不同班同學 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 張敬軒

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Hins Cheung's "不同班同學" and discover the beauty of Cantonese. This song offers a profound exploration of universal life lessons, showing how people from different generations navigate similar challenges. Its poignant lyrics and melodic pop style make it a special piece for language learners, providing a rich cultural and linguistic experience.

[English]

70 years old, him

Unsettled feelings—should I give up halfway?

Washed clean from worldly gloss, can I really learn to share my soul with someone forever?

Floating clouds drift by—what's the most graceful way to leave?

Can I learn to see the humor in a declining world?

Have you ever thought about letting go—returning life and gaining everything, finding peace as you move on?

At 90 years old, him

Praying for multi-love, becoming oblivious to harm

On parallel paths, playing and growing strong enough to settle down

And maybe even develop a taste for life

Next year, if I meet him at 10

Do I have the right to make others respect and fear him?

It’s never too late, fate isn’t final—still up to destiny

...

At 10 years old, him

In this adult world, is it too hard to carry on?

Too many video games—how can one play without doing the homework?

Learning to plead—is it okay to steal a kiss?

If he’s well-behaved, can he tame the grown-ups?

Don’t say you’re too young and stupid—already learned to be charming, everyone gives way

At different ages, him

Everyone has homework—haven’t graduated yet?

On parallel paths, playing and growing strong enough to settle down

Is this the standard theme of a half-life?

Next year, if I meet him at 30

Do I have the right to make others respect and fear him?

It’s never too late, fate isn’t final—still up to destiny

Can happiness be learned too?

In the end, I realize—suffering is necessary, right?

But it’s also essential, right?

Even till death, I must learn it

Long-lasting tasks, at different ages, him

Everyone has homework—can anyone truly take a break?

On parallel paths, playing and growing strong enough to settle down

Even copying homework exhausts you till you collapse

Next year, if I meet him at 30

Do I have the right to make others respect and fear him?

It’s never too late, fate isn’t final

And classmates, whether six or five thousand years old, still look to destiny

...

[Chinese]

70 年的他

難平的心結 要學半途而廢嗎

鉛華洗光 怎麼與一人談心一世 學會嗎

浮雲遊玩過 怎離場最優雅

能學懂幽默的看 地球頹敗嗎

有沒有想過放下 歸還人生 多出一切 釋然上路嗎

90 年的他

祈求於多邊戀愛 學成無傷大雅

平行大道中 學成玩耍 也有氣力成家

順帶懂一點品味嗎

明年如碰著 10 年的他

有沒有資格令人 既敬佩且驚怕

為時未晚 命數 未有定稿 還看造化

10 年的他

成人的這個國度 太難承繼嗎

電玩很多 怎可以 不用做好功課 就去打

求情時學會 假如能吻一下

模樣乖巧就 將那 大人馴服嗎

切莫說幾歲太笨 早就學識 使出可愛 個個放他一馬

不同年的他

人人都很多功課 未完全畢業嗎

平行大道中 學成玩耍 也有氣力成家

是半生標準主題嗎

來年如碰著 30 年的他

有沒有資格令人 既敬佩且驚怕

為時未晚 命數 未有定稿 還看造化

快樂也可以學嗎

最後至知道 要苦修對嗎

但也必修對嗎

直到該死也 要學會它

悠悠長作業 不同年的他

人人都很多功課 沒人能休學好嗎

平行大道中 學成玩耍 也有氣力成家

就算准抄功課 也累到垮

來年如碰著 30 年的他

有沒有資格令人 既敬佩且驚怕

為時未晚 命數 未有定稿

而同學你 六歲 或五千歲 還看造化

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
心結 /sīn t͡ɕi̯e/ B2	noun - knot in one's heart; unresolved issue
鉛華 /t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn xwä/ C1	noun - makeup; cosmetics
頹敗 /tʰuě pɑɪ/ C1	verb - to decline; to decay
放下 /fɑŋ t͡ɕi̯ɑ/ A2	verb - to put down; to let go
歸還 /ku̯ei xwän/ B2	verb - to return; to give back
戀愛 /li̯ɛn aɪ/ A2	noun - love; romance
氣力 /t͡ɕʰi li/ B2	noun - strength; energy
品味 /pʰǐn wèɪ/ B1	noun - taste; discernment
敬佩 /t͡ɕiŋ pʰeɪ/ B2	verb - to admire; to respect
驚怕 /t͡ɕiŋ pʰä/ C1	verb - to fear; to be afraid
命數 /miŋ ʂu/ B2	noun - fate; destiny
定稿 /tiŋ kɑʊ/ C1	noun - final version; final draft
造化 /tsɑʊ xwɑ/ C1	noun - good fortune; creation; nature
承繼 /ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ t͡ɕi/ C1	verb - to inherit; to carry on
馴服 /ɕỹn fu/ B2	verb - to tame; to domesticate
畢業 /piː jɪe/ A2	verb - to graduate
苦修 /kʰuː ʃjoʊ/ C1	verb - to practice asceticism
休學 /ʃjoʊ ʃɥe/ B2	verb - to suspend one's studies
悠悠 /joʊ joʊ/ B2	adjective - leisurely; long

Key Grammar Structures

• 要學半途而廢嗎

  ➔ Use of the modal verb "要" + verb to express intention or desire.

  ➔ "要" functions as a modal verb indicating a future intention or desire to do something.

• 人人都很多功課 未完全畢業嗎

  ➔ Use of "都" to emphasize inclusiveness or universality.

  ➔ "都" is used to mean "all" or "everyone," emphasizing that the statement applies universally.

• 還看造化

  ➔ Use of "還" + verb to indicate "still" or "yet"; plus "造化" meaning "fate" or "destiny."

  ➔ "還" functions as an adverb meaning "still" or "yet," adding emphasis on ongoing or conditional states.

• 是半生標準主題嗎

  ➔ Use of the question marker "嗎" at the end of a statement to form a yes-no question.

  ➔ "嗎" is a question particle used in Chinese to turn statements into yes/no questions.

• 還看造化

  ➔ Appearing in the phrase with "還" + verb and noun, expressing "still watch" or "look to fate" as a philosophical reflection.

  ➔ "還" functions as an adverb meaning "still" or "yet" in philosophical or reflective contexts, emphasizing ongoing consideration.