In today's article we translate the opening of the anime Eromanga Sensei, sung by ClariS. The name of the song is Hitorigoto, which means talking to oneself or a monologue. The title is written in katakana as ヒトリゴト, but the everyday word is 独り言.
ClariS is the duo Clara and Karen. They released the single on April 26, 2017 on Sacra Music, with lyrics by Kelly and music by Yoichiro Nomura. A-1 Pictures animated the series that spring, from the light novel by Tsukasa Fushimi. If you already know ClariS from irony in Oreimo, they also show up in our list of favorite anime openings.
Anime songs are a solid way to learn Japanese with manga and anime, because the same lines come back every episode. Hitorigoto is built around feelings that stall right before they become words, which is why it works so well as a study text.
Contents 4
Song Lyrics - Hitorigoto - ClariS
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ヒトリゴトだよ 恥はずかしいこと聞きかないでよね
キミのことだよ でもその先さきは言いわないけどね
掛かけ違ちがえてるボタンみたいなもどかしさを
ほどけないまま また難むずかしくしようとしてる
伝つたえたい気持きもちは今日きょうも 言葉ことばになる直前ちょくぜんに 変換へんかんミスの連続れんぞくで
ため息いきと一緒いっしょに飲のみ込こんでは ほろ苦にがい
ふとしたときに探さがしているよ
キミの笑顔えがおを探さがしているよ
無意識むいしきの中なかその理由りゆうはまだ言いえないけど
一ひと人りでいると会あいたくなるよ
誰だれといたって会あいたくなるよ
たった一言ひとことねえどうして 言いえないその言葉ことば 言いえないこの気持きもち
早はやく気きづいて欲ほしいのに
1000ピースあるパズルみたいな選択肢せんたくしと
想像そうぞう力りょくが判断はんだん力りょくの邪魔じゃまをしちゃう
つかめない気持きもちは今日きょうも 可愛かわいくない顔かおみせて
自己じこ嫌悪けんお＋後悔こうかいで
溜ため込こんだごめんねを吐はき出だすには ほど遠とおい
耳みみをすませば聞きこえてくるよ
キミの声こえだけ聞きこえてくるよ
雑踏ざっとうの中なか気きづかないフリしていいけど
隣となりにいると嬉うれしくなるよ
遠とおくにいると寂さびしくなるよ
単純たんじゅんなことでもどうして 言いえないその言葉ことば 言いえないこの気持きもち
もっと素直すなおになりたい
泣なき出だしそうな空模様そらもよう 頬ほおに一ひと粒つぶ雨あめかな?
不安定ふあんていな心こころ重かさね隠かくした ヒトリゴトに全部ぜんぶ隠かくして
キミのことホントはずっと
ふとしたときに探さがしているよ
キミの笑顔えがおを探さがしているよ
無意識むいしきの中なかその理由りゆうはまだ言いえないけど
一ひと人りでいると会あいたくなるよ
誰だれといたって会あいたくなるよ
たった一言ひとことねえどうして 言いえないその言葉ことば 言いえないこの気持きもち
早はやく気きづいて欲ほしいのに
Romanized Lyrics
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Hitorigoto da yo hazukashii koto kikanaide yo ne
kimi no koto da yo demo sono saki wa iwanai kedo ne
kakechigaeteru botan mitai na modokashisa o
hodokenai mama mata muzukashiku shiyou to shiteru
tsutaetai kimochi wa kyou mo kotoba ni naru chokuzen ni henkan misu no renzoku de
tameiki to issho ni nomikonde wa horonigai
futoshita toki ni sagashite iru yo
kimi no egao o sagashite iru yo
muishiki no naka sono riyuu wa mada ienai kedo
hitori de iru to aitaku naru yo
dare to itatte aitaku naru yo
tatta hitokoto nee doushite ienai sono kotoba ienai kono kimochi
hayaku kizuite hoshii noni
sen piisu aru pazuru mitai na sentakushi to
souzouryoku ga handanryoku no jama o shichau
tsukamenai kimochi wa kyou mo kawaikunai kao misete
jiko ken'o purasu koukai de
tamekonda gomen ne o hakidasu ni wa hodotooi
mimi o sumaseba kikoete kuru yo
kimi no koe dake kikoete kuru yo
zattou no naka kizukanai furi shite ii kedo
tonari ni iru to ureshiku naru yo
tooku ni iru to sabishiku naru yo
tanjun na koto demo doushite ienai sono kotoba ienai kono kimochi
motto sunao ni naritai
nakidashisou na soramoyou hoo ni hitotsubu ame ka na?
fuantei na kokoro kasane kakushita hitorigoto ni zenbu kakushite
kimi no koto honto wa zutto
futoshita toki ni sagashite iru yo
kimi no egao o sagashite iru yo
muishiki no naka sono riyuu wa mada ienai kedo
hitori de iru to aitaku naru yo
dare to itatte aitaku naru yo
tatta hitokoto nee doushite ienai sono kotoba ienai kono kimochi
hayaku kizuite hoshii noni
Translation of the Song
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I'm talking to myself, don't ask, it's embarrassing!
