Learn Japanese from a song! (トイレの神様 =Toire no kamisama = Goddess in the toilet)

トイレの神様 ( = Toire no kamisama) God in the bathroom

「トイレのベッピンな女神は私です。」

= Toire no beppin na megami wa watashi desu.

= “I AM that (famous) beautiful goddess in the toilet!”

Hello, everyone! I have just posted  ありがとう ( = arigatou) Thank you, lesson. It is kind of related to the subject but  I would like to teach you a Japanese song today. It is called 「トイレの神様」 ( = Toire no kamisama) “Goddess in the toilet” And it is getting popular!

This song is sung by 植村花菜,  ( = Kana Uemura). Her real relationship with her grandma — who she lived with from the ages of 9 and 15 inspired her to write the lyrics.

It’s a 10 minute-song and it is nothing like J-pop bands like Exile, 嵐 ( = Arashi), or 浜崎あゆみ ( = Hamazaki Ayumi) would sing but many people say they cried listening to this song because it hit something deep inside our hearts. Many of us identify with her experiences, and I myself miss my grandma a lot while listening to this song.

So if you feel something while listening to the lyrics of this song, then you can take that as evidence that your Japanese has really improved!

First, let’s listen to the lyrics and see if you understand them.

 

 

 

1) 小３の頃からなぜだかおばあちゃんと暮らしてた

 = Shou san no koro kara naze daka obaachan to kurashiteta.

2) 実家の隣だったけどおばあちゃんと暮らしてた

= Jikka no tonari datta kedo obaachan to kurashiteta

3) 毎日お手伝いをして五目並べもした

= Mainichi otetsudai wo shite gomoku narabe mo shita

4) でもトイレ掃除だけ苦手な私に　おばあちゃんがこう言った

 = Demo toire souji dake nigate na watashi ni obaachan ga kou itta

5)「トイレには それはそれはキレイな女神様がいるんやで

= Toire niwa sorewa sorewa kireina megami sama ga irun yade

6) だから毎日 キレイにしたら 女神様みたいにべっぴんさんになれるんやで」

 = Dakara mainichi kirei ni shitara megami sama mitaini beppin san ni narerun yade

7) その日から私はトイレをピカピカにし始めた

 = Sono hi kara watashi wa toire wo pikapika ni shihajimeta

8) べっぴんさんに絶対なりたくて毎日磨いてた

 =Beppin san ni zettai naritakute mainichi migaiteta

9) 買い物に出かけた時には二人で鴨なんば食べた。

 = Kaimono ni dekaketa toki niwa futari de kamonanba tabeta

10) 新喜劇録画し損ねたおばあちゃんを泣いて責めたりもした。

= Shinkigeki rokuga shisokoneta obaachan wo naite sematari mo shita

11) トイレには それはそれはキレイな女神様がいるんやで

Toire niwa sorewa sorewa kireina megami sama ga irun yade

12) だから毎日 キレイにしたら 女神様みたいにべっぴんさんになれるんやで

 = Dakara mainichi kirei ni shitara megami sama mitai ni beppin san ni narerun yade

13) 少し大人になった私はおばあちゃんとぶつかった。

 = Sukoshi otona ni natta watashi wa obaachan to butsukatta

14) 家族ともうまくやれなくて居場所がなくなった。

 = Kazoku tomo umaku yarenakute ibasho ga nakunatta

15) 休みの日も家に帰らず彼氏と遊んだりした

 = Yasumi no hi mo ie ni kaerazu kareshi to asondari shita

16) 五目並べも鴨なんばも二人の間から消えてった

 = Gomoku narabe mo kamonanba mo futari no aida kara kietetta

17) どうしてだろう 人は人を傷つけ大切なものをなくしてく

 = Doushitedarou hito wa hito wo kizutsuke taisetsu na mono wo nakushiteku

18) いつも味方をしてくれてた おばあちゃん残してひとりきり 家離れた

 = itsumo mikata wo shitekureteta obaachan nokoshite hitori kiri ie hanareta

19) 上京して２年が過ぎておばあちゃんが入院した。

 = Joukyou shite ninen ga sugite obaachan ga nyuuin shita

20) 痩せて細くなってしまったおばあちゃんに会いに行った

= yasete hosoku natte shimatta obaachan ni aini itta

21)「おばあちゃん、ただいまー！」ってわざと昔みたいに言ってみたけど

= “Obaachan tadaimaa!” tte wazato mukashi mitai ni itte mitakedo

22) ちょっと話しただけだったのに「もう帰りぃ。」って 病室を出された

 = Chotto hanashita dakedatta noni “Mou kaerii” tte byoushitu wo dasareta.

