浮誇 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳奕迅

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language is about more than just words; it's about understanding culture and emotion. Eason Chan's "浮誇" is a perfect gateway into the heart of Cantopop and the nuances of the Cantonese language. Through its raw and powerful lyrics, you can learn vocabulary related to deep-seated emotions like fear, insecurity, and the yearning for recognition. The song's dramatic delivery and theatricality make it a unique and unforgettable way to experience the expressive power of Cantonese.

[English]

Someone asks me, I’ll just speak but no one’s listening

I’ve reached the limit of hope, got words to say but nothing to hold onto

My mood’s like a bottle cap waiting to be pulled off

But my mouth’s just growing green moss

In the crowd, the more quiet I am, the more I get ignored

I want to create some chaos myself

Like suddenly singing loudly

Anywhere feels like a stage with four sides

Wearing the flashiest clothes, pretending to be emotional

Someone comes to take photos, remember to put your hands in your pockets

You might think I’m just boastful, but I’m just scared

If it’s words that sound like wood or stone, will they get attention?

Actually, I’m just afraid of being forgotten, so I blow it up to perform

Feeling uneasy—how can I be elegant?

Does the world praise silence anymore? Not explosive enough

Where’s a topic that makes me boast?

To be a big entertainer

...

That year I was eighteen, at my school dance, standing like a lackey

Back then, I swore with tears, everyone

Must see me

On this world’s many ordinary and mundane paths

Which estate do you live in?

In love and work, I’ve faced too much neglect

Self-esteem has been through many falls

Valuing something can only relieve hunger

Only when I’ve gained something do I understand why

Many big actions, many mistakes

Trying to show off for people—am I sick?

You think I’m just boastful, but I’m just scared

If my words sound like wood or stone, will I get attention?

Actually, I’m afraid of being forgotten, so I hype myself up

Feeling anxious—how can I be elegant?

Does the world still praise silence? Not enough explosion

What topics can I boast about?

To be a big entertainer

...

Lucky ones are few and far between

If you haven’t experienced it, then you’d know why

I put ten times the effort to stand out

Are enough normal people enough for my debates?

Call me boastful, I don’t mind a few boos

I’m here—if there’s silence, wanna see me perform?

Is that enough hysteria?

Let tears flow like flowers

All I want is to surprise you

Did I seem like I never existed before?

Increase the stakes, veins pop out—tell me

Do I still exist now?

Gaze at me, don’t just look at the sky

...

I’m not your cup of tea

Feel free to drink me all up

Don’t forget someone’s shouting for you

...

[Chinese]

有人問我 我就會講 但是無人來

我期待到無奈 有話要講 得不到裝載

我的心情猶像樽蓋 等被揭開

嘴巴卻在養青苔

人潮內愈文靜愈變得不受理睬

自己要搞出意外

像突然地高歌

任何地方也像開四面台

著最閃的衫 扮十分感慨

有人來拍照要記住插袋

你當我是浮誇吧 誇張只因我很怕

似木頭 似石頭的話 得到注意嗎？

其實怕被忘記 至放大來演吧

很不安 怎去優雅

世上還讚頌沉默嗎？不夠爆炸

怎麼有話題讓我誇

做大娛樂家

那年十八 母校舞會 站著如嘍囉

那時候 我含淚發誓各位

必須看到我

在世間 平凡又普通的路太多

屋村你住哪一座？

情愛中 工作中受過的忽視太多

自尊已飽經跌墮

重視能治肚餓

末曾獲得過便知我為何

大動作很多 犯下這些錯

搏人們看看我 算病態麼？

你當我是浮誇吧 誇張只因我很怕

似木頭 似石頭的話 得到注意嗎？

其實怕被忘記 至放大來演吧

很不安 怎去優雅

世上還讚頌沉默嗎？不夠爆炸

怎麼有話題 讓我誇

做大娛樂家

幸運兒並不多

若然未當過就知我為何

用十倍苦心做突出一個

正常人夠我富議論性麼？

你叫我做浮誇吧 加幾聲噓聲也不怕

我在場 有悶場的話 表演你看嗎？

夠歇斯底里嗎？

以眼淚淋花吧

一心只想你驚訝

我舊時似未存在嗎？

加重注碼 青筋也現形 話我知

現在存在嗎？

凝視我 別再只看天花

我非你杯茶

也可盡情地喝吧

別遺忘有人在為你聲沙

Key Grammar Structures

• 我期待到無奈

  ➔ 到 (dào) as a marker indicating the point of reaching or extent of an action

  ➔ It indicates the extent or point of reaching the feeling of 'helplessness' (無奈)

• 像突然地高歌

  ➔ 像 (xiàng) as a comparative word meaning 'like' or 'similar to'

  ➔ It is used to compare the act of singing suddenly to something else, like performing unexpectedly

• 任何地方也像開四面台

  ➔ 也 (yě) as a conjunction meaning 'also' or 'too'

  ➔ It emphasizes that any place can be turned into a stage or performance area

• 你當我是浮誇吧

  ➔ 當 (dāng) as a verb meaning 'to consider' or 'to regard as'

  ➔ It expresses that the speaker considers the accusation of being exaggerated as a matter of perception

• 很不安 怎去優雅

  ➔ 怎 (zěn) as an interrogative word meaning 'how' or 'in what way'

  ➔ It asks about the method or way to achieve grace or elegance amid internal anxiety

• 我非你杯茶

  ➔ 非 (fēi) as a negation meaning 'not' or 'not being'

  ➔ It indicates the speaker is not fond of or does not prefer the other person’s style or attitude, using a metaphor related to tea