風的形狀 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 岑寧兒

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in "風的形狀" by Yoyo Sham, a beautifully crafted Cantonese song that encourages introspection on the meaning of 'home' and the journey of 'leaving'. Its gentle melody and profound lyrics offer a unique opportunity to connect with Cantonese culture and language through universal themes of hope, uncertainty, and following one's intuition. Discover how a language can encapsulate such deep human experiences.

[English]

Remember when you packed your certificates and plane tickets with a shared longing

And tucked them into your backpack

Rooted or traveling, maybe you still don't know the answer

To find different shapes of life

To bravely embrace the unknown

From a perspective broader than memories

Riding on the幻想of the wind

Stories of farewell scattered along the way

Gazing at the vast sky and land

Writing myself along the road

What am I guarding in the long night?

Is it worth longing for dawn and tomorrow?

Even if it makes you uneasy

...

And sometimes lost, unable to define it

...

The strong wind blows, too many opinions heard already

What you want to hear is simply your inner intuition

Riding on the幻想of the wind

Stories of farewell scattered along the way

Gazing at the vast sky and land

Writing myself along the road

What am I guarding in the long night?

Why are you trembling and discouraged about tomorrow?

There are still wishes

...

Riding on the wind

...

Feeling along the way

How expansive, how open it is

Tears from passing clouds or longing for clarity

Let everything remain uncertain

...

[Chinese]

記不記得 你將證件 與機票 連著一份渴望

放入這背囊

紮根也好 旅居也好 也許你 還未知道答案

為了找人生 不同形狀

未知的 放手去擁抱一趟

換個比回憶廣闊的視角

乘著那風的幻想

離別的故事 散落途上

凝望那天高地廣

沿路寫下我

長夜裡看守甚麼

才值得你為曙光 為明日嚮往

儘管會不安

亦有些迷失 不能名狀

大風吹 太多見解已聽過

你想聽 無非心裡的直覺

乘著那風的幻想

離別的故事 散落途上

凝望那天高地廣

沿路寫下我

長夜裡看守甚麼

憑甚麼你怯慌 為明日沮喪

仍然有願望

乘著那風

沿路感覺

何其遼闊 空曠

流淚的過雲雨 或遙望清朗

讓一切沒定案

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
風 (fēng) /fəŋ/ A1	noun - wind
形狀 (xíngzhuàng) /ɕiŋ ʈ͡ʂwɑŋ/ B1	noun - shape, form
旅 (lǚ) /lyː/ B1	verb - to travel
人生 (rénshēng) /ʐən ʂɤŋ/ B1	noun - life
未知 (wèizhī) /wèi ʈ͡ʂi/ B2	adjective - unknown
擁抱 (yōngbào) /jʊŋ paʊ/ B1	verb - to embrace, to hug
回憶 (huíyì) /xwéi ì/ B1	noun - memory, recollection
廣闊 (guǎngkuò) /kwaŋ kwaɤ/ B2	adjective - wide, broad
幻想 (huànxiǎng) /xwân ɕjǎŋ/ B2	noun - illusion, fantasy
離別 (líbié) /lǐ pjě/ B1	noun - farewell, parting
途 (tú) /tʰǔ/ B1	noun - route, way
凝望 (níngwàng) /nǐŋ wâŋ/ B2	verb - to gaze, to stare
長夜 (chángyè) /t͡ʂʰǎŋ jê/ B2	noun - long night
曙光 (shǔguāng) /ʂù kwaŋ/ B2	noun - dawn, first light of morning
迷失 (míshī) /mǐ ʂi/ B2	verb - to lose (one's way), to get lost
遼闊 (liáokuò) /ljǎʊ kʰwô/ B2	adjective - vast, extensive
空曠 (kōngkuàng) /kʰʊŋ kwâŋ/ B2	adjective - spacious, empty

Key Grammar Structures

• 放入這背囊

  ➔ Verb + 進/入 (fang4 ru4) - to put into

  ➔ This phrase uses the verb "放入" meaning "to put into" something, indicating the action of placing an item inside something else.

• 乘著那風的幻想

  ➔ Verb + 乘著 (chéng zhe) - to ride on / to be carried by

  ➔ The structure "乘著" combines a verb with "著" to indicate being carried or riding on something, often metaphorically implying following or engaging with an idea or emotion.

• 沿路寫下我

  ➔ Verb + 寫下 (xiě xià) - to write down

  ➔ The phrase "寫下" uses the verb "寫" (to write) combined with "下" to indicate the act of writing something down or recording.

• 長夜裡看守甚麼

  ➔ Verb + 看守 (kàn shǒu) - to guard / watch over

  ➔ The phrase "看守" combines the verb "看" (to watch / look) with "守" (to guard / protect), meaning to supervise or guard something.

• 憑甚麼你怯慌

  ➔ 憑 + noun or pronoun + (that) - to rely on / on the basis of

  ➔ The word "憑" is used here as a preposition meaning "to rely on" or "based on," indicating the basis or justification for the action or feeling.