黑色柳丁 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 田馥甄

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotions of David Tao's "黑色柳丁" (Black Tangerine), a song that offers a unique window into Mandopop's rock and R&B fusion. Its thought-provoking lyrics, born from the artist's profound reflections on societal turmoil, are a masterclass in expressing complex feelings. Learning the Chinese lyrics will not only expose you to vivid imagery and metaphorical language but also allow you to appreciate the depth of emotional expression within Mandarin music. This song's powerful blend of intense instrumentation and poignant vocals makes it a compelling piece for language learners eager to explore the nuances of Chinese through music.

[English]

Today I feel a little strange

But I can't quite explain why

It seems there's a hint of sadness

Though I don't know the cause

Orange California sunshine on my head

All I have in my pocket is a black tangerine

I only feel a blue sensation

Don't ask me why

I want to tell you but I feel speechless

I only hate myself for not escaping this prison

Maybe I'm just a small, useless bug

I shouldn't keep dreaming, you're not a hero

Falling leaves mark the changing season

But I'm dazed, unable to wake up

Would you be willing to be a hero

Or would you choose to give up

The sky is bright but full of dark clouds

All focus is sentenced to death by the flash

You pretend to be a hero

But I see you're just a mercenary

All I want is to cry, just want to cry

All I want is to cry, just want to cry

...

The moment I wake up today, my head hurts

No matter how many pills I take, it's no use

My mood feels strangely restless

The farther you are from me, the better

Outside, orange California sunshine

But I'm hiding in my lonely black hole

I have just one small request

Please, just leave me alone

I want to say something but I feel speechless

I only hate myself for not escaping this prison

Maybe I'm just a small, hopeless bug

I shouldn't keep dreaming, you're not a hero

Falling leaves mark the changing season

But I'm dazed, unable to wake up

Would you be willing to be a hero

Or would you choose to give up

The sky is bright but full of dark clouds

All focus is sentenced to death by the flash

You pretend to be a hero

But I see you're just a mercenary

All I want is to cry, just want to cry

All I want is to cry, just want to cry

...

Today I feel a little rotten

But I can't quite explain why

It seems there's a hint of sadness

Though I don't know the cause

All I want is to cry, just want to cry

All I want is to cry, just want to cry

...

[Chinese]

今天我心情有一点怪怪

可是说不出到底为什么

好像有一点悲哀的征兆

可是病因不知道

头上有橘色的加州阳光

我的口袋只有黑色的柳丁

我只有一个蓝色的感觉

不要问我为什么

很想说但又觉得没有话好说

我只恨我自己逃不出这监狱

或许我是个没有出息的小虫

不该一直作梦你不是个英雄

叶子用坠落证明换季

可我昏昏沉沉没有办法醒

你愿意做个英雄

还是你会要放弃

天是亮的却布满乌云

所有焦距被闪光判了死刑

你装作什么英雄

我看你不过是佣兵

我只想哭只想哭只想哭

我只想哭只想哭只想哭

今天一起床我就头痛

不管吃了几瓶药都没有用

心情有一点莫名的焦躁

你离我越远越好

外面有橘色的加州阳光

我却躲在自己孤独的黑洞

我只有一个小小的要求

就是请你leave me alone

很想说但又觉得没有话好说

我只恨我自己逃不出这监狱

或许我是个没有出息的小虫

不该一直作梦你不是个英雄

叶子用坠落证明换季

可我昏昏沉沉没有办法醒

你愿意做个英雄

还是你会要放弃

天是亮的却布满乌云

所有焦距被闪光判了死刑

你装作什么英雄

我看你不过是佣兵

我只想哭只想哭只想哭

我只想哭只想哭只想哭

今天我心情有一点烂烂

可是说不出来到底为什么

好像有一点悲哀的征兆

可是病因不知道

我只想哭只想哭只想哭

我只想哭只想哭只想哭

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
心情 /xīn qíng/ A2	noun - mood
怪 /guài/ B1	adjective - strange, weird
悲哀 /bēi āi/ B2	noun - sorrow, sadness
橘色 /jú sè/ A2	noun - orange color
陽光 /yángguāng/ A2	noun - sunlight
柳丁 /liǔ ding/ B2	noun - orange (fruit)
感覺 /gǎnjué/ A2	noun - feeling, sensation
監獄 /jiānyù/ B2	noun - prison, jail
英雄 /yīngxióng/ B2	noun - hero
翅膀 /chìbǎng/ B2	noun - wing
梦 /mèng/ A2	noun - dream
掉落 /diàoluò/ B2	verb - to fall
换季 /huànjì/ B2	verb - to change season
沉沉 /chénchén/ B2	adjective - heavy, dull, sluggish
判了死刑 /pàn le sǐxíng/ C1	verb phrase - sentenced to death

Key Grammar Structures

• 今天我心情有一点怪怪

  ➔ Adjective Reduplication (怪怪)

  ➔ The repetition of an adjective (怪) emphasizes the degree or quality. Here, "怪怪" means 'a little strange' or 'somewhat odd'.

• 可是说不出到底为什么

  ➔ Resultative Verb Complement (说不出)

  ➔ "说不出" indicates the inability to express something. "说" is the verb (to say), and "不出" indicates the result (unable to).

• 好像有一点悲哀的征兆

  ➔ Adjective + 的 + Noun (悲哀的征兆)

  ➔ The structure "Adjective + 的 + Noun" modifies the noun with the adjective. "悲哀的征兆" means 'a sign of sadness'.

• 可我昏昏沉沉没有办法醒

  ➔ Reduplicated Adjective + 没有办法 + Verb (昏昏沉沉没有办法醒)

  ➔ "没有办法" means "no way" or "unable to." Here, it expresses an inability to wake up from a groggy state.

• 你愿意做个英雄 还是你会要放弃

  ➔ Alternative Question (还是)

  ➔ "还是" is used to present two or more options in a question, like 'or' in English. "你愿意做个英雄 还是 你会要放弃?" means "Are you willing to be a hero, or will you give up?".

• 你装作什么英雄 我看你不过是佣兵

  ➔ "不过是" Structure (不过是)

  ➔ "不过是" means "merely", "nothing more than", or "only". Here, "我看你不过是佣兵" means "In my opinion, you are nothing more than a mercenary."

• 今天一起床我就头痛

  ➔ 就 structure: as soon as, right after (一起床我就头痛)

  ➔ The structure "一...就..." indicates that one action happens immediately after another. "今天一起床我就头痛" means 'As soon as I got out of bed today, I had a headache.'