大哥 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 衛蘭

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depths of Cantopop with Janice Vidal's iconic song, "大哥" (Big Brother). This powerful ballad tells a universal story of unrequited love and the pain of being 'friend-zoned,' making its heartfelt lyrics incredibly relatable. Through its expressive Cantonese phrases and poignant storytelling, you can gain a deeper understanding of emotional nuances in the language. The song's clear vocals and memorable melody offer an excellent opportunity to practice listening comprehension and expand your vocabulary in a meaningful and engaging way.

[English]

Calling each other siblings all the time

I wake up unable to love me

Hurry up and explore dating this opposite sex with me

Claiming to be soulmates, but there's too much truth

When a girl and a guy aren't lovers yet

No kiss, no natural results

How could there be love without feelings

Big brother is just hiding something

Able to be good lovers but fall back to friends

Who cares about the heart

I want love, no need to be a perfect match

No need for your permission

Siblings are interesting, no need to live separately

Forget the kinship, then pursue

I want love so strong even destroying traditional bonds would be a great feat

Proof of love, if I need to fight for it

Only a promise to get drunk with big brother

...

Once wanted to hold a gun in my hand

Wanted to force an interrogation on you

Neither of us loves, who's without intelligence

If falling in love must result in wounds

Thinking of you, I understand both of us

Even happy, we've had enough pain

How could there be love without feelings

Big brother is just hiding something

Able to be good lovers but fall back to friends

Who cares about the heart

I want love, no need to be a perfect match

No need for your permission

Siblings are interesting, no need to live separately

Forget the kinship, then pursue

I want love so strong even destroying traditional bonds would be a great feat

Proof of love, if I need to fight for it

Only a promise to get drunk with big brother

...

I want love, no need to be a perfect match

No need for your permission

Siblings are interesting, no need to live separately

Forget the kinship, then pursue

I want love so strong even destroying traditional bonds would be a great feat

Proof of love, if I need to fight for it

Only a promise to get drunk with big brother

...

[Chinese]

如果 兄妹相稱太多

醒不起喜歡我

快研究和我這異性 拍拖

訛稱 知己的真太多

當女共男未變愛侶

不吻過自然沒結果

沒有好感怎會相親相愛

大哥只是掩飾

能做對愛侶 墮落成朋友

誰心息

我要愛情不需要登對

不需得你允許

兄妹真有趣 不需要分居

忘記輩份再追

我要愛情摧毀世交也不失一個壯舉

相戀的證據 假使要爭取

唯有約定和大哥喝醉

曾經 想手執一柄鎗

想逼供你一趟

我和你無愛 誰沒有智商

如果 戀愛必需創傷

想你亦明白到我倆

雖開心都也受夠傷

沒有好感怎會相親相愛

大哥只是掩飾

能做對愛侶 墮落成朋友

誰心息

我要愛情不需要登對

不需得你允許

兄妹真有趣 不需要分居

忘記輩份再追

我要愛情摧毀世交也不失一個壯舉

相戀的證據 假使要爭取

唯有約定和大哥喝醉

我要愛情不需要登對

不需得你允許

兄妹真有趣 不需要分居

忘記輩份再追

我要愛情摧毀世交也不失一個壯舉

相戀的證據 假使要爭取

唯有約定和大哥喝醉

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
兄妹 /ɕjʊŋ˥ maɪ̯˥/ B1	noun - siblings (brother and sister)
喜歡 /ɕiːxu̯an/ A1	verb - to like
研究 /jɛn˧˥ t͡ɕʰiu̯˨˩/ B1	verb - to study, to research noun - research, study
異性 /i˥˩ ɕiŋ˥˩/ B2	noun - opposite sex
拍拖 /pʰaɪ̯˅ tʰɔː/ B1	verb - to date
知己 /ʈ͡ʂɨ˥ t͡ɕiː/ B2	noun - intimate friend, confidant
愛侶 /aɪ̯˅ l̥yː/ B2	noun - lovers, couple
相親相愛 /ɕjɑŋ˥ t͡ɕʰin t͡ɕjɑŋ˥ aɪ̯˅/ C1	adjective - to love each other
掩飾 /jɛn˨˩ ʂɨ/ B2	verb - to conceal, to cover up
墮落 /tu̯ɔ˅ lu̯ɔ/ C1	verb - to degenerate, to fall
愛情 /aɪ̯˅ t͡ɕʰiŋ/ A2	noun - love
登對 /tɤŋ˥ ku̯eɪ/ B2	adjective - well-matched, suitable
允許 /y̌nɕy̌/ B2	verb - to allow, to permit
有趣 /joʊ˅ t͡ɕʰy/ A2	adjective - interesting, fun
分居 /fənky/ B2	verb - to live apart
輩份 /peɪfen/ C1	noun - generation, seniority
摧毀 /t͡sʰu̯eɪχu̯eɪ/ C1	verb - to destroy, to devastate
世交 /ʂɨt͡ɕi̯ɑʊ/ C1	noun - family friends for generations
壯舉 /ʈʂu̯aŋt͡ɕy/ C2	noun - heroic deed, great undertaking
證據 /ʈ͡ʂəŋt͡ɕy/ B1	noun - evidence, proof
爭取 /ʈ͡ʂɤŋt͡ɕʰy/ B2	verb - to strive for, to fight for
約定 /yœtɪŋ/ B2	verb - to agree on, to arrange
喝醉 /xətsuɪ/ B1	verb - to get drunk
手執 /ʃoʊ ʈʂə/ C2	verb - to hold in hand
逼供 /pi˅ kɔŋ/ C2	verb - to force a confession
戀愛 /liɛn aɪ/ B1	verb - to be in love
創傷 /t͡ʂʰwɑŋ ʂɑŋ/ C1	noun - wound, trauma
明白 /mɪŋbɑɪ/ A2	verb - to understand
開心 /kaɪʃɪn/ A1	adjective - happy
受傷 /ʂoʊ ʂɑŋ/ B1	verb - to be injured

Key Grammar Structures

• 如果兄妹相稱太多

  ➔ Conditional conjunction '如果' (if) introducing a conditional clause

  ➔ '如果' (if) is used to express a condition that must be met for the main clause

• 不吻過自然沒結果

  ➔ Negative past tense with '不' + verb, implying 'not having done something' affects the outcome

  ➔ '不' (not) + past participle indicates that the action was not performed, affecting the result

• 我要愛情不需要登對

  ➔ Use of '不需要' (not need) to express lack of necessity or obligation

  ➔ '不需要' (not need) is used to indicate that something is unnecessary

• 忘記輩份再追

  ➔ Imperative expression '再' (again) used with verbs to indicate repetition or doing something again

  ➔ '再' indicates doing something again or emphasizing repetition

• 唯有約定和大哥喝醉

  ➔ Use of '唯有' (only) to emphasize exclusivity or necessity

  ➔ '唯有' (only) emphasizes that only the specified option or action is possible or sufficient

• 相戀的證據 假使要爭取

  ➔ Use of '假使' (if) as a formal or literary conditional conjunction

  ➔ '假使' means 'if' and is used in formal or literary contexts to introduce a hypothetical condition