錯的一天 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 吳若希

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depths of Cantopop with Jinny Ng's "錯的一天" (Wrong Day). This power ballad, rich with heartfelt lyrics and a compelling melody, offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the nuances of the Cantonese language. Through its relatable theme of love hindered by timing, you can learn expressions of bittersweet farewell and the complexities of human relationships, making it a perfect song for language learners to connect with both linguistically and emotionally.

[English]

Who talks about you? No need to listen to a thousand words

Let this confidence remain unchanged by others

Could he be replaceable? His shadow fades then reappears

Like fog surrounding you, spreading deep into your heart

Who is protecting you? How emotional you feel now

Even if you don’t want to lose, is it really possible to let go?

Knowing heartbreak is harmful—calmness versus chaos in the race

Why does this feeling feel like love? Guilty but so beautiful

In the wrong place, on the wrong day—may beautiful memories settle

A string of gifts in front of you, pretending not to see—afraid happiness will change

Starting from the wrong point, some self-blame—fear that the truth will surface when your path is shallow

If you can't pass the test, don't meet again

Before crossing the line, step back just a bit

...

Who is protecting you? Afraid it can’t be again in the future

Even if you don’t want to lose, is it really possible to let go?

Knowing heartbreak is harmful—calmness versus emotional race

Why does this feeling seem like love? Painful but so wonderful

In the wrong place, on the wrong day—may beautiful memories settle

A string of gifts in front of you, pretending not to see—I’m afraid I’ll miss you again

Starting from the wrong point, some self-blame—fear that the truth will surface when your path is shallow

If you can't pass the test, don’t meet again

Before crossing the line, declare farewell with resolve

Tearing off the mask, dwelling in darkness

Always burdened with original sins, feeling exhausted—why chase after this?

In the wrong place, on the wrong day—may beautiful memories settle

A string of gifts in front of you, pretending not to see—I’m afraid I’ll still miss you

Starting from the wrong point, some self-blame—fear that the truth will surface when your path is shallow

If you can't pass the test, don’t meet again

Before crossing the line, step back just a bit, then step back even further

...

[Chinese]

誰談論著你 一千句都不必理睬

讓這份自信不因他人變改

難道他不可替代 身影散去又再

似是霧霾在圍著你 瀰漫到心內

誰維護著你 你現時多麼感慨

就算不想失去 可不可能放開

早知傷心有害 冷靜與迷失的競賽

這種感覺為何像愛 有罪卻很精彩

在錯的景點 在錯的一天 就讓美好記憶也沉澱

放在面前一串禮物 裝作看不見 怕快樂會變遷

在錯的起點 自責有一點 道行太淺怕真相浮現

要是未能通過試煉 不要再相見

還未曾越界之前 退開一線

誰維護著你 怕以後都不可再

就算不想失去 可不可能放得開

早知傷心有害 冷靜與情感的競賽

這種感覺為何像愛 痛但覺得精彩

在錯的景點 在錯的一天 就讓美好記憶也沉澱

放在面前一串禮物 裝作看不見 我怕又再想念

在錯的起點 自責有一點 道行太淺怕真相浮現

要是未能通過試煉 不要再相見

還未曾越界之前 決心講再見

撕開面具 漆黑之中寄居

總揹負原罪 感覺太累你為何要追

在錯的景點 在錯的一天 就讓美好記憶也沉澱

放在面前一串禮物 裝作似未見 害怕還是會想念

在錯的起點 自責有一點 道行太淺怕真相浮現

要是未能通過試煉 不要再相見

還未曾越界之前 退開一線 再退開一線

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
自信 /zì xìn/ B2	noun - self-confidence
變改 /biàn gǎi/ B2	verb - to change, to alter
霧霾 /wù mái/ B2	noun - smog
感慨 /gǎn kǎi/ C1	adjective - filled with emotion; with deep feeling verb - to lament, to sigh with emotion
傷心 /shāng xīn/ B1	adjective - sad, heartbroken
迷失 /mí shī/ B2	verb - to lose (one's way); to be lost; to be confused
競賽 /jìng sài/ B1	noun - competition, race
景點 /jǐng diǎn/ B1	noun - scenic spot; tourist attraction
記憶 /jì yì/ A2	noun - memory
沉澱 /chén diàn/ B2	verb - to settle, to precipitate, to sink
禮物 /lǐ wù/ A1	noun - gift; present
快樂 /kuài lè/ A1	adjective - happy; merry
變遷 /biàn qiān/ C1	noun - changes; vicissitudes
自責 /zì zé/ B2	verb - to blame oneself
道行 /dào háng/ C1	noun - spiritual cultivation; level of attainment (Buddhism/Taoism)
真相 /zhēn xiàng/ B1	noun - truth
試煉 /shì liàn/ B2	noun - trial, test
越界 /yuè jiè/ B2	verb - to cross the boundary; to overstep the limit
面具 /miàn jù/ B1	noun - mask
漆黑 /qī hēi/ B2	adjective - pitch-black
揹負 /bēi fù/ B2	verb - to bear; to shoulder
原罪 /yuán zuì/ C1	noun - original sin

Key Grammar Structures

• 誰談論著你

  ➔ Use of '誰' (who) as the subject in a question sentence.

  ➔ '誰' means 'who' and is used here as the subject of the question, forming a question phrase.

• 讓這份自信不因他人變改

  ➔ Use of negative causative structure '不因' meaning 'not because of'.

  ➔ '不因' is a negative form indicating that something does not change because of a certain cause.

• 在錯的景點

  ➔ Use of '在' to indicate location or time, meaning 'at' or 'in'.

  ➔ '在' indicates the location where the action takes place, here meaning 'at' or 'in' the wrong scenery.

• 還未曾越界之前

  ➔ Use of '還未曾' combined with '之前' to indicate 'not yet' before a certain point in time.

  ➔ '還未曾' means 'had not yet' or 'not yet' and is used here with '之前' (before) to specify a time before an event.

• 要是未能通過試煉

  ➔ Use of '要是' (if) with '未能' (failed to) indicating a conditional clause.

  ➔ '要是' means 'if' and introduces a conditional clause, while '未能' means 'failed to' or 'could not', together expressing a conditional scenario.

• 再退开一线

  ➔ Use of '再' to indicate 'again' or 'further', combined with '退开' (withdraw), to suggest moving back further.

  ➔ '再' means 'again' or 'further' to indicate doing something more or moving back further, here used with '退开' to suggest retreating again.