Going Off 了 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 張哲瀚 Zhehan Zhang

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant world of "Going Off 了" by Zhehan Zhang. Though an English lyrical song, its Chinese title, "了," offers a fascinating linguistic lesson on how a single character can encapsulate complex meanings of conclusion and realization. Explore the song's emotional depth and the artist's dedication to conveying raw feelings, enhancing your appreciation for the power of language in music.

[English]

If I could know how to pretend

All these things without a name, and I know you never care

Each time that you walk by

I’ll hide it away

But I don’t like it

You weren’t there

Every bit of it, I couldn’t stand

Stuck inside of me

Oh damn

Every piece of me has gone nowhere

How much love would you give up? I wouldn’t know

I wouldn’t know who’s the one to lose

Count it off when you’ve had enough, how would I know?

How would you know it’s falling apart?

The further that we go

The harder that we fall

This storm, I can’t stand it anymore

I’m feeling so wrong

Would you let it end?

Just let it end

Can’t stop the voice in my head

There’s something wrong in my veins, you’ve left me lost in this pain

Can’t hold on another day

You know too well how to break

But I don’t like it

You weren’t there

Every bit of it, I couldn’t stand

Stuck inside of me

Oh damn

Every piece of me has gone nowhere

How much love would you give up? I wouldn’t know

I wouldn’t know who’s the one to lose

Count it off when you’ve had enough, how would I know?

How would you know it’s falling apart?

The further that we go

The harder that we fall

This storm, I can’t stand it anymore

I’m feeling so wrong

Would you let it end?

Just let it end

But I don’t like it

You weren’t there

Every bit of it, I couldn’t stand, stuck inside of me

Oh damn

Every piece of me has gone nowhere

How much love would you give up? I wouldn’t know

I wouldn’t know who’s the one to lose

Count it off when you’ve had enough, how would I know?

How would you know it’s falling apart?

The further that we go

The harder that we fall

This storm, I can’t stand it anymore

I’m feeling so wrong

Would you let it end?

Let it end

[Chinese]

if I could know how to fake

all these that don’t have a name and I know you never care

each time that you passing by

I’ll hide it up on the side

but I don’t like it

you weren’t there

every bit of it couldn’t stand

stuck inside of me

oh damn

every slide of me is gone nowhere

How much love would you give it up I wouldn’t know

I wouldn’t know the one to lose

count it off when you had enough how would I know

how would you know it’s going off

further that we go

higher that we fall

this storm that I could stand no more

I’m feeling so wrong

would you let it over?

just get it over

Can’t stop the voice in my brain

got something’s bad in my vein you got me lost in this pain

Can’t hold it another day

you know too well how to break

but I don’t like it

you weren’t there

every bit of it couldn’t stand

stuck inside of me

oh damn

every slide of me is gone nowhere

how much love would you give it up I wouldn’t know

I wouldn’t know the one to lose

count it off when you had enough how would I know

how would you know it’s going off

further that we go

higher that we fall

this storm that I could stand no more

I’m feeling so wrong

would you let it over

just get it over

but I don’t like it

you weren’t there

every bit of it couldn’t stand stuck inside of me

oh damn

every slide of me is gone nowhere

how much love would you give it up I wouldn’t know

I wouldn’t know the one to lose

count it off when you had enough how would I know

how would you know it’s going off

further that we go

higher that we fall

this storm that I could stand no more

I’m feeling so wrong

would you let it over

let it over

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fake /feɪk/ A2	verb - to make a copy of something, often with the intention to deceive adjective - not genuine; fraudulent
pass /pæs/ A1	verb - to go past something or someone
hide /haɪd/ A1	verb - to put something in a place where it cannot be seen
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - to be in an upright position verb - to tolerate or endure
stuck /stʌk/ A2	adjective - unable to move or escape from a situation
slide /slaɪd/ A2	noun - a smooth, continuous movement or a structure for such movement
give up /ˈgɪv ʌp/ A2	phrasal verb - to stop trying or surrender
count /kaʊnt/ A1	verb - to say numbers in order
storm /stɔːrm/ A2	noun - a violent weather condition with strong winds and heavy rain
wrong /rɒŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or true
let /let/ A1	verb - to allow something to happen
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - to cease moving or functioning
break /breɪk/ A1	verb - to separate into pieces
lose /luːz/ A1	verb - to be unable to find something or someone
further /ˈfɜːrðər/ B1	adverb - to a greater degree or extent
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to move downward, typically rapidly and freely
over /ˈoʊvər/ A1	preposition - above or across adverb - to an end

Key Grammar Structures

• if I could know how to fake

  ➔ Second Conditional

  ➔ Expresses hypothetical/unreal situations using "if" + past simple ("could") + "would" (implied). Shows an impossible scenario.

• stuck inside of me

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective

  ➔ "Stuck" (past participle of "stick") functions as an adjective describing the subject's emotional state. Common in emotional expressions.

• How much love would you give it up

  ➔ Indirect Question + Modal Verb

  ➔ Combines an indirect question structure ("how much love") with the modal verb "would" to express hypothetical sacrifice. Note the unusual word order.

• further that we go, higher that we fall

  ➔ Comparative Adverb Structure

  ➔ Uses comparative adverbs ("further", "higher") with "that" to show proportional relationship. Poetic inversion of standard "the...the..." structure.

• Can’t stop the voice in my brain

  ➔ Negative Ability (can't + verb)

  ➔ Expresses inability using "can't" + base verb. The contraction "can't" intensifies the feeling of helplessness.

• would you let it over

  ➔ Modal Verb in Question

  ➔ "Would" expresses hypothetical willingness in interrogative form. The particle "over" completes the phrasal verb "let over" (uncommon variant of "end it").

• you know too well how to break

  ➔ Adverb of Degree + Infinitive

  ➔ Intensifier "too well" modifies the infinitive phrase "how to break". Implies excessive, almost cruel expertise.

• every slide of me is gone nowhere

  ➔ Negative Adverb + Existential Verb

  ➔ "Nowhere" (negative adverb) combines with "is gone" to emphasize complete absence. Poetic structure showing disappearance without direction.