NMB48 – Yojijukugo Girls. Lyrics Meaning: Casting Love Spells with Ancient Idioms

How do you confess a massive crush when plain words feel way too embarrassing? These girls found a genius loophole by using ancient vocabulary. They chant cool idioms like magic spells to reveal their true feelings.

    Unpacking the Story of Yojijukugo Girls by NMB48

    This track is wildly creative and completely hilarious. The singers in this upbeat jam are dealing with intense romantic feelings. Normal words just do not cut it anymore. Saying simple things makes them blush and freeze up entirely.

    Too Shy for Normal Talk

    Instead of staying quiet, they get smart. They start using big, complex four-kanji words to hide their awkwardness. It feels like wearing a verbal shield. Dropping heavy dictionary terms gives them the bold energy they desperately need to face the boys they like.

    Hazukashikute hanasenai nara
    If you are too embarrassed to speak
    Shitteru kotoba narabete goran
    Try lining up the words you know
    Afureru omoi katachi ni natte
    Your overflowing feelings will take shape
    Kitto tsutawaru wa
    And surely be conveyed

    Nerdy Words as a Love Potion

    Things get really funny in the chorus. They literally treat Japanese history like a book of witchcraft. Bypassing basic alphabet letters, they throw historical phrases at their crushes. It is their quirky way of flirting. You can easily imagine them standing up super straight, trying to sound mature while totally panicking inside.

    We’re yoji yoji yoji gaaruzu
    We are four-character, four-character, four-character girls
    Yomoji no kanji tachi
    These four-character kanji
    Hiragana no kawari ni
    Instead of hiragana
    Jumon tonaenagara
    While chanting a spell
    Ai o kokuhaku shimashou
    Let’s confess our love

    The Core Vibe Behind the Track

    The main plot revolves around overcoming social anxiety through eccentric self-expression. It blends traditional culture with modern teenage romance perfectly. The girls read thick books just to drop massive hints to clueless guys. They figure that romance requires some serious brainpower. If the guy wants to understand their heart, he better read between the lines and learn some vocabulary.

    What We Can Learn from Their Quirky Tactics

    The biggest takeaway is to embrace your weird, authentic self. If you stumble over normal sentences, find your own unique way to communicate. You do not need a perfect script to show someone you care. Sometimes being uniquely yourself is the best strategy. Even if that means using nerdy phrases, your passion will definitely shine through.

    What do you think about using giant dictionary terms to flirt? I would love to hear your perspective on this adorable tune. Drop your thoughts below and let me know how you interpret these unique lyrics!

    Lyrics: "Yojijukugo Girls" by NMB48


    NMB48 – Yojijukugo Girls [Lyrics KANJI]


    一期一会 (いちごいちえ)で (ハイヤイヤサッサ)
    以心伝心 (いしんでんしん)よ (ハイヤハイヤ)
    空前絶後 (くうぜんぜつご)の (ハイヤイヤサッサ)
    千載一遇 (せんさいいちぐう) 猪突猛進 (ちょとつもうしん) 意気投合 (いきとうごう)!

    恥ずかしくて 話せないなら
    知ってる言葉 並べてごらん
    溢 (あふ)れる思い 形になって
    きっと伝わるわ

    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    四文字の漢字たち
    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    ひらがなの代わりに
    呪文 唱えながら (ハイヤイヤイヤ)
    愛を告白しましょう (ハイヤイヤイヤ)
    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    情熱の四字熟語 ヘイ!

    臥薪嘗胆 (がしんしょうたん)も (ハイヤイヤサッサ)
    捲土重来 (けんどちょうらい)も (ハイヤハイヤ)
    永劫回帰 (えいごうかいき)も (ハイヤイヤサッサ)
    初志貫徹 (しょしかんてつ) 粉骨砕身 (ふんこつさいしん) 順風満帆 (じゅんぷうまんぱん)!

    見たことない心の感じ
    ふりがながなきゃ読めない気持ち
    辞書を片手に いろいろ言えば
    わかってくれるかな

    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    背筋までピンとする
    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    美しい響きよ
    一度 聞かされりゃ (ハイヤイヤイヤ)
    耳に残るだろう (ハイヤイヤイヤ)
    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    冷静な四字熟語 ヘイ!

    温故知新 (おんこちしん) 臨機応変 (りんきおうへん)
    暗中模索 (あんちゅうもさく) 異口同音 (いくどうおん) 呉越同舟 (ごえつどうしゅう)
    馬耳東風 (ばじとうふう) 羊頭狗肉 (ようとうくにく)
    有名無実 (ゆうめいむじつ)

    賢くなきゃ 恋もできない
    日常会話 ヒントがいっぱい
    今の言葉はどういう意味か
    深読みするしかない

    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    四文字の漢字たち
    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    ひらがなの代わりに
    呪文 唱えながら (ハイヤイヤイヤ)
    愛を告白しましょう (ハイヤイヤイヤ)
    We’re 四字 四字 四字ガールズ
    情熱の四字熟語
    情熱の四字熟語
    麗しの四字熟語 ヘイ!

