Children Song – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周國賢

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a heartfelt journey into Cantonese with Endy Chow's "Children Song." This poignant ballad offers a beautiful linguistic and emotional landscape, perfect for learners. Its clear, evocative lyrics delve into universal feelings of nostalgia for childhood innocence and the complexities of adulthood, providing rich vocabulary related to emotions, growth, and self-reflection. The song's expressive delivery and relatable themes make it an engaging way to immerse yourself in Cantonese, understand cultural nuances, and experience the power of the language through music.

[English]

Do you remember the last time you truly cried?

Do you remember the last time you truly laughed from the heart?

To become an adult, I pretend everything is fine

In the sea of people, climbing and racing to the top

When exhaustion hits, do you think of me first?

Can we hold each other again, hand in hand, and cry together?

It’s you, this adorable child, still keeping love in my heart

Come, give me a moment to rest and find shelter

If the world turns a little worse each day

I'm lucky to still have you, with your carefree, playful spirit

And you, so pure and natural, like a child

Laugh if you want, shout if you need to

...

Try to see the world through your honest eyes

Try not to care about detecting right from wrong

Whenever I feel tired, glancing back, I always find you

In my heart, never disappear, never be apart

If the world turns a little worse each day

I'm lucky to still have you, with your carefree, playful spirit

And you, so pure and natural, like a child

Laugh if you want, shout if you need to

Luckily, your innocent heart refuses to change.

I'm honored to have you, fighting as rebels with me

And you, so sharp and genuine, like a child

Facing the world’s twisted ways with me

Want to break free from constraints and rebel

Want to go back to those school days

With you, unafraid to cry or laugh in front of others

I realize, it’s actually so simple to be myself

...

If the world turns a little worse each day

I'm lucky to still have you, with your carefree, playful spirit

And you, so pure and natural, like a child

Travel with me into old age, laughing and shouting along the way

Lucky that your innocent heart can’t bear to sell out

Feeling honored to be villains with you

And you, so sharp and sensitive, like a child

Facing the world's twisted nature with me

If the world gets a little worse each day

I'm grateful for your strength to carry me through

And you, so pure and natural, like a child

Facing the world's twisted ways with me

...

In my heart, you are a pure child

Always calling me to be happier

...

[Chinese]

還記得有多久未好好哭過嗎

還記得有多久未真心歡笑嗎

為去變一個大人 凡事也裝得很化

人海裡 比賽攀爬

人活到疲倦乏力先想起你嗎

和我再抱擁牽手哭泣可以嗎

是你這可愛兒童 仍然廝守心底裡

來給我 休憩收容

如若全世界一天一點變壞

猶幸還有你一貫爛漫姿態

而你赤裸裸脫俗如像小孩

想笑就笑要嗌就嗌

嘗試以你的率真觀賞這世間

嘗試再懶得小心分清忠與奸

讓我每當困倦時 回眸總可找到你

在心裡 不見不散

如若全世界一天一點變壞

猶幸還有你一貫爛漫姿態

而你赤裸裸脫俗如像小孩

想笑就笑要嗌就嗌

猶幸赤子心總不捨得變賣

榮幸還有你跟我在做反派

而你赤裸裸敏銳如像小孩

跟我敵抗世界病態

想要跟你解去束縛跟作反

想要將那時候校慢

跟你不怕一哭一笑被人飽覽

先知道我若要做我其實太簡單

如若全世界一天一點變壞

猶幸還有你一貫爛漫姿態

而你赤裸裸脫俗如像小孩

跟我同行到老 想笑就笑要嗌就嗌

猶幸赤子心總不捨得變賣

榮幸還有你跟我在做反派

而你赤裸裸敏銳如像小孩

跟我敵抗世界病態

如若全世界一天一點變壞

猶幸還有你一給我力量去捱

而你赤裸裸脫俗如像小孩

跟我敵抗世界病態

長在我心中你是純淨小孩

總叫喚我要更愉快

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
哭 (kū) /kʰuː/ A1	verb - to cry, weep
笑 (xiào) /ɕi̯aʊ̯/ A1	verb - to laugh, smile
小孩 (xiǎohái) /ɕi̯aʊ̯xǎi/ A1	noun - child, kid
世界 (shìjiè) /ʂɨ̂t͡ɕjɛ̂/ A1	noun - world
心 (xīn) /ɕin/ A1	noun - heart, mind
大人 (dàrén) /ta̠˥˩ɻən/ A2	noun - adult
力量 (lìliàng) /lîli̯ɑŋ/ A2	noun - strength, power
簡單 (jiǎndān) /t͡ɕjɛ̀n.tán/ A2	adjective - simple, easy
觀賞 (guānshǎng) /kwánʂɑ̀ŋ/ B1	verb - to view, to appreciate (scenery)
變壞 (biànhuài) /pi̯ɛ̂nxwài/ B1	verb - to go bad, to deteriorate
病態 (bìngtài) /pîŋthâi/ B2	noun - morbid state, pathological condition adjective - morbid, pathological
姿態 (zītài) /tsɨ́thâi/ B2	noun - posture, gesture, attitude
脫俗 (tuōsú) /tʰwó.sǔ/ C1	adjective - unworldly, unconventional
爛漫 (lànmàn) /lânmân/ C1	adjective - naive, innocent, artless
赤裸裸 (chìluǒluǒ) /ʈ͡ʂʰɨ̂.lwò.lwò/ C1	adjective - naked, undisguised, blatant