給缺席的人唱首歌 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 馮允謙

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the heartfelt Cantonese ballad 'Song for the Absentees' by Jay Fung. This emotional track offers a unique window into contemporary Hong Kong culture and shared experiences of separation, making it an excellent song to learn Cantonese through its touching lyrics and relatable themes of love and longing.

[English]

Singing along without stopping, stealing a glance

Counting how many people came to watch

Maybe at this moment you've already landed at the new airport

Encore played, still looking out from the stage

Who hasn't turned on the lights to sing with me?

Thinking of you sitting in row 40, feeling just like back then

But in this moment, I’ve lost hope

Trying to find those familiar eyes again

Life reaches high places, but you're far away in the starry sky

Who hasn't taken a seat? I want to sing a song for the one who's absent—

Not sure where you are, whether you're listening, whoa

Walking together or living alone, neither is cowardly

Have we parted? That doesn't mean we can't keep living together

Favorite songs still intertwine, whoa

Right now, you're on the other side of the Earth

Giving the new home flower bed a makeover

Inside my earbuds, there's a song that speaks my longing

Everyone makes their choices—no hatred, no resentment

Did you miss the song request, or did I choose it for you?

Together, in the universe of our singing, we’ll eventually meet again

Looking back on those days we faced each other, if you miss those times

We can still transcend space, shoulder to shoulder

The songs sung about the air and empty rooms can still inspire us

Who hasn't taken a seat? I want to sing a song for you, who's absent

Not sure where you are, whether you're listening, whoa

Walking together or living alone, neither is cowardly

Have we parted? That doesn’t mean we can’t live together someday

Singing this line feels as heartfelt as at first

Even if the seats are empty now

The honored guest in my heart has long been filled

Lonely gazes are illusions

Some audience members are still taking photos

No matter how the playlist changes

I still left this song for you

Next year, if you're not busy, follow the melodies home and find me

Even if you’re not here, I sing this distant song for the missing you

Wondering where you are, are you happy, whoa

Walking together or living alone, neither is cowardly

Have we parted? We can still wait to go through life together someday

Here, the lights have fallen, broken, falling with the flowers in the sky

I’m still singing, so you can find me

...

[Chinese]

一邊唱 但未停 在偷望

數一數 幾多人 來觀看

也許你 這刻經已降落 新空港

Encore 了 尚在台上張望

誰還未 點起燈海 去陪我唱

想你 坐在 40行 那時境況

然而在這瞬間 我已無望

尋回舊日熟悉的眼光

人生上到高處 你卻在星空遠方

誰還 未入座 想給缺席 的這個你 來唱首歌

不知你在 不知哪裡 在聽麽 whoa

同行 或獨活 都不怯懦

分開了嗎 亦不等於 分開地過

喜歡的歌 仍交錯 whoa

這刻你 在地球 另一面

給新居 的花牀 來改建

耳筒裡 有首歌將思念講穿

各有各選擇 沒恨亦無怨

你錯過點唱 還是為你點

我跟你 歌聲中那宇宙 終會相見

從前共對每天 你若懷念

仍能超脫空間 肩並肩

對空氣 與空房 所演唱的歌 亦能共勉

誰還 未入座 想給缺席 的這個你 來唱首歌

不知你在 不知哪裡 在聽麽 whoa

同行 或獨活 都不怯懦

分開了嗎 亦不等於 分開地過

一唱這句 窩心似最初

即使這一刻 空櫈再多

心中的嘉賓 早已滿座

寂寞望真 是幻像

有些觀眾 仍在拍和

不管歌單 怎麼改變

仍為你 留了這首歌

來年 若不忙 沿著歌謠 回家找我

明明未在座 都給缺席 的這個你 遙遠地歌

想知你在 不知哪裡 愉快麽 whoa

同行 或獨活 都不怯懦

分開了嗎 仍可 等某天一起過

這裡塌了 燈摔破 隨天花飛墮

我依然在唱 讓你可 找到我

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
唱 (chàng) /tʃʰɑŋ/ A1	verb - to sing
望 (wàng) /wɑŋ/ A2	verb - to look, to gaze noun - hope, expectation
燈 (dēng) /dəŋ/ A1	noun - lamp, light
歌 (gē) /kɤ/ A1	noun - song
懷念 (huái niàn) /xwaɪ念/ B2	verb - to cherish the memory of; to think of
寂寞 (jì mò) /t͡ɕi mo/ B1	adjective - lonely, solitary
空間 (kōng jiān) /kʰʊŋ t͡ɕjɛn/ B1	noun - space
缺席 (quē xí) /t͡ɕʰɥɛ ɕi/ B2	verb - to be absent; absence
地球 (dì qiú) /ti t͡ɕʰju/ A2	noun - earth
愉快 (yú kuài) /y̌ kʰwaɪ/ B1	adjective - happy; cheerful
選擇 (xuǎn zé) /ɕɥɛn tsɤ/ B1	noun - choice, option verb - to choose, to select
塌 (tā) /tʰa/ B2	verb - to collapse, to fall
找到 (zhǎo dào) /ʈʂɑʊ tɑʊ/ A2	verb - to find
觀眾 (guān zhòng) /kwan ʈʂʊŋ/ A2	noun - audience
宇宙 (yǔ zhòu) /ỳ ʈʂoʊ/ B1	noun - universe

Key Grammar Structures

• 我跟你 歌聲中那宇宙 終會相見

  ➔ Using the particle "跟" to indicate "with" or "to" in a relationship or accompaniment.

  ➔ "跟" is used to link people or things, meaning "with" or indicating accompaniment or association.

• 即使這一刻 空櫈再多

  ➔ Using "即使" to express "even if" or "despite" a certain situation.

  ➔ "即使" introduces a concessive clause, meaning "even if" or "despite".

• 再多

  ➔ Using "再" to indicate "more" or "again", often emphasizing an increase or repetition.

  ➔ "再" expresses "more" or "again", emphasizing repetition or increase.

• 想給缺席 的這個你 來唱首歌

  ➔ Using "想" with "給" to express "want to" or "wish to" for someone/something.

  ➔ "想" means "want to" or "wish to", and combined with "給" (to give) indicates desire to do something for someone.

• 誰還 未入座 想給缺席 的這個你 來唱首歌

  ➔ Using "未" before verbs to form the negative, meaning "not yet" or "have not".

  ➔ "未" is a negation marker placed before verbs to indicate an event or action has not yet occurred.

• 分開了嗎 亦不等於 分開地過

  ➔ Using "了嗎" to form a yes/no question about a completed action or state.

  ➔ "了嗎" is a question form combining "了" to indicate completion and "嗎" for yes/no questions.

• 心中的嘉賓 早已滿座

  ➔ Using "早已" to indicate "long ago" or "already an extended period".

  ➔ "早已" means "long ago" or "already for a while", emphasizing an action or state that has been longstanding.