[Music] English translation of the lyrics “ひだまり (hidamari; sunshine)”

NOTICE: I added the supplement why I didn’t choose ‘sunny spot’ as the English title. I hope you will enjoy the explanation, too.

Credits: PONYCANYON
Lyrics: Satomi
English translation: tenshi_akuma and Hazy from ECI

I can hardly become the hero I dreamed to be as a kid.
Not to mention, I have no power to change the world.

I have dreams.
I don’t know since when,
but I’ve formed the habit of hiding in my heart,
the dreams I have painted and giving up before I try.

What kind of difficulties would happen in the future…
No one knows.
However, time tempts me.

Oh Honey Honey Honey
If you shed even a single tear,
I just want to stay by you without a word
like your sunshine.

So Honey Honey Honey
How can I protect you from the discordant world which is being broadcast repeatedly on TV?
I’m still looking for the answer today.

In my usual life full of boring routine works,
I have even buried my regrets.

If I ask myself repeatedly,
what do I live for, will the door to my future open?

Oh Honey Honey Honey
When you smile,
that will bring a glow to my colorless monochrome life
like my sunshine.

So Honey Honey Honey
Thanks to you,
I found this discordant world turned into a special one.

Oh Honey Honey Honey
If you shed even a single tear,
I just want to stay by you without a word
like your sunshine.

So Honey Honey Honey
How can I protect you from the discordant world which is being broadcast repeatedly on TV?
I’m still looking for the answer today.

chiisai koro yume mite ita
hero ni wa tohtei narenai shi
mashite sekai wo kaeru chikara sae nai

risoh wa egaite irukedo
itukaraka yaru mae ni
mune no oku ni shimau
son na kuse ga tuitan da

don na kon nan
mirai ni matte iru ka
dare mo wakan nai
nano ni
toki wa boku wo izanau

Oh Honey Honey Honey
moshi kimi ga
namida hitotu kobosu nara
nan ni mo iwanai de
soba ni yori sotte itai
hidamari mitai ni

So Honey Honey Honey 
ne kimi wo
televi de nari hibiku
discord na sekai kara
doh sure ba mamore ruka
kyoh mo kotae sagashi te mitain da

routine work darake no
taikutu na nichijo no naka
boku wa kohkai sae mo
hohmuri tuzukete irun da

jimon jitoh
nan domo kurikaeshite
ikite yukeba
tugi no tobira hiraken no?

Oh Honey Honey Honey
moshi kimi ga
egao wo hitotu kobosu toki
monochrome na hibi ni
ti isa na hikari tomosu
hidamari mitai ni

So Honey Honey Honey 
ne kimi to
meguri aeta koto de
discord na sekai sae
tokubetu ni naru koto
kiga tuita yo

Oh Honey Honey Honey
moshi kimi ga
namida hitotu kobosu nara
nan ni mo iwanai de
soba ni yori sotte itai
hidamari mitai ni

So Honey Honey Honey 
ne kimi wo
televi de nari hibiku
discord na sekai kara
doh sure ba mamore ruka
kyoh mo kotae sagashi te mitain da


tenshi_akuma’s note: First of all, as Suk said repeatedly, in this album the lyrics are very impressive and there are very Japanese ways to express feelings and situations. So I think it’s necessary to add some supplements for those living in other countries. Sometimes translating word by word (I mean literally) doesn’t sound natural and convey the essence of each song. To start translating the lyrics, I need to read through the whole lyrics because a part of the lyrics is just a part, and try to figure out what the song is trying to say. In this album, all titles are Japanese. So maybe it might be better to use the original Japanese title, so I posted the romanization with English title.

About ‘Hidamari’, literally it can be translated to ‘sunny spot’, but I don’t think it’s suitable for the English title. So I dared not to use this, and found the better title with a help from Hazy. Whenever I translate Japanese lyrics, I try not to translate them word by word or literally. I try to translate the context instead. For example, ひだまり (Hidamari), I think this word is a very Japanese word. Japanese song writers like using this word in songs, but it’s hard to tell the meaning in a simple way to people from other cultural background. Literally, hidamari is a sunny spot, a place in the sun. I think you can imagine the scene that there is a deck and sunlight is pouring through the window and the surface of the deck is getting warm. So lying on the deck is very warm and comfortable. Imagine another example. In a cold day, especially behind a huge building, we hardly get any sun, but in a small spot, luckily a sunlight comes. Just seeing the spot makes us feel a bit warm, not even physically. But when the word ‘hidamari’ is used in a song, it doesn’t mean to describe the situation. It’s more like a feeling than a situation/place. Like heart warming. Like the warmth we can feel from a person who is special for us. Like something that makes our heart warm and happy just thinking of the person. Hidamari is a metaphor… That’s why I chose sunshine as the English title. Sunshine is often used as a metaphor to describe such a person in English. For example, Suk gives me the warmth like sunshine. But to others, maybe he doesn’t. So ‘hidamari’ is not always for everyone, but at least for me, he’s my sunshine… something like that.

In Japan we have 4 seasons, so we have various ways to describe a bit change of situation in life. As for ‘hidamari’, it’s not used or seen in summer. We use it in a bit cold day… So I think it suits this song because the main character in this song feels his life dull and colorless like monochrome, but it’s her that gives him the warmth in his heart, not strongly, but softly.

42 thoughts on “[Music] English translation of the lyrics “ひだまり (hidamari; sunshine)””

  1. Tenshi

    Suk is really the sunshine in my life.
    So “Sunshine” is really very appropriate to be the title for Monochrome – the 3rd and best album of his so far!

    Reply
  2. THAK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TRANSLATION AND EXPLANATION SISTER TENSHI!! INDEED SUKKIE IS MY SUNSHINE ( HIDAMARI) IN MY LIFE AND EVERYWHERE I GO!! I LOVE HIM AND I LOVE HIS NEW SONG!!

