Let's study Japanese with the theme song "This game" from "No Game No Life." The vocabulary level is high, but give it a try!
A Guide to the Japanese Anime Song "This game" from "No Game No Life"
"No Game No Life" is a Japanese light novel series written by Yū Kamiya. One day, siblings Sora and Shiro receive an email with the question, "Have you ever felt like you were born into the wrong world?" The sender, Tet, the one who calls the world a "crappy game," summons Sora and Shiro to his world. In this world governed by the "Ten Oaths," claimed to be a world of beings with intelligence, and the "Sixteen Races," they discover the world they've always dreamed of—a world where everything is decided by simple games on the board called the "Disboard."
Despite its popularity, the anime has yet to air its second season. It's an interesting series, so be sure to check it out!
The Japanese Lyrics of "This game" from "No Game No Life"
回り続ける 歯車には成り下がらない 平均演じる 誕生から始まった地獄
Mawari tsuzukeru haguruma ni wa narisagaranai Heikin enjiru tanjō kara hajimatta jigoku
遊び半分で 神が導いた 盤上の世界 No no no game no life ぬるい平穏を ばっさリ切リ捨てて 栄光への階段に 存在刻むんだ
Asobi hanbun de kami ga michibiita banjō no sekai No no no game no life nurui heion o bassari sute te Eikō e no kaidan ni sonzai kizamunda
目に映るのは 完全勝利の運命 何もかも 計算どおリ 変えてやる 染まらない空白で
Me ni utsuru no wa kanzen shōri no unmei Nani mo kamo keisan dōori kaete yaru somaranai kuuhaku de
We are maverick 救済なんていらない どんな理不尽 襲おうとも 勝てばいいだけの話だろう 駆け引きと 才能が 無敗誘う 生まれ直した命で 楽しむさ 二人だけは 二人信じてる
We are maverick kyūsai nante iranai Donna rifujin osoou tomo kateba ii dake no hanashi darou Kakehiki to sainō ga mubō izanau Umarenaoshita inochi de tanoshimu sa Jibun dake wa jibuni shinjiteru
心に潜む闇よリ 強い相手はいない 挫けぬ限リ そこに敗北は あリ得ない
Kokoro ni hisomu yami yori tsuyoi aite wa inai Kujikenu kagiri soko ni haiboku wa ari enai
上辺の個性で 安心と引き換えに プライド殺すな No no no sense of life 野蛮な雑音を きっぱリ蹴飛ばして 誰よリ純粋な 声上げるんだ
Uwabe no kosei de anshin to hikikae ni Puraido korosu na no no no sense of life Yaban na zatsuon o kippari kettobashite Dare yori junpaku na koe agerunda
戦うことは きっと間違いじゃない 手応えが 教えてくれた 全て失っても 勝ち残れ
Tatakau koto wa kitto machigai janai Teogae ga oshiete kureta subete ushinatte mo kachinokore
We are maverick 常識なんていらない 前へならえ 向かう先に 待ってるのは退屈だろう 言いなリじゃ つまらない 挑んでやる 生まれ直した命も 駒にして 二人だけの道を 最後まで
We are maverick jōshiki nante iranai Mae e narae mukau saki ni matteru no wa taikutsu darou Iinanji ya tsumaranai idonde yaru Umarenaoshita inochi mo koma ni shite Jibuni dake no michi o saigo made
迷わない 選ばれし者 真っ赤なうぬぼれでも 誇らしく生き抜くための方法を 一つしか知らないから
Mayowanai eraba reshi mono Makka na unubore demo hokorashiku ikinuku tame no hōhō o Hitotsu shika shiranai kara
We are maverick 救済なんていらない どんな理不尽 襲おうとも 勝てばいいだけの話だろう 駆け引きと 才能が 無敗誘う 生まれ直した命で 楽しむさ この世界 手にして 笑うんだ
We are maverick kyūsai nante iranai Donna rifujin osoou tomo kateba ii dake no hanashi darou Kakehiki to sainō ga mubō izanau Umarenaoshita inochi de tanoshimu sa Kono sekai te ni shite waraunda
We are maverick 最強の maverick gamers 空白ならば 何者にもなれる 二人だけは 二人信じてる
We are maverick saikyō no maverick gamers Kuuhaku naraba nanimo ni mo nareru Jibuni dake wa jibun shinjiteru
The English Translation of "This game" from "No Game No Life"
Turning into the constantly revolving gears, not succumbing to mediocrity. The hell that began with our birth, playing halfway, guided by God, in a world on the board. No no no game no life. Discarding the lukewarm tranquility, carving our existence on the staircase to glory.
