Twice ๏ฝž Cheer up (Japanese version)

I am not a K-pop or J-pop fan and to be honest, I am not familiar with trendy groups. Having said that, I do appreciate some famous songs that I know and “Cheer-up” by Twice is one of them. This song was so popular when it came out that several candidates for the presidential elections (2017) in Korea used this song as part of their campaign, changing the lyrics to promote their candidature. This was one of the weirdest things I saw in my life…

Anyway, Twice has made their debut in Japan this summer and released an album with all their title songs in Japanese.

I hesitated a lot before translating the lyrics of “Cheer-up” because:

  • It’s much more difficult than I imagined, sometimes what they say just does not make sense (to me)
  • I have checked several English translations found on the internet, and they are all different! But the worst thing is that, in several parts, they all differ from mine! ๐Ÿ˜ฑThere is a greater probability that they are all right, and I am wrong… But as it would be totally pointless to post my own translation if it were just a copy of others’, I will stick to my interpretation.

What decided me to turn thoughts into action is this post by Kotobites. Lyrics do not always make sense, and the meaning is sometimes hard to grasp because of limited grammar. But it is definitely an excellent exercise that forced me out of my comfort zone. And I did learn some very interesting expressions like “ใ‚ˆใ่ฆ‹ใ•ใ›ใชใ„” or “ๆ—ข่ชญใ‚นใƒซใƒผใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹”.

The lyrics are very long, but I really had fun translating them. It is frustrating to understand every word and still don’t see what the meaning of a phrase is. But it is fun too, to try to crack the lyrics, especially if you study only one or two strophes a day like I did.

Please, keep in mind that I am maybe (certainly) wrong in some parts of my translation. Don’t hesitate to correct me in the comments!

Note: when I post about Japanese songs, I like to illustrate my post with a drawing inspired by the song’s music video or film in which the song appeared. In this case, it refers to the original Korean music video.

Lyrics

ๅ›ใ‹ใ‚‰้ณดใ‚‹ ใƒ™ใƒซ ใƒ™ใƒซ
ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ ใƒžใ‚ธ็„ก็†
ใƒใƒƒใƒ†ใƒชใƒผ
ๆธ›ใ‚‹ใฎๆ—ฉใ™ใŽใ‚‹

  • ้ณดใ‚‹ใƒปใชใ‚‹ “to ring”
  • ็„ก็†ใƒปใ‚€ใ‚Š means “impossible”, while ใพใ˜ means “seriously”, “really”. The two together mean something like, “really impossible”.
  • ๆธ›ใ‚‹ใƒปใธใ‚‹ to decrease, to diminish.
  • ๆ—ฉใ„ใƒปใฏใ‚„(ใ„) + ใ™ใŽใ‚‹. ใ™ใŽใ‚‹ is a grammar point which means “too much”, “excessively”. Drop the ใ„ of the adjective and add ใ™ใŽใ‚‹.

I am sorry, but I can’t receive all your phone calls (it’s really impossible), my battery is decreasing too rapidly.

็€ไฟกใŒ ๆญขใพใ‚‰ใชใใฆ
ใ‚นใƒžใƒ›ใŒใƒ‘ใƒณใฃ๏ผ
ๅผพใ‘ใใ†ใ ใ‚ˆ

  • ็€ไฟกใƒปใกใ‚ƒใใ—ใ‚“ incoming message or call (on the phone)
  • ๆญขใพใ‚‹ใƒปใจใพใ‚‹ to stop. Here in the negative form ๆญขใพใ‚‰ใชใ„ใƒปใจใพใ‚‰ใชใ„ + the form ใฆ which only means “and” “so”. With an ใ„ adjective or the negation ใชใ„, replace the ใ„ with ใใฆ.
  • ใ‚นใƒžใƒ› smartphone
  • ๅผพใ‘ใ‚‹ใƒปใฏใ˜ใ‘ใ‚‹ to burst open. ใใ†ใ  is a grammar point which means “look like”, “seem”. It is attached to the ใพใ™ form. In the case of ๅผพใ‘ใ‚‹ it is ใฏใ˜ใ‘+ใใ†ใ .

Calls from you won’t stop, and it seems that my phone will explode.