23) 次の日の朝 おばあちゃんは静かに眠りについた。

= Tsugi no hi no asa obaachan wa shizuka ni nemuri ni tsuita

24) まるで まるで 私が来るのを待っていてくれたように

= Marude marude watashi ga kuru no wo matteite kureta you ni

25) ちゃんと育ててくれたのに恩返しもしてないのに

 = Chanto sodatete kureta no ni ongaeshi mo shitenai noni

26) いい孫じゃなかったのにこんな私を待っててくれたんやね

= Ii mago ja nakatta noni konna watashi wo mattete kuretanya ne

27) 「トイレには それはそれはキレイな女神様がいるんやで」

= “Toire niwa sorewa sorewa kireina megami sama ga irun yade”

28) おばあちゃんがくれた言葉は 今日の私をべっぴんさんにしてくれてるかな

= Obaachan ga kureta kotoba wa kyou no watashi wo beppin san ni shite kureteru kana

29) 「トイレには それはそれはキレイな女神様がいるんやで」

= Toire niwa sorewa sorewa kireina megami sama ga irun yade

30) 「だから毎日 キレイにしたら 女神様みたいにべっぴんさんになれるんやで」

= Dakara mainichi kirei ni shitara megami sama mitaini beppin san ni narerun yade

31) 気立ての良いお嫁さんになるのが夢だった私は

= Kidate no yoi oyomesan ni naru noga yume datta watashi wa

32) 今日もせっせとトイレをピカピカにする

= Kyou mo sesse to toire wo pikapika ni suru

33) おばあちゃん    おばあちゃん   ありがとう

 = Obaachan  obaachan  arigatou

34) おばあちゃん  ホンマに ありがとう

= Obaachan honma ni arigatou

****************************************************************************************************************

OK, I will explain the lyrics line by line.

1) 小３の頃からなぜだかおば あちゃんと暮らしてた

= Shou san no koro kara naze daka obaachan to kurashiteta.

• 小３(  =shou san ) =the third grade

← the abbreviation of  小学校3年生  ( = shougakkou sannensei) the third grade of elementary school.

We often abbreviate the grade.
中１( = chuuichi)  中学校１年生 ( = Chuugakkou ichinen sei)=The first grade of junior High school /高２  ( = kou ni )  The second grade of high school

• 頃から ( = korokara) since around the time of…

• なぜだか  ( = nazedaka)  somehow, not knowing why, I am not sure why but, for some reason = なぜか  ( = nazeka)

•おばあちゃんと ( = obaachan to) with my grandma

grandmother : formal 祖母  ( = sobo)  casual  おばあさん  ( = obaasan), おばあちゃん ( = obaachan) granny

•暮らす ( = kurasu) to live →暮らしてた  ( = kurashiteta) I used to live

For some reason, I used to live with my grandma since I was in the third grade.

2) 実家の隣だったけどおばあ ちゃんと暮らしてた

= Jikka no tonari datta kedo obaachan to kurashiteta

• 実家 ( = jikka) my home, my parent’s house where I was raised.

• 隣  ( = tonari) next door

• だったけど ( = dattakedo) although, even if

My parents house was next door but I lived with my grandma.

3) 毎日お手伝いをして五目並 べもした

Mainichi otetsudai wo shite gomoku narabe mo shita

•毎日  ( = mainichi) everyday

•お手伝いをする  ( = otetsudai wo suru) to help ←手伝う ( = tetsudau) to help

•五目並べ ( = gomoku narabe) 5 stones in-a-row (Japanese board game using white and black pieces)

I used to help my grandma everyday and we played goban together.