    NMB48 – Yojijukugo Girls [Lyrics ROMAJI]


    Ichigoichie (ichigoichie) de (hai ya iyasassa)
    Ishin denshin (ishindenshin) yo (haiya haiya)
    Kūzenzetsugo (kūzenzetsugo) no (hai ya iyasassa)
    Senzaiichigū (senzaiichigū) chototsumōshin (chototsumōshin) ikitōgō (ikitōgō)!

    Hazukashikute hanasenai nara
    Shitteru kotoba narabete goran
    Afureru omoi katachi ni natte
    Kitto tsutawaru wa

    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Yonmoji no kanji-tachi
    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Hiragana no kawari ni
    Jumon tonaenagara (hai ya iyaiya)
    Ai o kokuhaku shimashō (hai ya iyaiya)
    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Jōnetsu no yojijukugo hei!

    Gashinshōtan (gashinshōtan) mo (hai ya iyasassa)
    Kendochōrai (kendochōrai) mo (haiya haiya)
    Eigōkaiki (eigōkaiki) mo (hai ya iyasassa)
    Shoshikantetsu (shoshikantetsu) funkotsusaishin (funkotsusaishin) junpūmanpan (junpūmanpan)!

    Mita koto nai kokoro no kanji
    Furigana ga nakya yomenai kimochi
    Jisho o katate ni iroiro ieba
    Wakatte kureru kana

    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Sesuji made pin to suru
    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Utsukushii hibiki yo
    Ichido kikasarenya (hai ya iyaiya)
    Mimi ni nokoru darō (hai ya iyaiya)
    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Reiseina yojijukugo hei!

    Onko chishin (onkochishin) rinki ōhen (rinkiōhen)
    Anchū mosaku (anchūmosaku) iku dōon (ikudōon) goetsu dōshū (goetsudōshū)
    Baji tōfū (bajitōfū) yōtō kuniku (yōtōkuniku)
    Yūmei mujitsu (yūmeimujitsu)

    Kashikunakya koi mo dekinai
    Nichijō kaiwa hinto ga ippai
    Ima no kotoba wa dōiu imi ka
    Fukayomi suru shika nai

    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Yonmoji no kanji-tachi
    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Hiragana no kawari ni
    Jumon tonaenagara (hai ya iyaiya)
    Ai o kokuhaku shimashō (hai ya iyaiya)
    We’re yoji yoji yoji gāruzu
    Jōnetsu no yojijukugo
    Jōnetsu no yojijukugo
    Uruwashi no yojijukugo hei!

    NMB48 – Yojijukugo Girls [English translation]


    It’s a once-in-a-lifetime encounter (Ichigoichie)! (Haiyaiyasassa)
    It’s heart-to-heart communication (Ishindenshin), you know! (Haiyahaiya)
    This is an unprecedented (Kūzenzetsugo) moment! (Haiyaiyasassa)
    A once-in-a-thousand-years chance (Senzaiichigū), a headlong rush (Chototsumōshin), and complete agreement (Ikitōgō)!

    If you’re too shy to speak,
    Just try lining up the words you know!
    Your overflowing feelings will take shape,
    And surely be conveyed!

    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    We’re the four-character kanji!
    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    Instead of hiragana,
    Let’s confess our love (Haiyaiyaiya)
    While chanting a spell (Haiyaiyaiya)!
    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    Passionate Yojijukugo, hey!

    Even “sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall” (Gashinshōtan) (Haiyaiyasassa)
    Even “return to power after a defeat” (Kendochōrai) (Haiyahaiya)
    Even “eternal recurrence” (Eigōkaiki) (Haiyaiyasassa)
    Achieving one’s original intention (Shoshikantetsu), making supreme efforts (Funkotsusaishin), and smooth sailing (Junpūmanpan)!

    Feelings in my heart I’ve never seen before,
    Emotions I can’t read without furigana.
    If I say various things with a dictionary in hand,
    I wonder if you’ll understand me?

    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    They make your spine tingle!
    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    What a beautiful sound they make!
    Once you hear them (Haiyaiyaiya),
    They’ll surely stay in your ears (Haiyaiyaiya)!
    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    Cool Yojijukugo, hey!

    “Learning from the past to understand the new” (Onkochishin), “adapting to circumstances” (Rinkiōhen),
    “Groping in the dark” (Anchūmosaku), “unanimous” (Ikudōon), “rivals united by circumstance” (Goetsudōshū),
    “Preaching to deaf ears” (Bajitōfū), “falsely advertising” (Yōtōkuniku),
    “In name only” (Yūmei mujitsu).

    If you’re not smart, you can’t even fall in love!
    Everyday conversations are full of hints.
    What did that word just mean?
    You just have to read between the lines!

    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    We’re the four-character kanji!
    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    Instead of hiragana,
    Let’s confess our love (Haiyaiyaiya)
    While chanting a spell (Haiyaiyaiya)!
    We’re Four-Character, Four-Character, Four-Character Girls!
    Passionate Yojijukugo!
    Passionate Yojijukugo!
    Lovely Yojijukugo, hey!

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