返老還童 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 農夫

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Cantonese with '返老還童' by FAMA offers a unique window into the everyday language and cultural sentiments of Hong Kong. The song's colloquial lyrics about growing up provide practical vocabulary for expressing feelings about life's transitions. What makes this song special is its raw honesty and relatability, allowing learners to connect with the heart of Hong Kong's youth culture while picking up authentic, modern Cantonese.

[English]

Actually, one day you realize you've reached a certain age.

Suddenly you find yourself aging so fast, so fast.

How wonderful youth is, but your face changes so quickly.

Tomorrow morning, when you wake up, there won't be days of growing taller anymore.

You are no longer a kid.

Everything changes—what will it become?

Your mindset changes, and there's no laugh anymore.

Cried twice, lost some hairline.

Say goodbye to your past self.

When did I start noticing I was growing up?

Even if mom nags more, you help her drag through it.

Talking nonsense, getting scolded by curses.

You even try to blame it on her, thinking she's your mom, after all.

When did I start noticing I was getting old?

Thinking of going out, tying shoelaces, feeling a bit out of shape.

Used to be handsome, running and shouting all over the mountain.

Now, after so many years, addicted to smoking, and lungs almost gone.

When will I realize I started to mature?

It's when you realize you've been insulted by your boss.

No matter how turbulent politics get, you choose to retreat.

Nothing else to fear, just the tax bureau keeps you scared.

When did I realize I’ve become an adult?

It's when you first blame others for the mistakes you made.

You didn't act like a villain, but turned into the very adult you hated most as a kid.

That kind of adult.

Actually, one day you realize you've reached a certain age.

And you say, oh, how fast you're aging.

How wonderful youth was, but your face changes so quickly.

Tomorrow morning, when you wake up, there won't be days of growing taller anymore.

You're no longer a kid.

Everything changes—what will it become?

Your mindset changes, and there's no laugh anymore.

Cried twice, lost some hairline.

Say goodbye to your past self.

When did I start noticing I was already grown up?

Participated less in games; mainly buying more.

Who still wakes up early to go to the field and shoot hoops?

Later, it became harder to get up for work, so you'd shoot hoops before.

When will I finally say, I've become mature? I used to be proud of that.

Carrying a bunch of flashcards, now I envy that the most.

People's wallets have black cards, but I only think about getting rich every day.

When did I realize I was old? I’ve met so many people.

But many old friends are gone, no contact, just dinner plans.

Every day so lonely, bump into old classmates, and suddenly you wish you could go back to school.

Always have things unsaid to someone, always wanting to ask where they are now—used to be a kid.

Believing I could do everything in the future. Turns out, nothing special—just the countdown of youth.

Actually, one day you realize you've reached a certain age.

And you say, oh, how fast you're aging.

How wonderful youth was, but your face changes so quickly.

Tomorrow morning, when you wake up, there won't be days of growing taller anymore.

You're no longer a kid.

Everything changes—what will it become?

Your mindset changes, and there's no laugh anymore.

Cried twice, lost some hairline.

Say goodbye to your past self.

Actually, one day you realize you've reached a certain age.

And you say, oh, how fast you're aging.

How wonderful youth was, but your face changes so quickly.

Tomorrow morning, when you wake up, there won't be days of growing taller anymore.

You're no longer a kid (now you start supporting your parents).

You're hardly ever young (now you start dealing with worries).

You're no longer a kid.

Everything changes—what will it become?

Your mindset changes, and there's no laugh anymore.

Cried twice, lost some hairline.

Say goodbye to your past self.

(Goodbye)

Little buddy, be good, be quick and sharp.

(Growing up)

No one praises you for being good, joyful times pass by so fast.

(Especially quickly)

It's time to say farewell to everyone.

(Bye Bye)

...

[Chinese]

