Let's study Japanese through "No buts!," one of the representative songs from A Certain Magical Index.
A Guide to the Japanese Anime Song "No buts!" from "A Certain Magical Index"
"A Certain Magical Index" is a Japanese light novel series written by Kazuma Kamachi. The story is set in a world where psychic abilities are scientifically understood. A massive academic city incorporates the development of these abilities into its curriculum. One day, a high school student named Touma Kamijou encounters a pure white sister named Index, who claims to be pursued by magicians. Thus, Touma is drawn into a world where science and magic intersect.
The lyrics contain a play on words with "meiae" (迷え), meaning "wander," sounding similar to "mayora" (マヨラー), creating a topic of conversation among fans.
The Japanese Lyrics of "No buts!" from "A Certain Magical Index"
指で弾くコイン見つめた 表ならGO、裏はSTAY。まず答えを聞かせて
Yubi de hajiku koin mitsumeta Omote nara GO, ura wa STAYMazu kotae o kikasete
「どうか教えてくれませんか？」 天使は見定める 笑顔のまま
"Douka oshiete kuremasen ka?" Tenshi wa misomeru egao no mama
迷え！その手を引く者などいない 神が下す その答えは不幸だった そう それこそ神からの贈り物 乗り越えたら見えてくるさ だから今すぐ 【Look for it by oneself,no buts about it.】 No buts!
Mayoe! Sono te o hiku mono nado inai Kami ga kudasu sono kotae wa fukou datta Sou, sore koso kami kara no okurimono Norikoetara mietekuru sa dakara ima sugu [Look for it by oneself, no buts about it.] No buts!
並べられたカードめくった 微笑んでるそのジョーカー 結末を語らない
Naraberareta kaado mekutta Hohoenderu sono jookaa ketsumatsu o kataranai
「これは天国行きのチケット？」 道化師は聞かぬフリでおどけた
"Kore wa tengoku-iki no chiketto?" Doukeshi wa kikanu furi de odoketa
叫べ！今行くこの道しかないと 頼りない胸 その心を殴りつけて ああ 不幸に気づかされた幸せ 乗り越えなきゃ見えてこない だから今すぐ No buts!
Sakebe! Ima iku kono michi shikanai to Tayorinai mune sono kokoro o naguritsukete Aa, fukou ni kidzukasareta shiawase Norikoena kya mietekonai dakara ima sugu No buts!
【Get it over oneself,no buts about it.】 【Look for it by oneself,no buts about it.】 【When getting it over, you understand it.】 【Look for it by oneself,no buts about it.】
迷え！その手を引く者などいない 神が下す その答えは不幸だった そう いつだって神は背でうたう 『乗り越えたら見えてくるさ』 だから今すぐ 【Look for it by oneself,no buts about it.】 No buts!
Mayoe! Sono te o hiku mono nado inai Kami ga kudasu sono kotae wa fukou datta Sou, itsudatte kami wa se de utau "Norikoetara mietekuru sa" dakara ima sugu [Look for it by oneself, no buts about it.] No buts!
The English Translation of "No buts!" from "A Certain Magical Index"
Staring at the coin flicked with a finger Heads is GO, tails is STAY, first, let me hear the answer
"Could you please tell me?" The angel gazes, still smiling
Wander! No one will guide your hand The answer bestowed by God was misfortune, yes, that's the gift from God Once you overcome it, you'll see, so do it right now Look for it by oneself, no buts about it. No buts!
Flipping over the lined-up cards The joker, smiling, doesn't reveal the ending
"Is this a ticket to heaven?" The clown joked, pretending not to ask
Shout! There's no other way but the one you're going now Hit your unreliable heart, hit your soul Ah, realizing happiness through unhappiness You won't see it unless you overcome it, so do it right now No buts!
Get it over oneself, no buts about it Look for it by oneself, no buts about it When getting it over, you understand it Look for it by oneself, no buts about it
Wander! No one will guide your hand The answer bestowed by God was misfortune, yes, always, God sings it silently "Once you overcome it, you'll see," so do it right now Look for it by oneself, no buts about it. No buts!
