Yesterday’s post translated the song A Whole New World from Japanese to literal English. Today I wanted to post my translated Japanese version next to the official English lyrics. We can then compare how the Japanese translated a song that was originally written in English!
Enjoy!
First, the Japanese Version (translated yesterday, view previous post)
Japanese lyrics (translated literally. A = Aladdin, J= Jasmine):
A: I will show you a sparkling world
Princess, this is the flower of freedom
Open your eyes, and trust this magic carpet
To see the great world
The clouds in the great sky are beautiful
Nobody can stop where we’re going
Or bind us down
J: My eyes are dazzled by the sky
But for the first time, to my throbbing chest
You’ve shown
A: (A wonderful world)
J: It is amazing beyond words, I cannot believe
The twinkling stars are like diamonds
A whole new world
A: (Open your eyes!)
J: A world just beginning
A: (Don’t be afraid!)
J: The shooting stars are
brimming in a marvelous dream…
A: A fantastic
J: (The stars and the sea too)
A: new world
J: (Please stay this way)
Let’s search for tomorrow
Just the two of us together
A: We will see…
J: (The two of us…)
A: The world…
J: (The world…)
A: As it is…
J: (With you…)
Forever…
The official English version:
Aladdin: I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?
Aladdin: I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride
Aladdin: A whole new world
A new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no or where to go
Or say we’re only dreaming
Princess Jasmine: A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I’m way up here, it’s crystal clear
That now I’m in a whole new world with you
Aladdin: (Now I’m in a whole new world with you)
Princess Jasmine: Unbelievable sights
Indescribable feelings
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
Through an endless diamond sky
Princess Jasmine: A whole new world
Aladdin: (Don’t you dare close your eyes)
Princess Jasmine: A hundred thousand things to see
Aladdin: (Hold your breath, it gets better)
Princess Jasmine: I’m like a shooting star
I’ve come so far
I can’t go back
To where I used to be
Aladdin: A whole new world
Princess Jasmine: Every turn a surprise
Aladdin: With new horizons to pursue
Princess Jasmine: Every moment gets better
Both: I’ll chase them anywhere
There’s time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you
Aladdin: A whole new world
Princess Jasmine: A whole new world
Aladdin: That’s where we’ll be
Princess Jasmine: That’s where we’ll be
Aladdin: A thrilling place
Princess Jasmine: A wondrous place
Both: For you and me
—
-Overall both songs have the same meaning, the English one is certainly more poetic, but that is the fault of my literal translation more than the lyrics itself! The Japanese one focuses more on the freedom to see the world together, with less focus on all the sorts of verbs (over, sideways, and under / soaring, tumbling, freewheeling, etc). But aside from those not much a difference!
Japanese version:
English version (original):
kantopia 