4) でもトイレ掃除だけ苦手な 私におばあちゃんがこう言った

= Demo toire souji dake nigate na watashi ni obaachan ga kou itta

•トイレ掃除  ( = toire souji) cleaning the bathroom/toilet

•苦手 ( = nigate)  not good at, to hate to do, not be able to do something well

→トイレ掃除だけ苦手な私に 

 = toire souji dake nigate na watashi ni

=   to me who is only bad at cleaning the bathroom

But the only thing that I was not good at was cleaning the bathroom and my grandma told me,

5)「トイレには それはそれはキレイな女神様がいるんやで

= Toire niwa sorewa sorewa kireina megami sama ga irun yade

•トイレには ( = toire niwa) in the bathroom, in the toilet

(Note : unlike western bathrooms, the stool is not in the actual bathroom in Japan.)

•それはそれは ( = sorewa sorewa) very very, sooooo

Ex. それはそれは美味しかった。

 = Sorewa sorewa oishikatta.

=  It was sooooo yummy!

•キレイな = 綺麗な  ( = kireina) =beautiful, pretty

•女神   ( = megam)  Goddess

Note : By adding 様  ( = sama) we show the respect. 女神様（ = Megami sama)

神( = kami) →神様 ( = kami sama) God

仏 ( = hotoke)→仏様 ( = hotoke sama ) Buddha

•いるんやで ( = irunyade)  Kansai (western part of Japan) dialect.

←いるんですよ( = irun desu yo) there is (a person) (for things) あるんですよ ( = arundesu yo)

→あるんやで ( = arunyade) Kansai dialect.)

You know, there is a very beautiful Goddess in the toilet.

6) だから毎日 キレイにしたら 女神様みたいにべっぴんさんになれるんやで」

 = Dakara mainichi kirei ni shitara megami sama mitai ni beppin san ni narerun yade

•だから ( = dakara) that is why, so

•キレイにしたら = 綺麗にしたら  ( = kirei ni shitara) :  If you clean it (conditional sentence.)

•~みたいに ( = mitaini) : like ~

•べっぴん ( = beppin) beautiful girl, pretty woman (old fashioned)

•〜になる  ( =~ni naru) to become

•〜やで。( =~yade)   Kansai dialect →ですよ。( = desuyo)

That is why if you clean it every day, you will become very beautiful like a Goddess.

7) その日から私はトイレをピ カピカにし始めた

 = Sono hi kara watashi wa toire wo pikapika ni shihajimeta

•その日から ( = sono hi kara) from that day

•ピカピカに ( = pikapika ni) to make it shine ピカピカ  ( = pikapika) We use it to describe something shining or something news.

Ex.ピカピカの新車 ( = pika pika no shinsha) shiny brand new car

Ex. ピカピカの一年生  ( = Pika pika no ichinen sei) Fresh first grader.

•(verb) し始める( =~ shihajimeru) to start to (verb)

From that day on, I started cleaning the toilet very well until it sparkled.

8)べっぴんさんに絶対なりた くて毎日磨いてた

 = Beppin san ni zettai naritakute mainichi migaiteta

•~になりたくて ( = ~ni naritaku te) hoping to become ~

•絶対 ( = zettai) = definitely, absolutely, for sure

•毎日〜てた。( = mainichi ~teta) = to describe some daily action in the past

→毎日磨いてた ( = migaiteta) use to polish (something) every day.

I polished it everyday because I really wanted to be beautiful.

9) 買い物に出かけた時には二 人で鴨なんば食べた。

 = Kaimono ni dekaketa toki niwa futari de kamonanba tabeta

•買い物に出かける ( = kaimono ni dekakeru) to go out shopping

•~時には ( = toki niwa) when (we) do something, whenever (we) do something

•二人で ( = futari de) two of us, together

•鴨なんば ( = kamo nanba) = 鴨南蛮 ( = kamo nanban) Japanese noodles with duck meat.

 

•食べた ( = tabeta) ate

When we went out for shopping, we ate kamonanba, noodle with duck meat, together.

10) 新喜劇録画し損ねたおばあちゃんを泣いて責めたりもした。

= Shinkigeki rokuga shisokoneta obaachan wo naite sematari mo shita

• 新喜劇 ( = shinkigeki) the literal meaning is new comedy theater. It refers 吉本新喜劇  ( = Yoshimoto Shinkigeki) a major comedy group in Kansai.