實際上某日發現你去到某個歲數

實際上你就會話咁快咁快咁老

青春多好 容顏太快變老

原來聽朝一早 起身再冇天天變高

你 唔再係細路

一切會變 變到點

心態會變 冇笑點

哭了兩遍 禿了髮線

跟你過去講句再見

幾時開始發現自己經大個

阿媽再多囉唆你都幫拖佢都捱過

冇道理嘅説話 發爛渣嘅責罵

你都敷愆吓 你會諗鬼叫佢係你阿媽

幾時開始發現自己有啲老態

諗住跑吓街綁完鞋帶都有啲冇態

以前做靚仔通山奔走通山嗌

而家有幾廿年煙癮唔肯戒啲肺泡就快冇晒

幾時先發現自己開始成熟

就係你發現接受到老細嘅凌辱

無論政局 幾動盪 你會選擇退縮

其餘乜都唔驚 你淨係最驚稅局

幾時先發現自己做咗大人

就係做錯啲乜嘢事你第一時間賴人

你冇做到個壞人 但係做咗你細個最唔想成爲嘅

嗰種大人

實際上某日發現你去到某個歲數

實際上你就會話咁快咁快咁老

青春多好 容顏太快變老

原來聽朝一早 起身再冇天天變高

你 唔再係細路

一切會變 變到點

心態會變 冇笑點

哭了兩遍 禿了髮線

跟你過去講句再見

幾時開始發現自己已經大個

球賽你好少參與 主要係買多

仲邊有晨早流流 起身落球場射波

頂隆係第朝返工起唔到身 咁先至射波

幾時先算 成熟嘅一刻 以前你最自豪

隨身一疊閃卡 今日你最羡慕

人地銀包張黑卡 你每日無諗乜嘢淨係諗發達

幾時先發現自己已經老咗 識左好多人

但好多舊朋友都冇咗 聯絡 晚飯直落

日日都咁寂寞 撞返舊同學 你突然 好想返學

總係對某人有說話未曾講 總係想問佢這刹那在何方以前仲係細路

相信將來乜都做到 原來一啲特別都冇 只係 青春倒數

實際上某日發現你去到某個歲數

實際上你就會話咁快咁快咁老

青春多好 容顏太快變老

原來聽朝一早 起身再冇天天變高

你 唔再係細路

一切會變 變到點

心態會變 冇笑點

哭了兩遍 禿了髮線

跟你過去講句再見

實際上某日發現你去到某個歲數

實際上你就會話咁快咁快咁老

青春多好 容顏太快變老

原來聽朝一早 起身再冇天天變高

你 唔再係細路 (要開始供養父母)

你 難一世不老 (要開始懂得苦惱)

你 唔再係細路

一切會變 變到點

心態會變 冇笑點

哭了兩遍 禿了髮線

跟你過去講句再見

(GoodBye)

蝦仔你乖乖 快快脆

(長大)

冇個個讚你乖 歡樂嘅時光過得

(特別快)

又係時候同大家講

(Bye Bye)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
發現 /faat3 jin6/ B1	verb - to discover; to find noun - discovery
老 /lou5/ A1	adjective - old
青春 /cing1 ceon1/ B1	noun - youth; springtime of life
容顏 /jung4 ngaan4/ B2	noun - countenance; appearance
變 /bin3/ A2	verb - to change; to become
心態 /sam1 taai3/ B1	noun - mentality; attitude
禿 /tuk1/ B2	adjective - bald
阿媽 /aa3 maa1/ A1	noun - mother
老態 /lou5 taai3/ B2	noun - signs of aging
成熟 /sik6 suk9/ B1	adjective - mature
接受 /zip3 sau6/ B1	verb - to accept; to receive
退縮 /teoi3 suk1/ B2	verb - to shrink back; to flinch; to back down
壞人 /waai6 jan4/ A2	noun - bad person; villain
寂寞 /zik6 mok6/ B1	adjective - lonely; solitary
將來 /zoeng1 loi4/ A2	noun - future

Key Grammar Structures

• 你唔再係細路

  ➔ Negation with '唔' + verb + '再' meaning 'no longer'.

  ➔ This structure is used to negate the action in the future or in general.

• 實際上某日發現你去到某個歲數

  ➔ Use of '實際上' + time phrase + '發現' + clause to state a factual realization.

  ➔ The phrase introduces a realization based on an experience or observation.

• 心態會變 冇笑點

  ➔ Use of '會' + verb to indicate future possibility or change.

  ➔ Indicates that a condition or state is expected to change in the future.

• 跟你過去講句再見

  ➔ Use of '跟' + pronoun + '過去' + verb to indicate 'with' or 'to' and the past action.

  ➔ Expresses the idea of 'talking with' or 'about' the past, often implying a farewell.

• 幾時先發現自己已經老咗

  ➔ Use of '幾時' + '先' + verb to ask about the moment when a change or realization occurs.

  ➔ Asking 'when' about the moment a specific realization or change happens.

• 你會選擇退縮

  ➔ Use of '會' + verb to indicate future tendency or possibility, here '選擇退縮' (to choose to retreat).

  ➔ Expresses the idea that in the future one might have the tendency or option to retreat or withdraw.

• 實際上你就會話咁快咁快咁老

  ➔ Use of '就' + verb to emphasize inevitability or certainty in a future event.

  ➔ Emphasizes that a certain future event or change will happen inevitably or very soon.