What appears in our eyes is the destiny of absolute victory. Changing everything with precise calculations. In the unstained blank space.
We are maverick, we don't need salvation. No matter how unreasonable the attack, we just need to win. It's a matter of strategy and talent. Tempted by an undefeated invitation. Enjoying life with reborn lives, we believe only in each other.
Strong opponents don't exist in the darkness lurking in our hearts. There is no defeat there, as long as we don't break. Exchanging peace for surface-level individuality. Killing pride, no no no sense of life. Kicking away the savage noises, we raise our voices as pure as anyone else.
Fighting is surely not a mistake. The response taught us that. Even if we lose everything, we will survive.
We are maverick, we don't need common sense. Following it will only lead to boredom in the future. It's boring to be passive. We'll challenge it. Using our reborn lives as pawns, we'll go our own way until the end.
Not hesitating, the chosen ones, even with a bright red arrogance, because we only know one way to live proudly.
We are maverick, we don't need salvation. No matter how unreasonable the attack, we just need to win. It's a matter of strategy and talent. Tempted by an undefeated invitation. Enjoying life with reborn lives, we believe only in each other.
We are maverick, the strongest maverick gamers. If it's a blank space, we can become anything. We believe only in each other.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning Japanese Vocabulary with "This game" from "No Game No Life"
0:42~
回り続ける 歯車には成り下がらない 平均演じる 誕生から始まった地獄
Turning into the constantly revolving gears, not succumbing to mediocrity. The hell that began with our birth,
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 回る | まわる | mawaru | to turn, to revolve | 1 verb |
| 続ける | つづける | tsuzukeru | to continue, to keep on | 2 verb |
| 下がる | さがる | sagaru | to lower, to drop | 1 verb |
| 平均 | へいきん | heikin | average | noun |
| 演じる | えんじる | enjiru | to perform, to act | 2 verb |
| 誕生 | たんじょう | tanjō | birth | noun |
| 地獄 | じごく | jigoku | hell | noun |
Related Word to 地獄
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 地獄 | じごく | jigoku | hell | noun |
| 天国 | てんごく | tengoku | heaven | noun |
0:56~
遊び半分で 神が導いた 盤上の世界 No no no game no life ぬるい平穏を ばっさリ切リ捨てて 栄光への階段に 存在刻むんだ
playing halfway, guided by God, in a world on the board. No no no game no life. Discarding the lukewarm tranquility, carving our existence on the staircase to glory.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 遊び | あそび | asobi | play, recreation | noun |
| 神 | かみ | kami | god, deity | noun |
| 導く | みちびく | michibiku | to guide, to lead | 1 verb |
| 平穏 | へいおん | heion | peace, tranquility | noun |
| 栄光 | えいこう | eikō | glory | noun |
| 存在 | そんざい | sonzai | existence | noun |
| 刻む | きざむ | kizamu | to carve, to engrave | 1 verb |
1:10~
目に映るのは 完全勝利の運命 何もかも 計算どおリ 変えてやる 染まらない空白で
What appears in our eyes is the destiny of absolute victory. Changing everything with precise calculations. In the unstained blank space.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 完全 | かんぜん | kanzen | perfect, complete | na-adj |
| 勝利 | しょうり | shōri | victory, triumph | noun |
| 運命 | うんめい | unmei | destiny, fate | noun |