• 録画する ( = rokuga suru) to video record

• (verb+) 損ねる  (  =~ sokoneru) to miss    + verb, to  fail +   Ving

→録画し損ねる ( = rokuga shisokoneru) to fail video recording (the comedy show)

→録画し損ねたおばあちゃん ( = rokuga shisokoneta obaachan) the grandma who failed video recording the show

• 泣いて ( = naite) crying

• 責める ( = semeru) to accuse, to blame, to get mad at

• 〜もした ( =~ mo shita) I also did …

→責めたりもした。( = semetari mo shita) I have also accused my grandma for…

Crying, I  blamed my grandma for not having video taped “Shinkigeki”, (the comedy show that I liked.)

13) 少し大人になった私はおば あちゃんとぶつかった。

= Sukoshi otona ni natta watashi wa obaachan to butsukatta

• 少し ( = sukoshi) a little

• 大人になる ( =o tonani naru) to grow up

→少し大人になった私 ( = sukoshi otona ni natta watashi) I, who has grown up a bit,

• ぶつかる ( = butukuaru) to face, run into each other, to clash

→(人）とぶつかる ( = (a person) to butsukaru) to get in a fight with someone/ to have a difference of opinion with someone over

→ぶつかった ( = butsukatta) past tense

When I got a little older, I bumped heads with my grandma.

14) 家族ともうまくやれなくて 居場所がなくなった。

= Kazoku tomo umaku yarenakute ibasho ga nakunatta

• 家族とも  ( = kazoku tomo) even with family

•うまくやる ( = umaku yaru) to get along with someone

→うまくやれない ( = umaku yarenai) can’t get along with someone

• 居場所  ( = ibasho) place to stay　

→居場所がない ( = ibasho ga nai) no place to be/stay, can’t fit in

• なくなった ( = nakunatta) (have) disappeared, have gone

Also I couldn’t get along well with my family and couldn’t fit in.

15) 休みの日も家に帰らず彼氏と遊んだりした

 = Yasumi no hi mo ie ni kaerazu kareshi to asondari shita

• 休みの日も ( = yasumi no hi mo) even on day-offs

• 家に帰らず ( = ie ni kaerazu) without going home, not going home

• 彼氏 or カレシ ( = kareshi) boyfriend

• 遊ぶ ( = asobu) to play, to hang out

• 〜たりする ( = tari suru) to do something like ~

I hung out with my boyfriend on my day-offs and didn’t go back home.

16) 五目並べも鴨なんばも二人 の間から消えてった

 = Gomoku narabe mo kamonanba mo futari no aida kara kietetta

• A も B も ( = A mo B mo) A and B →even A and B

• 二人の間  ( = futari no aida) between us

• 消える ( = kieru) disappear

→消えていった ( = kiete itta) to have disappeared

Gobang and Kamonanba (noodle with duck meat) had disappeared from us.

This is a poetic way to explain that something special between the two of them had disappeared.

17) どうしてだろう 人は人を傷つけ大切なものをなくしてく

= Doushitedarou hito wa hito wo kizutsuke taisetsu na mono wo nakushitek u

• どうしてだろう ( = doushite darou) I wonder why

• 人 ( = hito) people

• 傷つける ( = kizutsukeru) to hurt

• 大切なもの ( = taisetsu na mono) important things

• なくす ( = nakusu) to lose

→なくしていく ( = nakushiteiku)

→なくしてく ( = nakushiteku) losing

Why do people hurt each other and lose something important

18) いつも味方をしてくれてた おばあちゃん残してひとりきり 家離れた
itsumo mikata wo shitekureteta obaachan nokoshite hitorikiri ie hanareta

• いつも ( = itsumo) always

• 味方する( = mikata suru) to be on one’s side, to take the part of, to stand for

• してくれる ( =~shite kureru) to do something for me

→(past tense) してくれた   ( =shite kureta) did something for me

• 残す  ( = nokosu) to leave

→いつも味方をしてくれてた おばあちゃん残して

( = Itsumo mikata wo shite kureta obaachan nokoshite

= leaving my grandma who always took my side

• ひとりきり ( = hitorikiri) just alone

• 家離れた （ = ie hanaerta) ← 家を離れた ( = ie wo hanareta) left home

I left home alone leaving my grandma who was always on my side.