ใ‚“ใง๏ผŸ ใชใ‚“ใง๏ผŸ
็งใฎใ›ใ„๏ผŸใฃใฆๆ€ใ†ใ ใ‘ใง
่ƒธใ‚ญใƒฅใƒณใ™ใ‚‹ใชใ‚“ใฆ
ใ ใ‘ใฉใญ ใฟใ‚“ใช ใ‚ซใƒฏใ‚คใ‚คใญใฃใฆ่ฟ‘ใฅใใฎ

  • ใ›ใ„ means “fault” here
  • ใฃใฆ is a casual way of saying ใจ
  • ใใ‚…ใ‚“ใ™ใ‚‹ means “be shocked by emotion” or “momentary tightening of one’s chest caused by powerful feelings” and is often used with ่ƒธใƒปใ‚€ใญ chest.
  • ใชใ‚“ใฆ is a grammar which means “things like”.
  • ใ ใ‘ใฉใญ however
  • ่ฟ‘ใฅใใƒปใกใ‹ใฅใto get acquainted with, to get closer to, to get to know.

Why is it my fault if your heart is torn apart (or things like that) when you think of me (by only thinking of me). It’s just that everybody is approaching me telling me that I am cute.

I first thought (and most translations on the internet go in that direction) that “ใฃใฆใŠใ‚‚ใ†ใ ใ‘ใง” referred to “why is it my fault”. The meaning would then be something like “I am sad or upset just to think that it could be my fault – that you consider it to be my fault”. But, ใใ‚…ใ‚“ใ™ใ‚‹ is used when suffering from a great emotional shock, for example when parting with a lover. I think this word would be strange referring to the girl being upset and instead, applies best to the boy being in love with her (but not able to see her often). Secondly, I think that the expression “ใชใ‚“ใฆ” (but I may be mistaken) may be used to take some distance from what is said and would suit better if it referred to the guy’s feeling. ๐Ÿค”

As for people trying to get close by saying she is cute… I just don’t understand how it is supposed to make sense here. Is it a way to say that the boy’s approach is nothing new to her because she is used to hearing such things? Or on the contrary, that the boy is saying something else than just “cute”, and that’s why she will eventually fall for him? Or am I totally mistaken with the translation? But well, there are some lyrics that I don’t even understand in French, so… 

Ah ใ•ใฃใใฎ้›ป่ฉฑใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใญ
ๅ‹้”ใจใ„ใฆ shy shy shy
ใพใ ไผšใˆใชใ„ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใญ
ใ‹ใ‘็›ดใ™ใ‹ใ‚‰ later

  • ใ•ใฃใ some time ago
  • ไผšใˆใชใ„ใƒปใ‚ใˆใชใ„ is the potential form ไผšใˆใ‚‹ใƒปใ‚ใˆใ‚‹ of ไผšใ†ใƒปใ‚ใ†, here in the negative form: ไผšใˆใชใ„ “not able to meet”.
  • ใ‹ใ‘็›ดใ™ใƒปใ‹ใ‘ใชใŠใ™ to call again, to call someone back.

Ah, sorry for not answering your call some time ago, I was with friends (that’s why I was shy). Sorry if we still can’t meet, I will call you back, so see you later.

ใŠใญใŒใ„ ๆ€ฅใ‹ใ•ใชใ„ใง
ๅ‰ใฎใ‚ใ‚Šใช Baby
ใ‚‚ใ†ๅฐ‘ใ— ใ‚ฌใƒžใƒณใ—ใฆใญ
ใ‚ˆใ่ฆ‹ใ•ใ›ใชใ„ใ‚ˆ

  • ๆ€ฅใ‹ใ™ใƒปใ›ใ‹ใ™ to hurry, to urge on. Here, the form ใชใ„ใง means “don’t…”
  • ๅ‰ใฎใ‚ใ‚Šใƒปใพใˆใฎใ‚ใ‚Š first means “pitching forward”. But here, it describes someone who can’t wait to do things and urges things on.
  • ๆˆ‘ๆ…ขใ™ใ‚‹ใƒปใŒใพใ‚“ใ™ใ‚‹ to be patient
  • ใ‚ˆใ่ฆ‹ใƒปใ‚ˆใใฟ means “to look away” but, in this particular context and associated with ใ•ใ›ใชใ„, the negative form of the causative form of the verb ใ™ใ‚‹, it means to look another girl/boy. ใ‚ˆใ่ฆ‹ใ•ใ›ใชใ„ใƒปใ‚ˆใใฟใ•ใ›ใชใ„ is a way to say “do not let or make your partner have an affair”.

I beg you, don’t urge me, restless baby. Be a little more patient, I won’t let you go after someone else (look at another girl).

