擱淺 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周杰倫

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Jay Chou's “擱淺” offers a poignant and melodically rich experience for learners of Mandarin. The song's lyrical depth, filled with metaphors of regret and longing, provides a unique window into expressive and emotional Chinese vocabulary. Its classic ballad structure and clear enunciation, especially in the verses, make it accessible for learners to follow along and appreciate the nuances of the language, all while experiencing a cornerstone of modern Mandopop.

[English]

The sky that hasn't cleared for a long time still holds your smile

I’ve cried, yet I can't bury the guilt

The kite is stranded on a cloudy day, longing still waits for rescue

I hold the string, revisiting the tenderness you gave

Loneliness exposed on the side laughs at my inability to make promises

How could it be, how could it be that you actually forgave me

I can only forever read the lines, reading the hurt I caused you

I can't forgive myself, so please pretend I’m no longer here

I open my eyes to see the blankness, forgetting your expectations of me

Having finished the reliance, I will leave soon

...

The sky that hasn't cleared for a long time still holds your smile

I’ve cried, yet I can't bury the guilt

The kite is stranded on a cloudy day, longing still waits for rescue

I hold the string, revisiting the tenderness you gave

Loneliness exposed on the side laughs at my inability to make promises

How could it be, how could it be that you actually forgave me

I can only forever read the lines, reading the hurt I caused you

I can't forgive myself, so please pretend I’m no longer here

I open my eyes to see the blankness, forgetting your expectations of me

Having finished the reliance, I will leave soon

I can only forever read the lines, reading the hurt I caused you

I can't forgive myself, so please pretend I’m no longer here

I open my eyes to see the blankness, forgetting your expectations of me

Having finished the reliance, I will leave soon

I will leave soon

But I just realized it seems I didn't get a single word wrong, right? Indeed, my memorization skills are slowly improving, bringing us to the next song

...

[Chinese]

久未放晴的天空 依舊留著妳的笑容

哭過 卻無法掩埋歉疚

風箏在陰天擱淺 想念還在等待救援

我拉著線 複習妳給的溫柔

曝曬在一旁的寂寞 笑我給不起承諾

怎麼會怎麼會妳竟原諒了我

我只能永遠讀著對白 讀著我給妳的傷害

我原諒不了我 就請妳當作我已不在

我睜開雙眼看著空白 忘記妳對我的期待

讀完了依賴 我很快就離開

久未放晴的天空 依舊留著妳的笑容

哭過 卻無法掩埋歉疚

風箏在陰天擱淺 想念還在等待救援

我拉著線 複習妳給的溫柔

曝曬在一旁的寂寞 笑我給不起承諾

怎麼會怎麼會妳竟原諒了我

我只能永遠讀著對白 讀著我給妳的傷害

我原諒不了我 就請妳當作我已不在

我睜開雙眼看著空白 忘記妳對我的期待

讀完了依賴 我很快就

我只能永遠讀著對白 讀著我給妳的傷害

我原諒不了我 就請妳當作我已不在

我睜開雙眼看著空白 忘記妳對我的期待

讀完了依賴 我很快就離開

我很快就離開

但是剛剛發現好像沒有錯一個字對不對？果然這個背詞的功力慢慢進步，帶來下一首歌曲

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
天空 /tiānkōng/ A1	noun - sky
笑容 /xiàoróng/ A2	noun - smile
哭 /kū/ A1	verb - to cry
風箏 /fēngzheng/ B1	noun - kite
擱淺 /gēqiǎn/ B2	verb - to be stranded
想念 /xiǎngniàn/ B1	verb - to miss (someone)
等待 /děngdài/ A2	verb - to wait
溫柔 /wēnróu/ B2	adjective - gentle
寂寞 /jìmò/ B1	adjective - lonely
承諾 /chéngnuò/ B2	noun - promise
原諒 /yuánliàng/ B2	verb - to forgive
期待 /qīdài/ B1	verb - to expect
依賴 /yīlài/ B2	verb - to rely on
離開 /líkāi/ A2	verb - to leave
空白 /kōngbái/ B1	noun - blank
對白 /duìbái/ B2	noun - dialogue
傷害 /shānghài/ B2	noun - harm

Key Grammar Structures

• 依舊留著妳的笑容

  ➔ Use of the verb "留著" (liú zhe) to indicate an ongoing action or state.

  ➔ "留著" (liú zhe) is a combination of the verb "留" (to stay/keep) and the particle "著" indicating an ongoing state.

• 風箏在陰天擱淺

  ➔ Use of "在" (zài) to indicate the location or ongoing action.

  ➔ "在" (zài) is a preposition indicating location or ongoing action.

• 我拉著線 複習妳給的溫柔

  ➔ Use of "拉著" (lā zhe) to indicate an ongoing action of pulling or holding.

  ➔ "拉著" (lā zhe) combines the verb "拉" (to pull) with the particle "著" to indicate ongoing action.

• 怎麼會怎麼會妳竟原諒了我

  ➔ Use of "怎麼會" (zěn me huì) to express surprise or disbelief at a situation.

  ➔ "怎麼會" (zěn me huì) is a phrase used to question or emphasize surprise about something happening.

• 我只能永遠讀著對白 讀著我給妳的傷害

  ➔ Use of "只能" (zhǐ néng) to indicate limitation or constraint.

  ➔ "只能" (zhǐ néng) means "can only" and expresses a limitation on ability or choice.

• 讀完了依賴 我很快就離開

  ➔ Use of "讀完了" (dú wán le) to denote the completion of an action.

  ➔ "讀完了" (dú wán le) combines the verb "讀" (to read) with the perfective aspect particle "了" to show completion.