19) 上京して２年が過ぎておばあちゃんが入院した。

= Joukyou shite ninen ga sugite obaachan ga nyuuin shita

• 上京する ( = joukyou suru) to go to Tokyo, to move to Tokyo

• ２年が過ぎる ( = ni nen ga sugiru) two years have passed

→上京して２年が過ぎて ( = joukyou shite ninen ga sugite) two years have passed since I moved to Tokyo and..

• 入院する ( = nyuuin suru)  to hospitalized, to be in the hospital

Related word :  退院する  (=taiin suru) to be discharged from the hospital

Two years have passed since I came (or went) to Tokyo and my grandma was hospitalized.

20)  痩せて細くなってしまった おばあちゃんに会いに行った

 = Yasete hosoku natte shimatta obaachan ni aini itta

• 痩せて細くなる ( = yasete hosoku naru) to get skinny and thin, losing weight and become thinner

• 〜になってしまった ( = ~ ni natte shimatta) to become, to get

→痩せて細くなってしまったおばあちゃん  ( = yasete hosoku natta obaachan) my grandma who got skinny and thin

•〜に会いに行く( = ~ni aini iku) to go see (someone)

I went to see my grandma who gotten skinnier and thinner.

21)「おばあちゃん、ただい まー！」ってわざと昔みたいに言ってみたけど

= “Obaachan tadaimaa!” tte wazato mukashi mitai ni itte mitakedo

• ただいま！ ( =Tadaima) I’m back, I’m home

• わざと ( = wazato) on purpose, consciously

• 昔みたいに ( = mukashi mitaini) as in old days, just like I used to

• 言ってみた ( = Itte mita) tried to say

• けど ( = kedo) but

I managed to say, “Granny, I am back!” just like in the old days but

22) ちょっと話しただけだった のに「もう帰りぃ。」って 病室を出された
Chotto hanashita dakedatta noni “Mou kaerii” tte byoushitu wo dasareta.

• ちょっと  ( = chotto) a bit, a little

• ちょっと〜だけだったのに  ( = chotto ~ dake datta noni) just/only did ~ and (result)

• 話したかった ( = hanashitakatta) I wanted to talk

→ちょっと話したかっただけなのに

 (= chotto hanashitakatta dake nanoni)

= I wanted to talk with her just a little bit but

•「もう帰り(ぃ)」 ( = Mou kaeri(i)) Kansai dialect

←もう帰りなさい。( = Mou kaeri nasai)

= Go home now./Why don’t you go home already.

•  病室  ( = byoushitsu) hospital room

• 〜を出された ( = dasareta) to be kicked out from ~　

Also ~ から出された ( =~  kara dasareta)

We talked just a little bit and my grandma told me “Go home already!” and she urged me to leave.

23)  次の日の朝 おばあちゃんは静かに眠りについた。

 = Tsugi no hi no asa obaachan wa shizuka ni nemuri ni tsuita

• 次の日の朝  ( = tsugi no hi no asa) t he next morning = 翌朝 ( = yoku asa)

• 静かに眠りについた ( = shizuka ni nemuri ni tsuita) fell in sleep quietly →to pass away quietly

Note: 眠りにつく ( = nemuri ni tsuku) has two meaning. The literal meaning is to fall in sleep. It also means to pass away.

The next day, my grandma passed away quietly.

24) まるで まるで 私が来るのを待っていてくれたように

= Marude marude watashi ga kuru no wo matte ite kureta you ni

• まるで~様に ( = marude~ you ni) as if

• 私を待っていてくれた ( =~wo matte ite kureta)=was/has been waiting for me (for my favor)

→まるで私が来るのを待っていてくれたように 

( =maru de watashi ga kuru no wo matte ite kureta you ni)

= (It was as if) she had been waiting for me to come see her

It was like as if she was waiting for me to come see her (before she went.)