When I googled ใ‚ˆใ่ฆ‹ใ•ใ›ใชใ„, I found it associated with “ๆตฎๆฐ—ใ•ใ›ใชใ„”. ๆตฎๆฐ—ใƒปใ†ใ‚ใ means “unfaithfulness”, “infidelity” or simply “extramarital sex”. I found out that there are three ways of using this word, which allow us to make a little grammar revision:

  • Active form: ๆตฎๆฐ—ใ™ใ‚‹ having an affair, cheat on your partner
  • Passive form: ๆตฎๆฐ—ใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹ your partner cheated on you, your partner is having an affair.
  • Causative form: ๆตฎๆฐ—ใ•ใ›ใ‚‹, more often used with the negative form ๆตฎๆฐ—ใ•ใ›ใชใ„ which would mean “let or don’t let your partner cheat on you”.

CHEER UP BABY
CHEER UP BABY ่ฟฝใ„ใ‹ใ‘ใฆ
่ƒธใฎๆ‰‰ใ‚’ๅฉใ„ใฆ
ไปŠใ‚ˆใ‚Šใ‚‚ ใ‚‚ใฃใจๅคง่ƒ†ใซ
ๆฐ—ใŒใชใ„ใƒ•ใƒชใ—ใฆ ๆ‹ใ—ใฆใ‚‹ใฎ
ใƒ›ใƒณใƒˆใฏๅ›ใŒๅฅฝใใ ใ‚ˆ
Just get it together
and then baby CHEER UP

  • ่ฟฝใ„ใ‹ใ‘ใ‚‹ใƒปใŠใ„ใ‹ใ‘ใ‚‹ to chase, to run after
  • ๆ‰‰ใƒปใจใณใ‚‰ door, gate
  • ๅฉใใƒปใŸใŸใ to knock, to beat, to strike. Here in the imperative form ๅฉใ„ใฆใƒปใŸใŸใ„ใฆ
  • ใ‚ˆใ‚Šใ‚‚ is an emphatic form of ใ‚ˆใ‚Š.
  • ใ‚‚ใฃใจ more
  • ๅคง่ƒ†ใƒปใ ใ„ใŸใ‚“ bold, daring, audacious. It’s a ใช adjective, so changing ใช into ใซ transforms the adjective into an adverb.
  • ๆฐ—ใŒใชใ„ใƒปใใŒใชใ„ to be uninterested
  • ใตใ‚Šใ™ใ‚‹ means “to pretend to”
  • ๆ‹ใ™ใ‚‹ใƒปใ“ใ„ใ™ใ‚‹ to love

Cheer up Baby and chase after me. Knock on the door of my heart more audaciously than now. I am pretending that I am not interested but I love you, I really like you.

ใ‚ฝใƒฏใ‚ฝใƒฏใ—ใฆใ‚‹ๅงฟ ๆตฎใ‹ใถใ—
ใƒ‰ใ‚ญใƒ‰ใ‚ญใ—ใฆใ‚‹ใฎ ไผใ‚ใ‚‹ใ‘ใฉใญ
ใƒ€ใƒกใƒ€ใƒก่ปฝใ„ใจ ๆ€ใ‚ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใ‹ใ‚‰
ใƒกใƒƒใ‚ปใƒผใ‚ธๅฑŠใ„ใฆใ‚‚ ๆ—ข่ชญใงใ‚นใƒซใƒผ

  • ใใ‚ใใ‚ restless, nervous
  • ๅงฟใƒปใ™ใŒใŸ figure, form, state, condition
  • ใฉใใฉใ the heart beating fast
  • ไผใ‚ใ‚‹ใƒปใคใŸใ‚ใ‚‹ to be transmitted
  • ๆ€ใ‚ใ‚Œใ‚‹ใƒปใŠใ‚‚ใ‚ใ‚Œใ‚‹ is a passive form: I will be thought to be…? = you will think that I am…
  • ๅฑŠใใƒปใจใฉใ to reach, to arrive (ex: for a message)
  • ๆ—ข่ชญใƒปใใฉใ “already read”, it is the notification that will appear next to your message when it is read. (on Line, for example).

I am well aware of your restlessness (the restless figure of you comes to my mind), and I know that your heart is beating fast with emotion (your beating heart is transmitted to me), but no, it would not be good to reply to your messages (it’s no use), you would think that I am easy (light). I leave your messages “read” but unreplied. (Even if your messages arrive, I let them “already read”)

What she means is that she reads the boy’s messages so that he knows she has read them – the “read” ๆ—ข่ชญ mark will appear on his phone – but she does not reply, leaving him even more restless than if she hadn’t read them at all. I found this article about “being left already read” ๆ—ข่ชญใ‚นใƒซใƒผใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹. I love this expression, haha!

