單行的軌道 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 鄧紫棋

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant lyrics of G.E.M.'s "單行的軌道" (One Way Road) to explore themes of life's unchangeable paths and inner struggles. This Chinese pop ballad, with its metaphorical depth and G.E.M.'s expressive vocals, offers a powerful way to engage with Mandarin vocabulary and emotional expressions, making it special for language learners seeking to connect with music on a deeper level.

[English]

Every train must stay on the track as it moves forward

Following signals, whether plain or lively

No train is ever too tired to stop anytime it wants

I head toward my goal but also want to run away

I’ve never been afraid of the sky falling or the earth collapsing

Oh, I actually live carefree, starting fresh every day

But I’m not happy, not really happy

Every day I reach the same split, but I don't have a choice

This is a one-way track

I can’t turn back now, can’t wipe off this endless smile

Walking on a one-way track

Let the railway decide my fate, every step I take is stuck

On this one-way track

On this one-way track

...

Under blue skies, gentle breeze embracing me

Why can’t worries touch the ocean?

Every train crossing mountains and rivers should make us proud

But who can hear my desperate cry?

I’ve never been afraid of the sky falling or the earth collapsing

Oh, I actually live carefree, starting fresh every day

But I’m not happy, not really happy

Every day I reach the same split, but I don't have a choice

This is a one-way track

I can’t turn back now, can’t wipe off this endless smile

Walking on a one-way track

Let the railway decide my fate, every step I take is stuck

On this one-way track, one-way track

On this one-way track, one-way track

...

Can't escape this one-way track

Can't escape this one-way track

...

[Chinese]

每一輛火車 前進必須沿著軌道

跟隨著記號 往平淡或熱鬧

沒一輛火車 是累了就隨時能停靠

我邁向目標 卻又想要逃

我從來不害怕 天崩或者地塌

Oh 我其實活得很瀟灑 我每天都重新出發

可是我不快樂 真的不快樂

每天走到同樣的分岔 可是我並沒有選擇

這是一條 單行的軌道

我已經退不了後路 褪不掉最目無表情的微笑

走在一條 單行的軌道

讓鐵路決定了命運 決定我每一步都脫離不了

單行的軌道

單行的軌道

頭頂有藍天 身邊有微風輕輕擁抱

為什麼煩惱 海洋碰不著

每一輛火車 穿山越嶺該值得驕傲

但誰聽得到 我的哀號

我從來不害怕 天崩或者地塌

Oh 我其實活得很瀟灑 我每天都重新出發

可是我不快樂 真的不快樂

每天走到同樣的分岔 可是我並沒有選擇

這是一條 單行的軌道

我已經退不了後路 褪不掉最目無表情的微笑

走在一條 單行的軌道

讓鐵路決定了命運 決定我每一步都脫離不了

單行的軌道 單行的軌道

單行的軌道 單行的軌道

脫離不了 單行的軌道

脫離不了 單行的軌道

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
火車 (huǒchē) /xwɔ t͡ʃʰɤ/ A1	noun - train
軌道 (guǐdào) /kweɪ dɑʊ/ B1	noun - track, orbit
記號 (jìhào) /t͡ɕiː xaʊ/ B1	noun - mark, sign
平淡 (píngdàn) /pʰɪŋ tɑn/ B2	adjective - ordinary, commonplace
熱鬧 (rènào) /ʐə naʊ/ A2	adjective - lively, bustling
累 (lèi) /leɪ/ A1	adjective - tired
目標 (mùbiāo) /muː pjaʊ/ A2	noun - goal, target
逃 (táo) /tʰaʊ/ A2	verb - to escape, to flee
害怕 (hàipà) /xaɪ pa/ A2	verb - to be afraid, to fear
天崩地塌 (tiānbēng dìtā) /tʰjɛn pɤŋ tiː tʰa/ C1	noun - cataclysm, catastrophe (literally 'sky collapses and earth crumbles')
瀟灑 (xiāosǎ) /ɕjaʊ sɑ/ B2	adjective - natural and unrestrained; elegant and unconventional
分岔 (fēnchà) /fən t͡ʃʰɑ/ B1	noun - fork (in a road, path, etc.)
退 (tuì) /tʰweɪ/ A1	verb - to retreat, to withdraw
後路 (hòulù) /xoʊ lu/ B2	noun - way out, means of retreat
微笑 (wēixiào) /weɪ ɕjaʊ/ A2	noun - smile verb - to smile
藍天 (lántiān) /län tʰjɛn/ A2	noun - blue sky
微風 (wēifēng) /weɪ fɤŋ/ A2	noun - breeze
擁抱 (yǒngbào) /jʊŋ paʊ/ B1	verb - to embrace, to hug
煩惱 (fánnǎo) /fän naʊ/ B1	noun - worries, vexation verb - to be worried
海洋 (hǎiyáng) /xaɪ jaŋ/ B1	noun - ocean
穿山越嶺 (chuān shān yuè lǐng) /t͡ʃʰwän ʃän y̯œ liŋ/ C1	verb - to cross mountains and valleys
哀號 (āiháo) /aɪ xaʊ/ C1	verb - to wail, to groan

Key Grammar Structures

• 每一輛火車 前進必須沿著軌道

  ➔ 必須 + verb (must/necessary to)

  ➔ The phrase "必須沿著軌道" uses "必須" to express necessity or obligation — the train "must" follow the track.

• 我從來不害怕 天崩或者地塌

  ➔ 從來不 + verb (never + do something)

  ➔ The phrase "從來不害怕" uses "從來不" to emphasize that the subject "never" feels afraid.

• 每一輛火車 穿山越嶺該值得驕傲

  ➔ 該 + verb (should / worth to)

  ➔ The phrase "該值得驕傲" uses "該" to indicate that something "should" be considered worthy of pride.

• 讓鐵路決定了命運 決定我每一步都脫離不了

  ➔ 讓 + object + verb (let/allow someone to do something)

  ➔ The phrase "讓鐵路決定了命運" uses "讓" to indicate "allow" or "cause" the railway to determine destiny.

• 單行的軌道

  ➔ 的 + noun (possessive or descriptive marker)

  ➔ The phrase "單行的軌道" uses "的" to link "單行" and "軌道", describing the track as "single-direction" or "one-way".

• 我已經退不了後路 褪不掉最目無表情的微笑

  ➔ 退不了 + object (cannot retreat/back off)

  ➔ The phrase "退不了後路" uses "不了" to indicate that "retreat" is impossible.