It's about you! But I won't say anything beyond that.
I'm so frustrated, like my buttons are done up on the wrong holes.
It stays tangled, and I'm just making things harder again.
The feelings I want to express, today as well, hit a string of conversion mistakes right before they become words.
Swallowing them along with a sigh is bittersweet.
At odd moments I'm searching, I'm searching for your smile.
It happens inside the unconscious; I still can't say what the reason is.
When I'm alone I start wanting to see you. No matter who I'm with, I want to see you.
It's just a single word, why? I can't say those words.
I can't express these feelings. I wish you would hurry up and notice.
The choices I have are like a 1000-piece puzzle.
Combined with my imagination, they get in the way of deciding.
This feeling I can't quite grasp, today as well,
shows an un-cute face.
With self-hatred plus regrets,
I'm still far from spitting out the "sorry" I've been holding in.
If I listen closely, I can hear it.
I hear nothing but your voice.
In the middle of the crowd I can pretend not to notice.
When I'm by your side, I feel so happy.
When you're far away, I feel so lonely.
It's such a simple thing, so why?
I can't say the words.
I can't tell you this feeling.
I want to be more honest.
The sky looks about to cry.
A drop on my cheek... is it rain?
I hid my unsteady heart in layers, and hid everything inside that hitorigoto.
The truth about you is that, all this time...
At odd moments I'm searching,
I'm searching for your smile.
It happens inside the unconscious, so I still can't tell you why.
When I'm alone I start wanting to see you.
No matter who I'm with, I start wanting to see you.
It's just a single phrase, so why?
I can't say the words.
I can't tell you this feeling.
I just wish you would notice soon.
Breaking Down the Song
Now let's study Japanese by breaking down the song, line by line.
ヒトリゴトだよ 恥ずかしいこと聞かないでよね Hitorigoto da yo hazukashii koto kikanaide yo ne
I'm talking to myself, don't ask me, it's embarrassing!
- ヒトリゴト - monologue, talking to yourself
- だよ - confirms, like a casual です
- 恥ずかしい - embarrassing, shameful
- こと - thing
- 聞かないで - don't ask / don't listen
キミのことだよ でもその先は言わないけどね Kimi no koto da yo demo sono saki wa iwanai kedo ne
It's about you! But I won't say anything beyond that.
- キミ - you
- こと - thing, matter
- でも - but
- その先 - beyond this, any further
- 言わない - not saying
- けど - though, still
掛け違えてるボタンみたいなもどかしさを kakechigaeteru botan mitai na modokashisa o
I'm so frustrated, like my buttons are done up on the wrong holes.
- 掛け違う - to mismatch, to fasten on the wrong side
- ボタン - button
- みたい - like, as if
- もどかしさ - that impatient, stuck feeling
ほどけないまま また難しくしようとしてる Hodokenai mama mata muzukashiku shiyou to shiteru
It stays tangled, and I'm just making things harder again.
- ほどけない - won't come undone
- まま - left as is
- また - again
- 難しく - difficult
- してる - doing
ほどける is the verb for a knot or a button coming undone. The earlier 解 with the reading とど was a conversion error; 届ける (todokeru, to deliver) does not belong here.
伝えたい気持ちは今日も 言葉になる直前に 変換ミスの連続で Tsutaetai kimochi wa kyou mo kotoba ni naru chokuzen ni henkan misu no renzoku de
The feelings I want to express, today as well, hit a string of conversion mistakes right before they become words.
- 伝えたい - want to tell, want to get across
- 気持ち - feelings
- 今日も - today as well
- 言葉 - word
- なる - become
- 直前 - just before
- 変換 - IME conversion, turning kana into kanji
- ミス - miss, error
- 連続 - a run, one after another
変換ミス is the exact slip you get on a Japanese phone: you type the reading, pick the wrong kanji, and the sentence goes sideways. The song uses that as a picture of feelings that never quite become speech.
ため息と一緒に飲み込んでは ほろ苦い Tameiki to issho ni nomikonde wa horonigai
Swallowing them along with a sigh is bittersweet.
- ため息 - a sigh
- 一緒 - together, along with
- 飲み込んで - swallow, hold down
- ほろ苦い - bittersweet, slightly bitter
ふとしたときに探しているよ キミの笑顔を探しているよ Futoshita toki ni sagashite iru yo kimi no egao o sagashite iru yo
At odd moments I'm searching, I'm searching for your smile.
- ふとしたとき - a casual, unplanned moment
- ふとした - unexpected, offhand
- とき - time, moment
- 探している - searching
- キミ - you, your
- 笑顔 - smile
無意識の中その理由はまだ言えないけど Muishiki no naka sono riyuu wa mada ienai kedo
- 無意識 - the unconscious
- 中 - inside
- 理由 - reason
- まだ - still
- 言えない - cannot say
- けど - but
It happens inside the unconscious; I still can't say what the reason is.
