飛鳥和蟬 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 任然

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the poetic beauty of Mandopop with 'Birds and Cicada' by Ren Ran. This song offers a wonderful opportunity to learn Chinese through its evocative, metaphorical lyrics about love and separation. The beautiful imagery of the bird and the cicada provides a unique and memorable way to engage with the language and understand the cultural nuances of Chinese musical storytelling.

[English]

You said that youthful innocence pairs best with a first love

Like a gentle snowfall on the coastline

The fifth season unfolds on a certain day

We have a moment to meet

You said an empty bottle is perfect for making wishes

At a spot where warm wind meets moonlight

In the thirteenth month, you appear right on schedule

The corner of the sea is no longer far away

You soar away proudly, while I stay rooted in my summer

The unheard declaration has been repeated for many years

Longing along the northern latitude is carried off by the seasonal wind

A silent profile whispered from afar

Verses that sing out from a distance

You proudly fly far, while I perch on a leaf

Traveling to different worlds yet never saying goodbye

The moon over the endless sea’s yearning turns my yesterday into something ethereal

In my mature smiling face

But you have never looked at me even once

You said an empty bottle is perfect for making wishes

At a spot where warm wind meets moonlight

In the thirteenth month, you appear right on schedule

The corner of the sea is no longer far away

You soar away proudly, while I stay rooted in my summer

The unheard declaration has been repeated for many years

Longing along the northern latitude is carried off by the seasonal wind

A silent profile whispered from afar

Verses that sing out from a distance

You proudly fly far, while I perch on a leaf

Traveling to different worlds yet never saying goodbye

The moon over the endless sea’s yearning turns my yesterday into something ethereal

In my mature smiling face

But you have never looked at me even once

You proudly fly far, while I stay rooted in my summer

The unheard declaration has been repeated for many years

Longing along the northern latitude is carried off by the seasonal wind

A silent profile whispered from afar

Verses that sing out from a distance

You proudly fly far, while I perch on a leaf

Traveling to different worlds yet never saying goodbye

The moon over the endless sea’s yearning turns my yesterday into something ethereal

In my mature smiling face

But you have never looked at me even once

[Chinese]

你說 青澀 最搭初戀

如小雪落下海岸線

第五個季節 某一天上演

我們有相遇的時間

你說 空瓶 適合許願

在風暖月光的地點

第十三月 你就如期出現

海之角 也不再 遙遠

你驕傲的 飛遠 我棲息的夏天

聽不見的 宣言 重複過很多年

北緯線的 思念 被季風吹遠

吹遠默念的側臉

吹遠鳴唱的詩篇

你驕傲的 飛遠 我棲息的葉片

去不同的 世界 卻從不曾告別

滄海月的 想念 羽化我昨天

在我成熟的笑臉

你卻 未看過 一眼

你說 空瓶 適合許願

在風暖月光的地點

第十三月 你就如期出現

海之角 也不再遙遠

你驕傲的 飛遠 我棲息的夏天

聽不見的 宣言 重複過很多年

北緯線的 思念 被季風吹遠

吹遠默念的側臉

吹遠鳴唱的詩篇

你驕傲的 飛遠 我棲息的葉片

去不同的 世界 卻從不曾告別

滄海月的 想念 羽化我昨天

在我成熟的笑臉

你卻 未看過 一眼

你驕傲的 飛遠 我棲息的夏天

聽不見的 宣言 重複過很多年

北緯線的 思念 被季風吹遠

吹遠默念的側臉

吹遠鳴唱的詩篇

你驕傲的 飛遠 我棲息的葉片

去不同的 世界 卻從不曾告別

滄海月的 想念 羽化我昨天

在我成熟的笑臉

你卻 未看過 一眼

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
青澀 /tsʰɪŋ.ʂɨ̌p/ B1	adjective - immature; inexperienced
許願 /ɕỳ.ʋɛ̌n/ A2	verb - to make a wish
驕傲 /tɕʲɑ̌u.ʔǎu/ B1	adjective - proud
棲息 /ɕî.ʈʂʰə̌/ B2	verb - to inhabit; to dwell
宣言 /tɕɪ̈ɛ̌n.ʋɛ̌n/ A2	noun - declaration
思念 /sɨ̌.njɛ̂n/ A2	verb - to miss; to long for
季風 /tɕì.fēng/ B1	noun - monsoon
羽化 /y̌.xǔa/ C1	verb - to transform; to metamorphose (often metaphorical)
成熟 /tɕʰú.tɕʰə́ŋ/ B2	adjective - mature
笑臉 /ɕʲǎu.ljɛ̂n/ A2	noun - smiling face
海岸線 /hǎi.ɕɛ̌n.ʂɛ̂n/ A2	noun - coastline
月光 /ɕʲʊ̌ə̯.ku̯ǎŋ/ A1	noun - moonlight
詩篇 /ʂɨ̌.pʰjɛ̂n/ B1	noun - poem; verse
世界 /ʂ̀ɤ̂.tɕʲɛ̋/ A1	noun - world
告別 /kǎu.bjɛ̂/ A2	verb - to bid farewell

Key Grammar Structures

• 你說 青澀 最搭初戀

  ➔ Subject + Verb + Adjective + Verb

  ➔ This sentence uses a 'Subject + Verb + Adjective + Verb' structure. "你說" (you say) introduces the speaker's thought, 青涩 (youthful, immature) is the state described and the second verb is 搭 (match)

• 如小雪落下海岸線

  ➔ Comparison using "如" (like/as)

  ➔ "如" is used as a comparison word, similar to 'like' or 'as'.

• 第五個季節 某一天上演

  ➔ Subject + Time phrase + Verb (Passive voice implied)

  ➔ This sentence structure implies a passive voice. The fifth season is the subject, and "上演" (to be staged) is the verb. The action is happening to the subject.

• 我們有相遇的時間

  ➔ Possessive construction (We have ... time)

  ➔ This sentence uses '有' (have) to express possession. '我們' (we) is the possessor, and '相遇的時間' (the time to meet) is what is possessed.

• 你說 空瓶 適合許願

  ➔ Subject + Verb + Adjective + Verb

  ➔ Similar to the first line, this sentence structure is 'Subject + Verb + Adjective + Verb'.

• 在風暖月光的地點

  ➔ Prepositional phrase of location (At the place...)

  ➔ This is a prepositional phrase specifying the location. '在' (at/in) introduces the location, and '風暖月光的地點' (the place with warm wind and moonlight) is the location.

• 北緯線的 思念 被季風吹遠

  ➔ Passive voice with '被' (by)

  ➔ This sentence uses the '被' structure to express passive voice. '思念' (longing) is the subject, '被' (by) is the passive marker, and '季風吹遠' (blown away by the monsoon winds) describes the action.

• 去不同的 世界 卻從不曾告別

  ➔ Contrast using '卻' (but/yet) and Time Adverbials

  ➔ The word '卻' (què) means 'but' or 'yet' and is used to show contrast. '從不曾' (never) is a time adverbial, modifying the verb '告別' (say goodbye).