晨星 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周殷廷
• Album: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a journey, and '晨星' (Morning Star) by Yan Ting is a perfect companion. This song's heartfelt lyrics about chasing a dream for twenty years offer a powerful lesson in perseverance. As you listen, you can learn expressive vocabulary related to hope, struggle, and eventual triumph, all wrapped in a beautiful Cantopop melody. What makes this song special is its raw honesty, turning a personal story into a universal anthem of hope.

[English]

Gazing at the night sky

Thinking back to who I used to be

I asked how one can shine

I’ve tried so hard but to no avail

Echoes in my mind

Hiding deep inside, imagining the future

But I don’t accept this ending

What can reignite my fire

Like meeting my fifteen-year-old self again, exhausted and trying, too scared to look back

I often wonder if that flame was born from hope for you

I don’t know if the fire I’ve burned is made of sweat and blood

Or if it’s just a blazing wildfire

I still hope that one day I can look into your eyes

Growing up, I look forward to

If someday I shine again tomorrow

Even if I fail or succeed, the end is just part of the story

Nothing can truly stop me

Like meeting my twenty-five-year-old self again, exhausted and trying, too scared to look back

I often wonder if that flame was born from hope for you

I don’t know if the fire I’ve burned is made of sweat and blood

Or if it’s just a blazing wildfire

Giving my all in this fight, is it okay?

Even if I face disappointment and helplessness

Today I have tried with everything I have

Nothing was wasted

Exhausted but tried so hard, finally I can look back at myself

To say, let’s believe together—our fire still burns bright

Even if I need a lifetime of blood, sweat, and tears

Facing pain, moving forward through the waves

To become that brightest star of fire

Shining brightly in the dawn

[Chinese]

夜空中 凝望著

回想起 我舊時是哪樣

問過 一個人怎發亮

我努力過 卻沒結果

回憶中 迴盪著

藏心底 那未來是怎樣

但我 不認同這結局

什麼可 重燃我

如重遇 十五歲我 力竭試過 不敢去回望

常疑惑 可有替你那道火 完成著寄望

不知道 我所燒光是血汗

還是算燎原之火

仍期待 某日可跟你 對望

成長中 期待著

若一天 我在明日發亮

就算 失敗 成功 結局

無一可 難為我

如重遇 廿五歲我 力竭試過 不敢去回望

常疑惑 可有替你那道火 完成著寄望

不知道 我所燒光是血汗

還是算燎原之火

憑全力放盡搏 好麼

就算是失意與無助

也勝在今天我全程試過

都不算枉過

力竭試過 讓我與我 終於再回望

去說聲 一起相信 那道火仍然未冷落

儘管我 要花一生 用血汗

迎著痛 前行破浪

成為那最耀眼星火

晨曦中 瑩亮著

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
夜空 (yèkōng) /jɛ̂ kʰʊŋ/ B1	noun - night sky
回憶 (huíyì) /xu̯éi î/ B1	noun - memory, recollection
努力 (nǔlì) /nù lî/ A2	verb - to make great efforts, to strive noun - effort
未來 (wèilái) /wêi lái/ A2	noun - future
結局 (jiéjú) /tɕjɛ̌ tɕy̌/ B1	noun - ending, conclusion
重燃 (chóngrán) /ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ ɻǎn/ B2	verb - to rekindle, to reignite
疑惑 (yíhuò) /ǐ xwô/ B2	noun - doubt, misgiving
完成 (wánchéng) /wǎn ʈ͡ʂʰəŋ/ A2	verb - to complete, to accomplish
血汗 (xuèhàn) /ɕɥê xân/ B2	noun - sweat and blood; toil and sweat
燎原 (liáoyuán) /ljǎʊ ywɛ̌n/ C1	adjective - a prairie fire, a spreading conflagration
期待 (qídài) /t͡ɕʰǐ tâi/ B1	verb - to expect, to await
成長 (chéngzhǎng) /ʈ͡ʂʰə̌ŋ ʈ͡ʂǎŋ/ B1	verb - to grow up, to mature
失敗 (shībài) /ʂʅ pâi/ A2	noun - failure
成功 (chénggōng) /ʈ͡ʂʰə̌ŋ kʊŋ/ A2	noun - success
失意 (shīyì) /ʂʅ î/ C1	adjective - disappointed, frustrated
耀眼 (yàoyǎn) /jâʊ jàn/ B2	adjective - dazzling, brilliant
晨曦 (chénxī) /ʈ͡ʂʰə̌n ɕi/ B2	noun - dawn, morning light

Key Grammar Structures

• 夜空中 凝望著

  ➔ The use of '著' (zhe) indicates a continuous or ongoing action, similar to the present participle '-ing' in English.

  ➔ The particle '著' emphasizes that the action of '凝望' (gazing) is ongoing.

• 問過 一個人怎發亮

  ➔ The phrase '怎' (zěn) introduces an indirect question meaning 'how'.

  ➔ '怎' (zěn) is used to form an indirect question, asking 'how' or 'in what way'.

• 我努力過 卻沒結果

  ➔ The use of '過' (guò) indicates experience or that an action has been completed.

  ➔ '過' (guò) is used after a verb to show that the action has been experienced or completed in the past.

• 如重遇 十五歲我 力竭試過 不敢去回望

  ➔ The phrase '力竭' (lì jié) is a compound meaning 'exhausted' or 'to the limit'.

  ➔ '力竭' (lì jié) is used to describe being completely exhausted or having no energy left.

• 都不算枉過

  ➔ The phrase '枉過' (wǎng guò) means 'not to have wasted' or 'not to have failed to do'.

  ➔ '枉過' (wǎng guò) emphasizes that the effort was meaningful and not wasted.

• 去說聲 一起相信 那道火仍然未冷落

  ➔ The phrase '去說聲' (qù shuō shēng) indicates a polite or gentle way of expressing 'say' or 'say something'.

  ➔ '去說聲' suggests approaching someone politely or softly to communicate a message.