一人でいると会いたくなるよ 誰といたって会いたくなるよ Hitori de iru to aitaku naru yo dare to itatte aitaku naru yo
When I'm alone I start wanting to see you. No matter who I'm with, I want to see you.
- 一人 - alone
- いる - to be there
- 会いたく - want to meet, want to see
- なるよ - it turns into that, it happens
- 誰といたって - no matter who I'm with
たった一言ねえどうして 言えないその言葉 Tatta hitokoto nee doushite ienai sono kotoba
It's just a single word, why? I can't say those words.
- たった - just, no more than
- 一言 - a single word, a short phrase
- どうして - why?
- 言えない - cannot say
- 言葉 - words
言えないこの気持ち 早く気づいて欲しいのに Ienai kono kimochi hayaku kizuite hoshii noni
I can't express these feelings. I wish you would hurry up and notice.
- 言えない - cannot say
- この - this
- 気持ち - feeling
- 早く - quickly
- 気づいて - notice, catch on
- 欲しい - I want you to
- のに - even though, and yet
1000ピースあるパズルみたいな選択肢と Sen piisu aru pazuru mitai na sentakushi to
The choices I have are like a 1000-piece puzzle.
- 1000ピース - a thousand pieces
- パズル - puzzle
- みたいな - like
- 選択肢 - options, choices
想像力が判断力の邪魔をしちゃう Souzouryoku ga handanryoku no jama o shichau
Combined with my imagination, they get in the way of deciding.
- 想像力 - imagination
- 判断力 - judgment, the ability to decide
- 邪魔 - obstruction, getting in the way
- しちゃう - ends up doing, unfortunately does
つかめない気持ちは今日も 可愛くない顔みせて Tsukamenai kimochi wa kyou mo kawaikunai kao misete
This feeling I can't quite grasp, today as well, shows an un-cute face.
- つかめない - can't grab, can't get hold of
- 可愛くない顔 - a face that isn't cute
- みせて - showing
自己嫌悪＋後悔で Jiko ken'o purasu koukai de
With self-hatred plus regrets.
- 自己嫌悪 - self-loathing
- ＋ - plus, written that way in the lyric
- 後悔 - regret
ため込んだごめんねを吐き出すには ほど遠い Tamekonda gomen ne o hakidasu ni wa hodotooi
I'm still far from spitting out the "sorry" I've been holding in.
- ため込んだ - stored up, bottled
- ごめんね - sorry
- 吐き出す - spit out, finally say
- ほど遠い - a long way off
耳をすませば聞こえてくるよ キミの声だけ聞こえてくるよ Mimi o sumaseba kikoete kuru yo kimi no koe dake kikoete kuru yo
If I listen closely, I can hear it. I hear nothing but your voice.
- 耳をすませば - if I strain my ears
- 聞こえてくる - it comes into hearing
- 声 - voice
- だけ - only
雑踏の中気づかないフリしていいけど Zattou no naka kizukanai furi shite ii kedo
In the middle of the crowd I can pretend not to notice.
- 雑踏 - a crush of people
- フリして - putting on an act
- いいけど - it's fine, though
隣にいると嬉しくなるよ 遠くにいると寂しくなるよ Tonari ni iru to ureshiku naru yo tooku ni iru to sabishiku naru yo
When I'm by your side, I feel so happy. When you're far away, I feel so lonely.
- 隣 - beside someone
- 嬉しくなる - become happy
- 遠く - far away
- 寂しくなる - become lonely
単純なことでもどうして Tanjun na koto demo doushite
It's such a simple thing, so why?
- 単純 - simple
- でも - even so
- どうして - why
もっと素直になりたい Motto sunao ni naritai
I want to be more honest.
- もっと - more
- 素直 - straightforward, without dodging
- なりたい - I want to become
泣き出しそうな空模様 頬に一粒雨かな? Nakidashisou na soramoyou hoo ni hitotsubu ame ka na?
The sky looks about to cry. A drop on my cheek, is it rain?
- 泣き出しそう - on the verge of bursting into tears
- 空模様 - the look of the sky, the weather
- 頬 - cheek
- 一粒 - one drop, one grain
- かな - I wonder
不安定な心重ね隠した ヒトリゴトに全部隠して Fuantei na kokoro kasane kakushita hitorigoto ni zenbu kakushite
I hid my unsteady heart in layers, and hid everything inside that hitorigoto.
- 不安定 - unsteady, unstable
- 心 - heart
- 重ねて隠した - hidden in layers
- 全部隠して - hiding all of it in there
キミのことホントはずっと Kimi no koto honto wa zutto
The truth about you is that, all this time...
- ホント - the truth
- ずっと - all along, the whole time
The chorus comes back unchanged after that: searching, being alone, not saying that one word. That loop is the whole point of Hitorigoto, and it is why the opening sits so well on Eromanga Sensei. Feelings stay behind a bedroom door and behind drawings. For a slower song broken down the same way, start with Amefurashi no Uta. If you want the Japanese source text next time, how to find the lyrics of songs in Japanese walks through the search.
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