對摺 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 任賢齊
• Album: 傾城之淚

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt ballad "對摺" by Richie Jen, a quintessential Mandopop song that offers a deep emotional journey. Through its poignant lyrics and Richie Jen's tender vocals, you can explore expressions of love, longing, and remembrance in Mandarin. The song's use of the 'folding' metaphor provides a unique cultural and linguistic insight into how memories and emotions are cherished, making it a special piece for language learners to connect with the nuances of Chinese lyrical poetry and sentiment.

[English]

The sky's so clear, rain washed with tears

Your favorite sky blue, refracted by the sun

On the bridge's sides, we gaze at each other from afar

At the moment time stands still

...

Congratulations, pitiful, hateful, adorable—none of it matters anymore

I fold myself gently, and I fold you as well

This life was borrowed from you; future life, I promised it to you

The more I remember, the harder it is to let go; love, regret, pain—I don't understand

Heart like a knife, only pain teaches

...

What still bites, tightly held by memories

The eighth color of the rainbow is black of night

My heart's still flesh; your kiss is still warm

You're asleep, and I'm still awake

Bitter, astringent, sweet, sour—nostalgia we can't return to

I fold myself gently, and I fold you as well

This life was borrowed from you; future life, I promised it to you

The more I remember, the harder it is to let go; love, regret, pain—I don't understand

Heart like a knife, only pain teaches

Fold again, and gently fold the dream

I’ve packed up all the memories; tears will eventually dry

A thousand paper cranes fly away along the Milky Way

Joy and sorrow can no longer split us, can't undo our love—don’t divide me

...

I fold myself gently, and I fold you as well

This life was borrowed from you; future life, I promised it to you

The more I remember, the harder it is to let go; love, regret, pain—I don't understand

Heart like a knife, only pain teaches

Fold again, and gently fold the dream

I've collected all the memories; tears slowly dry

A thousand paper cranes fly away

Along the Milky Way, joy and sorrow can no longer separate us

The more I can't let go, the more reluctant I am to part

...

[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 ʂweɪ/ A2	noun - tears
折射 (zhéshè) /t͡ʂɤ ʂɤ/ B2	verb - to refract
遙遙 (yáoyáo) /jɑʊ jɑʊ/ B2	adjective - far away; distant
靜止 (jìngzhǐ) /t͡ɕiŋ ʈ͡ʂɨ/ B1	verb - to freeze; to be still
可喜可賀 (kěxǐ kěhè) /kʰɤ ɕi kʰɤ hɤ/ C1	adjective - worthy of congratulations; gratifying
可憐 (kělián) /kʰɤ li̯ɛn/ B1	adjective - pitiful; poor
可恨 (kěhèn) /kʰɤ xɤn/ B2	adjective - hateful; detestable
可愛 (kě'ài) /kʰɤ aɪ/ A2	adjective - lovable; cute
可惜 (kěxī) /kʰɤ ɕi/ B1	adjective - it's a pity; regrettable
對摺 (duìzhé) /tweɪ ʈ͡ʂɤ/ B1	verb - to fold in half
來生 (láishēng) /laɪ ʂɤŋ/ B2	noun - next life; afterlife
不捨 (bùshě) /pu ʂɤ/ B2	adjective - reluctant to part with; unwilling to let go
刀割 (dāogē) /taʊ kɤ/ B2	noun - knife cut
心如刀割 (xīnrúdāogē) /ɕin ʐu taʊ kɤ/ C1	idiom - heart is cut by a knife; extreme pain
彩虹 (cǎihóng) /tsʰaɪ xʊŋ/ A2	noun - rainbow
懷念 (huáiniàn) /xwaɪ ni̯ɛn/ B1	verb - to cherish the memory of; to think of
回憶 (huíyì) /xweɪ i/ B1	noun - memory; recollection
銀河 (yínhé) /in xɤ/ B2	noun - Milky Way
悲歡 (bēihuān) /peɪ xwan/ B2	noun - joys and sorrows; vicissitudes of life
分割 (fēngē) /fəŋ kɤ/ B2	verb - to split; to divide

Key Grammar Structures

• 天空的清澈 雨用淚水洗過了

  ➔ Resultative Verb Complement (過了)

  ➔ The grammar point is the Resultative Verb Complement “過了”. “洗過了” indicates that the action of washing (洗) is completed with a result, which is the sky being washed clean. 過了 indicates the completion of action and/or a past experience.

• 可喜可賀 可憐可恨可愛的 可惜都不可能了

  ➔ Parallel Structure with Adjectives

  ➔ This line uses a series of adjectives in parallel structure to emphasize the complex and contradictory emotions. All adjectives modify an implied noun (e.g., situation, feeling). The use of 可 + verb makes it an adjective with the meaning of "worth doing" or "deserving of".

• 我把我對摺 輕輕把你也對摺

  ➔ BA Structure (把)

  ➔ The BA structure (把) is used to emphasize the object that is acted upon. It moves the object before the verb. The structure is Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Other elements.

• 今生是你借我的 來生是我答應你的

  ➔ Implied Subject/Ellipsis and Parallel Structure

  ➔ The subject (e.g., fate, love) is implied in both clauses and elided for conciseness. The sentence utilizes a parallel structure, emphasizing the relationship between this life and the next. Both parts of the sentence follow the same structure: [Implied Subject] + is + Subject + Verb + Object.

• 越記得 越不捨 我不懂的 愛得恨得痛得

  ➔ "越…越…" structure and Verb + 得 + Complement of state

  ➔ "越…越…" means "the more… the more…", expressing that the level of one thing increases with the increase of another. "愛得恨得痛得" uses "得" to describe the degree or result of the verb, for instance, how he loves, how he hates, and how he feels the pain.

• 心如刀割 痛過就懂了

  ➔ Simile (心如刀割) and Conditional "就"

  ➔ "心如刀割" is a simile, meaning "the heart feels like it's being cut by knives." It illustrates intense emotional pain. "痛過就懂了" uses "就" to indicate a consequence that immediately follows after the condition is met (experiencing the pain).

• 沿著銀河 悲歡再不能把你跟我離合 別把我分割

  ➔ Negative potential complement (不能) and Imperative with negative (別)

  ➔ "不能" indicates impossibility, that the joys and sorrows can no longer separate them. "別把我分割" is a negative imperative, meaning "Don't separate me."