A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning Japanese Vocabulary with "No buts!" from "A Certain Magical Index"
0:23~
指で弾くコイン見つめた 表ならGO、裏はSTAY。まず答えを聞かせて
Staring at the coin flicked with a finger Heads is GO, tails is STAY, first, let me hear the answer
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 指 | ゆび | yubi | finger | noun |
| コイン | こいん | koin | coin | noun |
| 見つめる | みつめる | mitsumeru | to gaze, to stare at | 2 verb |
| 表 | おもて | omote | front, surface | noun |
| 裏 | うら | ura | back, reverse | noun |
| 答え | こたえ | kotae | answer | noun |
0:38~
「どうか教えてくれませんか？」 天使は見定める 笑顔のまま
"Could you please tell me?" The angel gazes, still smiling
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 教える | おしえる | oshieru | to teach | 2 verb |
| くれる | くれる | kureru | to give (from the speaker's perspective) | 2 verb |
| 天使 | てんし | tenshi | angel | noun |
| 笑顔 | えがお | egao | smile | noun |
Related Word to くれる
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| くれる | くれる | kureru | to give (from the speaker's perspective) | 2 verb |
| あげる | あげる | ageru | to give (to the speaker's perspective) | 2 verb |
| もらう | もらう | morau | to receive | 1 verb |
Related Word to 天使
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 天使 | てんし | tenshi | angel | noun |
| 悪魔 | あくま | akuma | devil | noun |
0:54~
迷え！その手を引く者などいない 神が下す その答えは不幸だった そう それこそ神からの贈り物 乗り越えたら見えてくるさ だから今すぐ 【Look for it by oneself,no buts about it.】 No buts!
Wander! No one will guide your hand The answer bestowed by God was misfortune, yes, that's the gift from God Once you overcome it, you'll see, so do it right now Look for it by oneself, no buts about it. No buts!
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 迷う | まよう | mayou | to lose one's way, to hesitate | 1 verb |
| 者 | もの | mono | person | noun |
| 神 | かみ | kami | god | noun |
| 不幸 | ふこう | fukou | misfortune | noun |
| 贈り物 | おくりもの | okurimono | gift, present | noun |
| 乗り越える | のりこえる | norikoeru | to overcome | 2 verb |
Related Word to 不幸
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 不幸 | ふこう | fukou | misfortune | noun |
| 幸福 | こうふく | koufuku | happiness | noun |
| 幸せ | しあわせ | shiawase | happy | na-adj |
Related Word to 贈り物
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 贈り物 | おくりもの | okurimono | gift, present | noun |
| プレゼント | ぷれぜんと | purezento | present, gift | noun |
1:31~
並べられたカードめくった 微笑んでるそのジョーカー 結末を語らない
Flipping over the lined-up cards The joker, smiling, doesn't reveal the ending
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 並べる | ならべる | naraberu | to line up, to arrange | 2 verb |
| カード | かーど | kaado | card | noun |
| めくる | めくる | mekuru | to flip, to turn over | 1 verb |
| 微笑む | ほほえむ | hohoemu | to smile | 2 verb |
| ジョーカー | じょーかー | jookaa | joker | noun |
| 結末 | けつまつ | kettsumatsu | conclusion, ending | noun |
| 語る | かたる | kataru | to tell, to talk about | 1 verb |
1:47~
「これは天国行きのチケット？」 道化師は聞かぬフリでおどけた
"Is this a ticket to heaven?" The clown joked, pretending not to ask
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 天国 | てんごく | tengoku | heaven | noun |
| チケット | ちけっと | chiketto | ticket | noun |
| ふり | ふり | furi | fall (rain, snow) | noun |
Related Word to 天国
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 天国 | てんごく | tengoku | heaven | noun |
| 地獄 | じごく | jigoku | hell | noun |
2:02~
叫べ！今行くこの道しかないと 頼りない胸 その心を殴りつけて ああ 不幸に気づかされた幸せ 乗り越えなきゃ見えてこない だから今すぐ No buts!
Shout! There's no other way but the one you're going now Hit your unreliable heart, hit your soul Ah, realizing happiness through unhappiness You won't see it unless you overcome it, so do it right now No buts!
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 叫ぶ | さけぶ | sakebu | to shout, to scream | 1 verb |
| 頼る | たよる | tayoru | to rely on | 1 verb |
| 胸 | むね | mune | chest, heart | noun |
| 殴る | なぐる | naguru | to hit, to strike | 1 verb |