超人不會飛 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Jay Chou

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and Jay Chou's “Superman Can't Fly” is a perfect starting point for diving into Mandarin Chinese. The song's slow, clear rap-like verses allow you to catch the nuances of the language while the heartfelt lyrics offer a glimpse into the universal pressures of modern life, as experienced by a superstar. It's a special song that combines a simple, beautiful melody with profound, personal storytelling.

[English]

Mom said don't sweat the small stuff, just my sense of duty found me, I can't sleep

If cursing with some skill, I add a melody, you'll think it's super cool

My gun won't load bullets, so rest assured, no one will fall

I shoot Green Hornet without a stunt double, 'cause confidence is the paint on my canvas

The meaning behind the things I do is way beyond what you imagine

Filming a TV show for friendship and a dream from ten years ago

Even high ratings can't match my great ideals

'Cause I don't need another award in my life

I don't know when I became a role model for society

Can't let paparazzi catch me flipping the bird, gotta keep it classy (what’s that?)

My lyrics need some culture, 'cause they could become textbooks anytime

Can CNN wait until my English improves before interviewing? Can the Time magazine cover be remade?

Always mindful of my image, gotta watch my diet, or I won't look like (or similar to) a wax figure of Madame Tussauds (already doesn't look like)

Hollywood's Chinese cinema has lots of handprints and footprints, when will I see my palm?

Oh, if Superman can fly, then let me pause and rest in the air

Once again, looking down on this world makes me feel a little better

...

Saving the Earth is so exhausting, though I’m a bit tired, I’ll still do it

Don’t ask if I’ve cried, 'cause Superman can't shed tears

...

To win best male singer, I sing, and in movies, I can't just get best new artist

Skipping the awards ceremony means you're rude, attending shows you care a lot

When I win, I get emotional, tear up (tear up), people think I’m overacting (overacting)

No expression? People say I’m too arrogant, and if you’re born with this face, even your mom might get blamed (mom)

In the end, others will take the award, so I give a full applause and smile

Drive a car that’s not too fancy, live in a building that’s not too high

Am I a songwriter or a model of good deeds?

As soon as my album drops, it must be No.1, if I star in a movie, it’s gotta be a blockbuster

Honestly, being Superman is really tough

If Superman can fly, then let me pause and rest in the air (pause and rest)

Once again, looking down on this world makes me feel a little better

...

Saving the Earth is so tiring (Earth, so tired), though I’m a bit exhausted, I’ll still keep trying (I will)

Don’t ask if I’ve cried, 'cause Superman can’t shed tears

...

[Chinese]

媽媽說很多事別太計較 只是使命感找到了我我睡不著

如果說罵人要有點技巧 我會加點旋律你會覺得 超屌

我的槍不會裝彈藥(彈藥) 所以放心不會有人倒(人倒)

我拍青蜂俠不需要替身 因為自信是我繪畫的顏料

我做很多事背後的意義遠比你們想像

拍個電視劇為了友情與十年前的夢想

收視率再高也難抗衡我的偉大理想

因為我的人生無需再多一筆那獎項

我不知道何時變成了社會的那榜樣

被狗仔拍不能比中指要大器的模樣(怎樣)

我唱的歌詞要有點文化 因為會隨時被當成教材

CNN能不能等英文好一點再訪 時代雜誌封面能不能重拍

隨時隨地注意形象 要控制飲食不然就跟杜莎夫人蠟像的我不像(本來就不像)

好萊塢的中國戲院地上有很多手印腳印何時才能看見我的掌

喔如果超人會飛 那就讓我在空中停一停歇

再次俯瞰這個世界 會讓我覺得好一些

拯救地球好累 雖然有些疲憊但我還是會

不要問我哭過了沒 因為超人不能流眼淚

唱歌要拿最佳男歌手 拍電影也不能只拿個最佳新人

你不參加頒獎典禮就是沒禮貌 你去參加就是代表你很在乎

得獎時你感動落淚(落淚) 人家就會覺得你誇張做作(做作)

你沒表情別人就會說太囂張 如果你天生這個表情 那些人甚至會怪你媽媽(媽媽)

結果最後是別人在得獎 你也要給予充分的掌聲與微笑

開的車不能太好 住的樓不能太高

我到底是一個創作歌手還是好人好事代表

專輯一出就必須是冠軍 拍了電影就必須要大賣

只能說當超人真的好難

如果超人會飛(超人會飛) 那就讓我在空中停一停歇(停一停歇)

再次俯瞰這個世界 會讓我覺得好一些

拯救地球好累(地球好累) 雖然有些疲憊但我還是會(我還是會)

不要問我哭過了沒 因為超人不能流眼淚

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
飛 (fēi) /feɪ/ A1	verb - to fly
夢想 (mèngxiǎng) /mɤŋ ɕjɑŋ/ B1	noun - dream, aspiration verb - to dream of; to envision
世界 (shìjiè) /ʂɨ t͡ɕjɛ/ A1	noun - world
疲憊 (píbèi) /pʰǐ pèi/ B2	adjective - exhausted, weary
超人 (chāorén) /t͡ʂʰáʊ ɻə̌n/ B1	noun - superman, superhero
眼淚 (yǎnlèi) /jɛ̀n lèi/ A2	noun - tears
歌詞 (gēcí) /kɤ́ t͡sʰí/ B1	noun - lyrics
文化 (wénhuà) /wə̌n xwâ/ A2	noun - culture
形象 (xíngxiàng) /ɕǐŋ ɕjâŋ/ B1	noun - image, figure
掌聲 (zhǎngshēng) /t͡ʂàŋ ʂəŋ/ B2	noun - applause
創作 (chuàngzuò) /t͡ʂʰwâŋ t͡swô/ B2	verb - to create, to produce noun - creation, work
專輯 (zhuānjí) /ʈʂwánt͡ɕǐ/ B1	noun - album
冠軍 (guànjūn) /kwân t͡ɕýn/ B1	noun - champion, first place
地球 (dìqiú) /tî t͡ɕʰi̯ǒʊ/ A1	noun - earth
拯救 (zhěngjiù) /ʈ͡ʂɤŋ t͡ɕjôʊ/ B2	verb - to save, to rescue

Key Grammar Structures

• 如果說罵人要有點技巧

  ➔ Conditional sentence with 'if' (如果...就...)

  ➔ '如果' introduces a condition which determines the result.

• 我做很多事背後的意義遠比你們想像

  ➔ Comparative structure '遠比...' meaning 'more than...'

  ➔ '遠比' is used to make a comparison indicating something is more than something else.

• 我唱的歌詞要有點文化

  ➔ Declarative sentence with '要' indicating necessity or expectation

  ➔ '要' is used to express a requirement or desire that something should happen.

• 不要問我哭過了沒

  ➔ Imperative sentence with '不要' meaning 'do not' and question word '沒' (has/did)

  ➔ '不要' is used to give a negative command, and '沒' in questions asks if something has been done.

• 再一次俯瞰這個世界 會讓我覺得好一些

  ➔ Verb phrase '再一次' indicating repetition, combined with '會' to express future possibility

  ➔ '再一次' means 'once again' or 'another time', and '會' indicates a future possibility or ability.