| Let's Sing the "Rudolph" Song in Japanese | |
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Page 1 of 2
As you might already know, the New Year (shogatsu) is the biggest and the most important celebration in Japan. Christmas is not even a national holiday, though December 23rd is, because of the Emperor's birthday. However, the Japanese love to celebrate festivals, and have adopted many Western customs including Christmas. The Japanese celebrate Christmas in a "Japanese way".
There are many Christmas songs translated into Japanese. Here is the Japanese version of "Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer (Akahana no tonakai)".
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Makka na ohana no tonakai-san wa 真っ赤なお鼻のトナカイさんは |
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Itsumo minna no waraimono いつもみんなの笑いもの |
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Demo sono toshi no kurisumasu no hi でもその年のクリスマスの日 |
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Santa no ojisan wa iimashita |
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Kurai yomichi wa pika pika no 暗い夜道はぴかぴかの |
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Omae no hana ga yaku ni tatsu no sa おまえの鼻が役に立つのさ |
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Itsumo naiteta tonakai-san wa いつも泣いてたトナカイさんは |
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Koyoi koso wa to yorokobimashita 今宵こそはと喜びました |
Vocabulary
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makka 真っ赤 |
bright red |
hana 鼻 |
nose |
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tonakai トナカイ |
reindeer |
itsumo いつも |
always |
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minna みんな |
everyone |
waraimono 笑いもの |
an object of ridicule |
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toshi 年 |
year |
kurisumasu クリスマス |
Christmas |
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santa サンタ |
Santa Claus |
iu 言う |
to say |
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kurai 暗い |
dark |
yomichi 夜道 |
night journey |
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yaku ni tatsu 役に立つ |
useful |
naku 泣く |
to cry |
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koyoi 今宵 |
tonight |
yorokobu 喜ぶ |
to be pleased |
Here is the original, though it is not literally translated. I will explain the Japanese lyrics line by line on the next page.
| Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose; |
| And, if you ever saw it you would even say it glows. |
| All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names |
| They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games. |
| The one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say, |
| "Rudolph, with your nose so bright, Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" |
| Then how the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee, |
| "Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer you'll go down in history!" |
Next Page: Translation of the lyrics > Page 1, 2
