曹操 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 林俊傑
• Album: 金曲歌王林俊傑的專輯《曹操》

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the power of Chinese history and language through JJ Lin's hit song 'Cao Cao'. This track is a fantastic tool for language learners, offering a glimpse into the dramatic era of the Three Kingdoms through its vivid lyrical storytelling. The song's energetic rock style makes learning both exciting and memorable, allowing you to absorb historical narratives and poetic language in a modern musical context.

[English]

Not a hero, wouldn't read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms

If a hero, how could he not understand loneliness?

Walking down Changban Slope alone, the moonlight is too gentle

Cao Cao doesn't beat around the bush, determined to take Jing Province

Using schemes, strategies, open words, and covert ploys

The late Eastern Han Dynasty divided into Three Kingdoms, flames of war never cease

Love and affections, swayed by the chaotic world, who will brew the wine?

Deceit and betrayal are the Three Kingdoms, hard to tell right from wrong

Commotion and chaos, after thousands of years, everything starts again

...

Not a hero, wouldn't read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms

If a hero, how could he not understand loneliness?

Walking down Changban Slope alone, the moonlight is too gentle

Cao Cao doesn't beat around the bush, determined to take Jing Province

Using schemes, strategies, open words, and covert ploys

The late Eastern Han Dynasty divided into Three Kingdoms, flames of war never cease

Love and affections, swayed by the chaotic world, who will brew the wine?

Deceit and betrayal are the Three Kingdoms, hard to tell right from wrong

Commotion and chaos, after thousands of years, everything starts again

...

Walking down Changban Slope alone, the moonlight is too gentle

Cao Cao doesn't beat around the bush, determined to take Jing Province

Using schemes, strategies, open words, and covert ploys

The late Eastern Han Dynasty divided into Three Kingdoms, flames of war never cease

Love and affections, swayed by the chaotic world, who will brew the wine?

Deceit and betrayal are the Three Kingdoms, hard to tell right from wrong

Commotion and chaos, after thousands of years, everything starts again

...

[Chinese]

不是英雄 不讀三國

若是英雄 怎麼能不懂寂寞

獨自走下長板坡 月光太溫柔

曹操不囉唆 一心要拿荊州

用陰謀 陽謀 明說 暗奪的摸

東漢末年分三國 烽火連天不休

兒女情長 被亂世左右 誰來煮酒

爾虞我詐是三國 說不清對與錯

紛紛擾擾 千百年以後 一切又從頭

不是英雄 不讀三國

若是英雄 怎麼能不懂寂寞

獨自走下長板坡 月光太溫柔

曹操不囉唆 一心要拿荊州

用陰謀 陽謀 明說 暗奪的摸

東漢末年分三國 烽火連天不休

兒女情長 被亂世左右 誰來煮酒

爾虞我詐是三國 說不清對與錯

紛紛擾擾 千百年以後 一切又從頭

獨自走下長板坡 月光太溫柔

曹操不囉唆 一心要拿荊州

用陰謀 陽謀 明說 暗奪的摸

東漢末年分三國 烽火連天不休

兒女情長 被亂世左右 誰來煮酒

爾虞我詐是三國 說不清對與錯

紛紛擾擾 千百年以後 一切又從頭

Key Grammar Structures

• 不是英雄 不讀三國

  ➔ Negative form of 'to be' (不是) and the structure for 'not doing' (不讀).

  ➔ The phrase means 'If you are not a hero, you do not read the Three Kingdoms.'

• 用陰謀 陽謀 明說 暗奪的摸

  ➔ Use of parallel structure and contrasting terms (陰謀 vs 陽謀).

  ➔ This line refers to using both overt and covert strategies.

• 兒女情長 被亂世左右 誰來煮酒

  ➔ Use of passive voice (被...左右) and rhetorical question (誰來煮酒).

  ➔ This line expresses the influence of chaotic times on personal relationships and asks who will brew the wine.

• 說不清對與錯

  ➔ Use of negation (不清) and the structure for expressing uncertainty (說不清).

  ➔ This line indicates that it is difficult to distinguish right from wrong.

• 千百年以後 一切又從頭

  ➔ Use of time expressions (千百年以後) and the structure for repetition (又從頭).

  ➔ This line suggests that after a thousand years, everything starts anew.