對摺 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 任賢齊

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a beautiful journey, and Richie Jen's '對摺' is a perfect companion for those learning Mandarin. The song's clear, emotive vocals and the poetic, yet accessible, lyrics about love and memory offer a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary and understand how metaphors are used in Chinese songwriting. The song's special quality lies in its blend of a touching melody with thought-provoking lyrics that have sparked diverse interpretations, making it a culturally significant and engaging piece to explore.

[English]

The sky is so clear, the rain has been washed away with tears.

Your favorite sky blue is refracted by the sunlight.

On both sides of the overpass, we look at each other from afar.

At the moment when time stands still.

...

What a joyous occasion, pitiful, hateful, and adorable— but unfortunately, none of it is possible anymore.

I fold myself in half, gently folding you as well.

This life was borrowed from you, the next life I promised you.

The more I remember, the more I can't let go. Love, hate, pain—I don't understand it.

My heart feels like it's cut by a knife; only after feeling the pain do I understand.

...

What still bites tightly into me, like memories biting at my heart.

The eighth color of the rainbow is the black of the night.

My heart is still made of flesh, your kisses are still warm.

You are asleep, and I am still awake.

Bitter, sour, sweet, and nostalgic—we can't go back anymore.

I fold myself in half, gently folding you as well.

This life was borrowed from you, the next life I promised you.

The more I remember, the more I can't let go. Love, hate, pain—I don't understand it.

My heart feels like it's cut by a knife; only after feeling the pain do I understand.

Re-fold the fold, and gently fold the dreams too.

I've stored all the memories, and the tears will gradually dry up.

A thousand paper cranes fly away along the Milky Way.

Joy and sorrow, no longer able to split you and me apart or bring us together—don't divide me.

...

I fold myself in half, and gently fold you as well.

This life was borrowed from you, the next life I promised you.

The more I remember, the more I can't let go. Love, hate, pain—I don't understand it.

My heart feels like it's cut by a knife; only after feeling the pain do I understand.

Re-fold the fold, and gently fold the dreams too.

I've stored all the memories, and the tears have dried up.

A thousand paper cranes fly away.

Along the Milky Way, joy and sorrow can no longer split you from me.

The more I can't bear to part, the more I cling and hesitate.

...

[Chinese]

天空的清澈 雨用淚水洗過了

你最愛的天藍色 被陽光折射

天橋的兩側 我們遙遙相望著

時光靜止那一刻

可喜可賀 可憐可恨可愛的 可惜都不可能了

我把我對摺 輕輕把你也對摺

今生是你借我的 來生是我答應你的

越記得 越不捨 我不懂的 愛得恨得痛得

心如刀割 痛過就懂了

有甚麼還在螫 緊緊被回憶咬著

彩虹的第八個顏色 是夜的黑色

心還是肉做的 你的吻還熱熱的

你睡了 我還醒著

苦的澀的 甜的酸的懷念的 我們回不去了

我把我對摺 輕輕把你也對摺

今生是你借我的 來生是我答應你的

越記得 越不捨 我不懂的 愛得恨得痛得

心如刀割 痛過就懂了

對摺再對摺 輕輕把夢也對摺

回憶我都收好了 淚水漸漸就會乾的

千紙鶴 飛走了 沿著銀河

悲歡再不能把你 跟我離合 別把我分割

我把我對摺 也輕輕把你對摺

今生是你借我的 來生是我答應你的

越記得 越不捨 我不懂的 愛得恨得痛得

心如刀割 痛過就懂了

對摺再對摺 輕輕把夢也對摺

回憶我都收好了 淚水漸漸乾了

千紙鶴 飛走了

沿著銀河 悲歡再不能把你跟我離合

越不捨 越依依不捨

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
清澈 (qīngchè) /t͡ɕʰiŋ t͡ʂʰɤ/ B2	adjective - clear, limpid
淚水 (lèishuǐ) /leɪ ʃweɪ/ A2	noun - tears
折射 (zhéshè) /ʈ͡ʂɤ̌ ʂɤ/ B2	verb - to refract
遙望 (yáowàng) /jɑ̌ʊ wɑŋ/ B2	verb - to look afar, to gaze into the distance
靜止 (jìngzhǐ) /t͡ɕiŋ ʈ͡ʂɨ/ B1	verb - to be still, to freeze
對摺 (duìzhé) /tueɪ ʈ͡ʂɤ/ B1	verb - to fold in half
借 (jiè) /t͡ɕjɛ/ A1	verb - to borrow, to lend
答應 (dāyìng) /taɪ̯ iŋ/ A2	verb - to promise, to agree
不捨 (bùshě) /pu ʂɤ/ B2	adjective - reluctant to part with, unwilling to let go
心如刀割 (xīn rú dāo gē) /ɕin ʐu ɖɑʊ̯ ɡɤ/ C1	idiom - heartbroken, feeling as if one's heart is being cut by a knife
痛 (tòng) /tʰʊŋ/ A1	adjective - painful noun - pain
回憶 (huíyì) /xueɪ i/ B1	noun - memory, recollection
彩虹 (cǎihóng) /tsʰaɪ xʊŋ/ A2	noun - rainbow
苦 (kǔ) /kʰu/ A2	adjective - bitter
澀 (sè) /sɤ/ B2	adjective - astringent, tart
夢 (mèng) /mɤŋ/ A1	noun - dream
淚水 (lèishuǐ) /leɪ ʃweɪ/ A2	noun - tears
乾 (gān) /gan/ A1	adjective - dry
飛 (fēi) /feɪ/ A1	verb - to fly
分割 (fēngē) /fəŋ ɡɤ/ B2	verb - to divide, to split