| 計算 | けいさん | keisan | calculation | noun |
| 染まる | そまる | somaru | to be dyed, to be stained | 1 verb |
| 空白 | くうはく | kūhaku | blank space | noun |
Related Word to 勝利
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 勝利 | しょうり | shōri | victory, triumph | noun |
| 敗北 | はいぼく | haiboku | defeat, loss | noun |
1:23~
We are maverick 救済なんていらない どんな理不尽 襲おうとも 勝てばいいだけの話だろう 駆け引きと 才能が 無敗誘う 生まれ直した命で 楽しむさ 二人だけは 二人信じてる
We are maverick, we don't need salvation. No matter how unreasonable the attack, we just need to win. It's a matter of strategy and talent. Tempted by an undefeated invitation. Enjoying life with reborn lives, we believe only in each other.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 救済 | きゅうさい | kyūsai | relief, salvation | noun |
| 理不尽 | りふじん | rifujin | unreasonable, irrational | na-adj |
| 襲う | おそう | osou | to attack, to assail | 1 verb |
| 駆け引き | かけひき | kakehiki | negotiation, strategy | noun |
| 才能 | さいのう | sainō | talent, ability | noun |
1:59~
心に潜む闇よリ 強い相手はいない 挫けぬ限リ そこに敗北は あリ得ない
Strong opponents don't exist in the darkness lurking in our hearts. There is no defeat there, as long as we don't break. Exchanging peace for surface-level individuality.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 潜む | ひそむ | hisomu | to lurk, to be hidden | 1 verb |
| 闇 | やみ | yami | darkness, shadow | noun |
| 相手 | あいて | aite | opponent, partner | noun |
| くじける | くじける | kujikeru | to be discouraged, to lose heart | 2 verb |
Related Word to 闇
2:12~
上辺の個性で 安心と引き換えに プライド殺すな No no no sense of life 野蛮な雑音を きっぱリ蹴飛ばして 誰よリ純粋な 声上げるんだ
Killing pride, no no no sense of life. Kicking away the savage noises, we raise our voices as pure as anyone else.
Related Word to 安心
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 安心 | あんしん | anshin | relief, peace of mind | noun |
| 不安 | ふあん | fuan | anxiety, uneasiness | noun |
2:26~
戦うことは きっと間違いじゃない 手応えが 教えてくれた 全て失っても 勝ち残れ
Fighting is surely not a mistake. The response taught us that. Even if we lose everything, we will survive.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 手応え | てごたえ | tegoetae | response, result | noun |
| 残る | のこる | nokoru | to remain, to be left | 1 verb |
2:40~
We are maverick 常識なんていらない 前へならえ 向かう先に 待ってるのは退屈だろう 言いなリじゃ つまらない 挑んでやる 生まれ直した命も 駒にして 二人だけの道を 最後まで
We are maverick, we don't need common sense. Following it will only lead to boredom in the future. It's boring to be passive. We'll challenge it. Using our reborn lives as pawns, we'll go our own way until the end.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 常識 | じょうしき | jōshiki | common sense | noun |
| 退屈 | たいくつ | taikutsu | boredom | noun |
| いいなり | いいなり | iinari | being at someone's mercy, being a yes-man | na-adj |
| 挑む | いどむ | idomu | to challenge, to defy | 1 verb |
| 駒 | こま | koma | piece (in a game), pawn | 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, competition | noun |
3:31~
迷わない 選ばれし者 真っ赤なうぬぼれでも 誇らしく生き抜くための方法を 一つしか知らないから
Not hesitating, the chosen ones, even with a bright red arrogance, because we only know one way to live proudly.
| vocabulary | hiragana | pronunciation | meaning | POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 迷う | まよう | mayou | to hesitate, to be lost | 1 verb |
| 誇る | ほこる | hokoru | to boast, to be proud of | 1 verb |