Oh oh oh ่จฑใ—ใฆใญ boy
ใ‚„ใ‚Šใ™ใŽใชใฎใ‹ใช ่ƒธใŒ็—›ใ„ใ‚ˆ
Oh oh oh ใฉใ†ใ™ใ‚Œใฐใ„ใ„ใฎ
ๅคขไธญใซใชใฃใกใ‚ƒใ†
ๅคขไธญใซใชใฃใฆใ‚‹

  • ่จฑใ™ใƒปใ‚†ใ‚‹ใ™ means “to permit, to allow” but it most probably means “to excuse”, “to forgive” in our context.
  • ใ‚„ใ‚‹ means “to do” and is here associated with “ใ™ใŽใ‚‹”, which means “too much”. ใ™ใŽใ‚‹ is attached to the ใพใ™ form of a verb. In the phrase ใ‚„ใ‚Šใ™ใŽใชใฎใ‹ใช, she is asking herself if she didn’t go too far.
  • ใ™ใ‚Œใฐ is the ใฐ form of ใ™ใ‚‹. It means “if” and express a condition. “ใฉใ†ใ™ใ‚Œใฐใ„ใ„” means “how shall I do?, what should I do?”.
  • ๅคขไธญใƒปใ‚€ใกใ‚…ใ† trance, delirium. ๅคขไธญใซใชใ‚‹ใƒปใ‚€ใกใ‚…ใ†ใซใชใ‚‹ means that you love something so much, you are in a trance. Here, the form ใฆใ—ใพใ† is attached, which means that something is done completely with a possible negative consequence. ๅคขไธญใซใชใฃใฆใ—ใพใ† is contracted into ๅคขไธญใซใชใฃใกใ‚ƒใ†.

Forgive me, maybe I went too far, my heart aches. What shall I do, I am so into you.

Ah ๆ‚ฉใพใ›ใฆใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใญ
ๅซŒใ„ใ˜ใ‚ƒใชใ„ใฎ shy shy shy
ไธๅฎ‰ใซใ—ใฆใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใญ
ๆ‰“ใกๆ˜Žใ‘ใ‚‹ใ‹ใ‚‰ later

  • ๆ‚ฉใ‚€ใƒปใชใ‚„ใ‚€ to be worried, to be troubled. ๆ‚ฉใพใ•ใ›ใ‚‹ใƒปใชใ‚„ใพใ•ใ›ใ‚‹ is the causative form and means “to make someone be worried”.
  • ไธๅฎ‰ใƒปใตใ‚ใ‚“ means “to be restless”. ไธๅฎ‰ใซใ™ใ‚‹ใƒปใตใ‚ใ‚“ใซใ™ใ‚‹ means “to cause someone to be restless
  • ๆ‰“ใกๆ˜Žใ‘ใ‚‹ใƒปใ†ใกใ‚ใ‘ใ‚‹ to confide in sb, to open one’s heart to sb., to lay bare one’s feeling.

I am sorry that I have troubled you, I don’t dislike you (I am shy because I like you). I am sorry if you are restless because of me, as I will eventually open my heart to you, we’ll see each other later.

ใ“ใ‚“ใชใซ ่‹ฆใ—ใ„ใฎใฏ
ๅ›ใฎใ›ใ„ใ‚ˆ Baby
ใ‚ใจๅฐ‘ใ— ๆœฌๆฐ—่ฆ‹ใ›ใฆ
ๅฅชใ„ใซๆฅใฆๆฌฒใ—ใ„

  • ่‹ฆใ—ใ„ใƒปใใ‚‹ใ—ใ„ painful
  • N+ใฎใ›ใ„ the fault of, because of
  • ๆœฌๆฐ—ใƒปใปใ‚“ใseriousness, earnestness. ่ฆ‹ใ›ใ‚‹ใƒปใฟใ›ใ‚‹ means “to show” and is here in the imperative form.
  • ๅฅชใ†ใƒปใ†ใฐใ† to take by force, to rob sth. The form ใพใ™ + ใซๆฅใ‚‹ means “to come to do sth”.
  • ๏ฝžใฆๆฌฒใ—ใ„ใƒปใปใ—ใ„ is used when you want someone to do something. “I want you to…”

If I am in such a pain, it’s your fault. From now on show me a little more earnestness and come to take my heart.

