See! a firefly flies out of the sleeve of the grass-cutter!
Koko kashiko,
Hotaru ni aoshi
Yoru no kusa.
Here and there the night-grass appears green, because of the light of the fireflies.
Chōchin no
Kiyété, tōtoki
Hotaru kana!
How precious seems [the light of] the firefly, now that the lantern-light has gone out!
Mado kuraki,
Shōji wo noboru
Hotaru kana!
The window itself is dark, but see!—a firefly is creeping up the paper pane!
Moë yasuku,
Mata kéyé yasuki,
Hotaru kana!
How easily kindled, and how easily put out again, is the light of the firefly!
Hitotsu kité,
Niwa no tsuyukéki,
Hotaru kana!