    Reply
  3. I loved your intelligible and versatile translation and actually I completely agree with you about the title,at least for me it’s how I feel about him, thanks to you and Hazy Lee sis

    Reply
  4. He is my sunshine too. Thank you both so much for taking the time & effort to translate the song into English for us. It definitely makes me like the song even more!

    Reply
  5. Dear Tenshi, thank you so much for the translation and the very detailed explanation. I´m pretty sure we all are totally agree with you: He is our sunshine! JKS, thank you for all the heart warming that you give us everyday, I hope you feel the same with us, thank you for being you and Zikzin!

    Reply
  6. Hi dear sister , Thanks a lot, u mentioned this song so smoothly for us and as my ex toughts before about true meaning, thanks alot♡♥

    Reply
  7. thank you very much!!The translated lyrics is so beautiful,both of you ms.tenshi and ms.hazy did a great job. we can fully understand the true meaning of the song,especially the true message of this wonderful song. And I’m agree that this song “HIDAMARI” is like our Prince JKS who is our sunshine that gives warm and happiness in our hearts, like what was written on the lyrics…^_^

    Reply
  8. I really love his song and thanks to your very good and detailed translation and explanation I embrace it evenmore; he is my sunshine…he always giving me that promosing warm and bright feeling.. I hope we can be of his comfort too
    Thanks Tenshi and Hazy

    Reply
  9. Thank you very much Tenshi and Hazy for this wonderful work, now I could better understand what Suk thinks in this song. Tenshi I really enjoyed it your explanation of the word Hidamari, since childhood I have been interested in Asian culture especially Japan and China and read things like this that are also related to Suk makes me so happy, sincerely thank you very much!!!!

    Reply
  10. I really appreciate you.The text of the poem is beautiful as the sun shines.
    As dear jks voice in the myheart sits.
    Thank you so much to both of you!

    Reply
  11. I really thank Tenshi for allowing me to participate in the translation as i really love all the songs in Monochrome – the melody, tune, his voice….. I also read online some partial translation of some of the songs, and was so captivated by the words – they are so beautifully written, with a deeper meaning in each verse.

    Indeed i love “Sunshine” as the title, as it describe a feeling….. like the warmth that sunshine brings to our heart…like how JKS is the sunshine in our life!!

    Reply
  12. Really appreciate the time and effort both Kaori and Hazy have put in to the translation. I have gained so much information and a deeper sense of appreciation of this song, Hidamari.

    Reply
  13. Thanks Kaori and Hazy for the translation. Now I really know the true meaning of the song. Really appreciated both of you for your loving effort.

    Reply
  14. Thank you Tenshi for all the work you’ve done to bring Suk closer to his international fans, especially those who are non-speakers of Japanese and Korean.

    You’re highly appreciated.

    Reply
  15. I know what you mean, Tenshi. A translation is about finding a true sense of a word. Google translater translates literally, and it´s just a mess.

    Thank you and Hazy for letting us understand the lyrics. He brings sunshine into my life too.

    Reply
  16. Thank you for the translation. I really feel this whole album will be very touching. I am loving the Japanese titles. I’ve decided to learn now! I really feel JKS hit it well with these songs. I am at Haneda Airport and got his Vogue magazine. 🙂 🙂

    Reply
  17. should we call him hidamari then?kkk..thanks tenshi for ur translation. even a pop song is my least fav..this song has grown up in me. I love the mv..now..I got some idea about the inside story. I really love to hear about the mv concept because its look so artistic. .very different frm other mvs before.

    Reply
  18. Thank you very much Tenshi and Hazy for the translation.
    Beautiful lyrics for this song.
    The supplement is very helpful to feel the real meaning of Hidamari and to give us from overseas the true color of this Japanese expression.

    Reply
  19. Tenshi, you are also our sunshine for without your kindness many of us will not understand and remain in the dark about the true meaning of Suk’s words.May you always love him like we do.

    Reply
  20. Dear Tenshi and Hazy from ECI. For english translate, of the “Hidamari” song, Thank you very much. I appreciate your efforts. Now I understand better this wonderful the song. My heart is beating faster!!!

    Reply
  21. dear Tenshi, Hazy
    thank you for the translation, and more importantly, the sentiments expressed behind the words. you have truly encapsulated the meaning of Hidamari in your explanation and we get it now…not just light but sunshine, warmth, a feeling of soft positive emotions coming together, hope…
    Sukkie is our sunshine, watching him and listening to his songs, even all his OSTs, makes me warm and happy, smiling quietly, Hidamari – warming and brightening each day.
    thanks for sharing, still waiting for my album to arrive…should be soon!! can’t wait.

    Reply
  22. wow.. thank you for the translation girls (Hazy & Tenshi_akuma)
    and also thank you for the explanation about Hidamari and the song itself
    Now, everytime I listen to this song, I can feel the deep meaning of it.
    And yes.. he’s also my hidamari <3

    Reply
  23. I really 2 like this song not only it has a deep meaning it is such a poem n really touch our heart. Wish 4 his come back in acting waiting 4 his progress…..
    ZIKZIN

    Reply
  24. The song is very beautiful i don’t understand japenese but when oppa sings i feel i can understand every single word . The lyrics have very deep meaning i like so much. Oppa you’re the best 🙂

    Reply
  25. Thank you so much.. i really appreciate it.. i regret for being offline for so many years that im just a new fan of sukkie and there’s so much to catch up catch up.

    Reply
    • Hi! Yes, this is one of his best songs in Monochrome 🙂 try listening to the other songs as well 🙂 like, Let’s Go back sweet home, the sky and you, to where the sunshines and when spring comes 🙂

      Reply

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