Kanji Hell

Lyrics

Textbook open, pen in hand
一、二、三 — okay understand
But then sensei wrote upon the board
A hundred strokes I can't afford

漢字 staring back at me
目 looks like "eye" — I think I see
But 見る、観る、診る — which one is right?
Three different "miru" killing me tonight

Two strokes wrong and 犬 becomes 大
Person becomes dog — nani the hey?
土 becomes 士 becomes who knows what
My brain is melting, getting hot!

漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
Welcome to my Kanji Hell!
漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
Every character's a spell
I study all night, I memorize
Wake up next morning — SURPRISE!
漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
My brain's got nothing left to sell
(nothing left to sell!)

Level one was cute — 山、川、花
"Mountain, river, flower" — I'm a star!
Then they hit me with 鬱 and 薔薇
Twenty-nine strokes — this can't be real life

夢の中で kanji chase me down
飛んでる characters all around
I write 書 in my sleep, I write 読 on the wall
起きたら全部 — forgot it all

Flashcard apps are taking my soul
Anki decks with no control
"Review: four hundred eighty seven cards today"
誰か助けて — somebody save me!

漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
Welcome to my Kanji Hell!
漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
Every character's a spell
I study all night, I memorize
Wake up next morning — SURPRISE!
漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
My brain's got nothing left to sell
(nothing left!)

でも... ちょっと待って
Maybe I know more than I think
先生 said "頑張って"
So I pick up my pen from the brink

One stroke at a time, one kanji a day
読めなくても、I'll find my way
From 地獄 to 天国 — hell to heaven's gate
Maybe this language is worth the wait...

漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
Welcome to my Kanji Hell!
漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
But I love it, can't you tell?
I study all night, I memorize
Wake up next morning — ONE MORE TRY!
漢字地獄! (Kanji Jigoku!)
This hell is where I choose to dwell!
(where I choose to dwell!)

漢字地獄... 漢字地獄...
(もう一回... one more time...)