25) ちゃんと育ててくれたのに 恩返しもしてないのに

= Chanto sodatete kureta noin ongaeshi mo shitenai noni

• ちゃんと ( = chanto) properly =きちんと ( = kichinto)

• 育てる ( = sodateru) to raise

• 育ててくれる ( = sodatete kureru) to raise someone for one’s favor

• 〜のに ( = noni)  although, even if

• 恩返しをする ( = ongaeshi wo suru) t o return a favor, to show gratitude

→恩返しもしてないのに( = ongaeshi mo shitenai noni)

= Even though I haven’t done anything for her to return the favor

Even though she raised me properly and I haven’t done anything for her to return yet

26) いい孫じゃなかったのにこ んな私を待っててくれたんやね

= Ii mago ja nakatta noni konna watashi wo mattete kuretanya ne

• いい孫 ( = ii mago) nice/good grandchild

• いい孫じゃなかったのに ( = ii mago ja nakatta noni) Even though I was not a good grandchild

• こんな私  ( = konnna watashi)   a person like me (self-deprecationg way)

• 〜を待っていてくれた ( =~wo matte ite kureta)  was waiting for (someone) for one’s favor

I was not a good g randchild but she was waiting for me.

27) 「トイレには それはそれはキレイな女神様がいるんやで」

 = “Toire niwa sorewa sorewa kireina megamisama ga irun yade”

“There is a very very beautiful Goddess in the bathroom.”

28)  おばあちゃんがくれた言葉 は 今日の私をべっぴんさんにしてくれてるかな

 = Obaachan ga kureta kotoba wa kyou no watashi wo beppin san ni shite kureteru kana

• 〜がくれた ( = ~ga kureta) ~ gave me

→おばあちゃんがくれた言葉  ( = obaachan ga kureta kotoba)  the words my grandma gave me

• 私をべっぴんさんにしてくれる ( = Watashi wo beppin san ni shite kureru) to make me a beautiful girl

• 〜かな ( = ~kana) I wonder

I wonder if her words made me beautiful.

29) 「トイレには それはそれはキレイな女神様がいるんやで」

= Toire niwa sorewa sorewa kireina megami sama ga irunyade

There is a very very beautiful Goddess in the toilet.

30) 「だから毎日 キレイにしたら 女神様みたいにべっぴんさんになれるんやで」

 = Dakara mainichi kirei ni shitara megami sama mitaini beppin san ni narerunyade

So if you clean it every day, you will be as beautiful as a Goddess.

31) 気立てのよいお嫁さんになるのが夢だった私は

= Kidate no yoi oyomesan ni naru noga yume datta watashi wa

• 気だてのよい ( = kidate no yoi) to have a pleasant disposition, sweet

• お嫁さん ( = oyomesan) a wife/ a bride

• 夢  ( = yume) dream

→~になるのが夢だ。 ( = ~ni naru no ga yume da) My dream is to become

(Since) my dream is to be a sweet wife.

32) 今日もせっせとトイレをピ カピカにする

= Kyou mo sesse to toire wo pikapika ni suru

•  今日も ( = kyou mo) also today→everyday

• せっせと ( = sesseto) to be hard at work

I clean the bathroom very hard until it gets nice and clean everyday.

33) おばあちゃん    おばあちゃん   ありがとう

= Obaachan  obaachan  arigagtou

Granny, Granny, Thank you!

34) おばあちゃん  ホンマに ありがとう

= Obaachan honma ni arigatou

•ホンマに ( = honmani) Kansai dialect ←本当に ( = hontou ni) very much

Thank you, Granny, from the bottom of my heart.

:maggie-small: Now listen to the song again until you cry! !Cry!

 マギー先生より  = Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

私の様にべっぴんさんになりたければ今日からトイレをピカピカに掃除してね。

= Watashi no you ni beppin san ni naritakereba kyou kara toire wo pikapika ni souji shitene.

= If you want to be as beautiful as me, start cleaning the bathroom until it shines from today.

それから大切な人にありがとうって遅くなる前に言って下さい。

= Sorekara taisetsu na hito ni “Arigatou”tte osoku naru mae ni itte kudasai.

= And say thank you to someone who you care about before it gets too late!

私もおばあちゃんに会いたいよう！

= Watashi mo obaachan ni aitai you!

= I miss my grandma!

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