CHEER UP BABY
CHEER UP BABY ไผšใ„ใซใใฆ
ๅ›ใฎๆฐ—ๆŒใกใ‚’ ไปŠใ™ใ
ใ‚ใ‚Šใฎใพใพ ๅ…จ้ƒจๅฑŠใ‘ใฆใ‚ˆ
ใ“ใ‚ŒไปฅไธŠ ็งใซ่ฟ‘ไป˜ใ„ใŸใ‚‰
ๆ‹ใ—ใฆใ‚‹ใ‚ชใƒผใƒฉ้š ใ›ใชใ„
Just get it together
and then baby CHEER UP

  • ไผšใ†ใƒปใ‚ใ† Here again, the form ใพใ™+ใซๆฅใ‚‹. Come to meet (me).
  • ๆฐ—ๆŒใกใƒปใใ‚‚ใก feelings
  • ใพใพ means “as something is”, for example, “show me your feelings as they are”. ใ‚ใ‚Š is the noun form of ใ‚ใ‚‹.
  • ๅฑŠใ‘ใ‚‹ใƒปใจใฉใ‘ใ‚‹ to deliver, to notify.
  • ่ฟ‘ใฅใใƒปใกใ‹ใฅใ to come, get closer. The form ใŸใ‚‰ means “if”.
  • ๆ‹ใ™ใ‚‹ใƒปใ“ใ„ใ™ใ‚‹ to love
  • ใ‚ชใƒผใƒฉ aura
  • ้š ใ™ใƒปใ‹ใใ™ to hide. Here, we have the potential form ้š ใ›ใ‚‹ใƒปใ‹ใใ›ใ‚‹ in the negative form ้š ใ›ใชใ„ใƒปใ‹ใใ›ใชใ„ be unable to hide.

Cheer up Baby and come to meet me. Tell me all that you feel for me right now (deliver all your feelings as they are, right now). From now on, if you come closer to me, I won’t be able to hide the fact that I love you (the aura of my love for you).

ใ‚‚ใ… ๅ‚ทใคใใฎ ๆ€–ใ„ใ ใ‘ใ‚ˆ
่‡†็—…ใชๅฟƒใซ ๆฐ—ใฅใ„ใฆ

  • ๅ‚ทใคใใƒปใใšใคใ to get injured, wounded.
  • ๆ€–ใ„ใƒปใ“ใ‚ใ„ frightening
  • ่‡†็—…ใชใƒปใŠใใณใ‚‡ใ†ใช cowardly, easily frightened, scared.
  • ๆฐ—ใฅใใƒปใใฅใ to see, to perceive, to notice, to become aware of, to be conscious of, to realize. Used with ใซ.

I am just afraid of getting hurt and I am aware of my cowardice (my easily frightened heart).

ๅ›ใ‚’ๅฅฝใใชๆฐ—ๆŒใกใŒ
ใƒใƒฌใกใ‚ƒใ†ๅ‰ใซ่ดใ‹ใ›ใฆ
่ฟทใ„ใ‚’ใจใ‹ใ—ใฆใ‚ˆ

  • ใฐใ‚Œใ‚‹ “come to light”, “be discovered”, “be revealed”. Here again, the ๏ฝžใฆใ—ใพใ† form contracted into ใกใ‚ƒใ†.
  • ่ดใ‹ใ›ใ‚‹ใƒปใใ‹ใ›ใ‚‹ is the causative form of ่ดใใƒปใใ “let hear” or “let know”.
  • ่ฟทใ„ใƒปใพใ‚ˆใ„ means “perplexity” or “indecision”, “doubts” or “delusion”. I think it can mean “indecision” or “doubts” here.
  • ใจใ‹ใ™ means to dissolve

Before my feelings for you are exposed, let me hear (…), dissolve my doubts.

I think that what is meant here is: Before she exposes her feelings and reveals her heart, she wants to be sure (of the guy’s sincerity). To clear up her doubts, he should let her hear how sincere he is (this part is omitted in the lyrics). Once again, I don’t know if my interpretation is correct…

Be a man, a real man
gotta see u love me
like a real man

CHEER UP BABY
CHEER UP BABY ่ฟฝใ„ใ‹ใ‘ใฆ
่ƒธใฎๆ‰‰ใ‚’ๅฉใ„ใฆ
ไปŠใ‚ˆใ‚Šใ‚‚ ใ‚‚ใฃใจๅคง่ƒ†ใซ
ๆฐ—ใŒใชใ„ใƒ•ใƒชใ—ใฆ ๆ‹ใ—ใฆใ‚‹ใฎ
ใƒ›ใƒณใƒˆใฏๅ›ใŒๅฅฝใใ ใ‚ˆ
Just get it together
and then baby CHEER UP