's uncool (no matter how many times), I'll stand up while crying. That's because it's me…!
I want to convey, I want to improve, I want to become special. Again and again, I breathe life into it. What I aim for is the best melody in my personal history. Further, further, towards the distance.
Let's go search for another extravagant dream once more. I won't stop; courage is strength. Stack up hundreds of attempts; I've come this far. Oh, god of chances, watch over me. I don't want to forget this melody, I don't want to let it go. Transform into radiance, and let my feelings reach…!
And then the next song begins. Bring forth miracles…!"
A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning Japanese Vocabulary with "Soundscape" from "Sound! Euphonium 2"
0:15~
「いま！」という この瞬間 なんだって 音楽に 出来たらいいのに
"If only this moment, 'Now!' could be turned into music, that would be wonderful.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 瞬間 | しゅんかん | shunkan | moment, instant | noun |
| 音楽 | おんがく | ongaku | music | noun |
| のに | のに | noni | despite, although | conj |
0:24~
まだ 全力で やり切ってない 悔し涙 拭ったんだ 青春のフレージング
Still, I haven't given it my all yet. I wiped away my frustrated tears, the phrasing of youth.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 全力 | ぜんりょく | zenryoku | full effort, all one's strength | noun |
| 涙 | なみだ | namida | tears | noun |
| 青春 | せいしゅん | seishun | youth, springtime of life | noun |
0:35~
奇跡が 努力の 先にあるなら 限界は あたしが決める 響け
If miracles lie beyond effort, then I'll decide my limits. Resonate!
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 奇跡 | きせき | kiseki | miracle | noun |
| 努力 | どりょく | doryoku | effort, endeavor | noun |
| 限界 | げんかい | genkai | limit, boundary | noun |
| 響く | ひびく | hibiku | to resonate, to echo | 1 verb |
Related Word to 奇跡
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 奇跡 | きせき | kiseki | miracle | noun |
| 偶然 | ぐうぜん | gūzen | chance, coincidence | noun |
0:48~
もう一回 大げさな夢を 探しにいこう 止めない 勇気こそ 強さ 何百回 挑戦かさねて ここまで来た チャンスの神様 みててね 忘れたくないメロディ 離したくないメロディ 輝きに変えて 想いよ 届け...！
Let's go search for another extravagant dream once more. I won't stop; courage is strength. Stack up hundreds of attempts; I've come this far. Oh, god of chances, watch over me. I don't want to forget this melody, I don't want to let it go. Transform into radiance, and let my feelings reach...!
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 大げさ | おおげさ | ōgesa | exaggerated, extravagant | na-adj |
| 夢 | ゆめ | yume | dream | noun |
| 勇気 | ゆうき | yūki | courage | noun |
| 挑戦 | ちょうせん | chōsen | challenge | noun |
| チャンス | ちゃんす | chansu | chance, opportunity | noun |
| 神 | かみ | kami | god, deity | noun |
| メロディ | めろでぃ | merodi | melody | noun |
| 輝く | かがやく | kagayaku | to shine, to sparkle | 1 verb |
1:30~
きっと 誇りに 想うべきは 結果より 過程だって わかってるけど
Surely, what I should take pride in is not just the outcome, but the process, I know.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 誇り | ほこり | hokori | pride, honor | noun |
| 結果 | けっか | kekka | result, outcome | noun |
| 過程 | かてい | katei | process, course | noun |
Related Word to 誇り
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 誇り | ほこり | hokori | pride, honor | noun |
| 埃 | ほこり | hokori | dust | noun |
1:44~
無謀？ 本気を 重ねてきたんだ あたしこそ 未知数の 可能性でしょ！！
Rash? I've stacked up my seriousness. I am the one with countless possibilities!!
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 無謀 | むぼう | mobō | reckless, foolhardy | na-adj |
| 本気 | ほんき | honki | seriousness, sincerity | noun |
| 重ねる | かさねる | kasaneru | to pile up, to layer | 2 verb |
| 未知 | みち | michi | unknown, mystery | noun |
| 可能 | かのう | kanō | possible | na-adj |
| 可能性 | かのうせい | kanōsei | possibility, likelihood | noun |
1:50~
先をゆく 先輩(ひと)は 大きく見えるけど 絶対に 追い付いてみせる 君へ
Seniors seem so far ahead, but I'll definitely catch up to you.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 絶対 | ぜったい | zettai | absolute, unconditional | na-adj/noun |
Related Word to 絶対
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 絶対 | ぜったい | zettai | absolute, unconditional | na-adj/noun |
| 相対 | そうたい | sōtai | relative, comparison | na-adj/noun |
2:04~
一生に 一度のために 頑張ってきたんだ お願い 100%で 挑ませて 曇りない 濁りのない あたしのサウンドスケープ こんな景色じゃ 終われない 自分を変えるメロディ 誰かのためのメロディ そして次の曲へ 奇跡を おこせ...！
I've worked hard for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Please, let me challenge it with 100%. My sound-scape, clear and pure, can't end with this scenery. A melody that changes myself, a melody for someone, and onto the next song. Bring forth miracles...!
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 一生 | いっしょう | isshō | one's whole life, lifetime | noun |
| 頑張る | がんばる | ganbaru | to do one's best, to try hard | 1 verb |
| パーセント | ぱーせんと | pāsento | percent | noun |
| 挑む | いどむ | idomu | to challenge, to defy | 1 verb |
| 曇る | くもる | kumoru | to become cloudy, to be overcast | 1 verb |
| 濁る | にごる | nigoru | to become muddy, to be clouded | 1 verb |
| 景色 | けしき | keshiki | scenery, view | noun |
| 曲 | きょく | kyoku | piece of music, song | noun |
Related Word to 挑む
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 挑む | いどむ | idomu | to challenge, to defy | 1 verb |
| 挑戦 | ちょうせん | chōsen | challenge | noun |
3:07~
才能とか 器量だとか そんなので 決めつけないで ダサくても (何度でも) 泣きながら (立ち上がる) それが あたしだから...！
Don't judge based on talent or aptitude. Even if it's uncool (no matter how many times), I'll stand up while crying. That's because it's me...!
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 才能 | さいのう | sainō | talent, ability | noun |
| ダサい | ださい | dasai | uncool, lame | na-adj |
3:30~
伝えたい 上手くなりたい 特別になりたい 何度だって 息を吹き込む 目指すのは 自分史上最高 輝くメロディ もっと もっと 遠くへ
I want to convey, I want to improve, I want to become special. Again and again, I breathe life into it. What I aim for is the best melody in my personal history. Further, further, towards the distance.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 特別 | とくべつ | tokubetsu | special, extraordinary | na-adj/noun |
| 息 | いき | iki | breath | noun |
| 吹く | ふく | fuku | to blow, to breathe | 5 verb |
| 史上 | しじょう | shijō | historical, in history | noun |
| 最高 | さいこう | saikō | highest, best | na-adj/noun |
Related Word to 最高
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 最高 | さいこう | saikō | highest, best | na-adj/noun |
| 最低 | さいてい | saitei | lowest, worst | na-adj/noun |