紅顏如霜 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周杰倫
• Album: Greatest Works of Art

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and cultural journey with Jay Chou's "Hong Yan Ru Shuang." This song is a brilliant gateway to understanding contemporary Mandarin Chinese through its rich, poetic lyrics by Vincent Fang and Jay Chou's unique 'Chinese style' blend of R&B and traditional Peking Opera elements. You'll not only grasp nuanced expressions of longing and melancholy but also appreciate the intricate fusion of ancient Chinese aesthetics with modern musicality, making it a special piece for any language learner and music enthusiast alike.

[English]

Who is troubled by the unsealed letter? Just a few lines.

The elegant handwriting is gentle, yet sorrowful.

You put your thoughts in light makeup.

The words that should be said are carefully stored away.

In the twilight, I gaze at the willows, the bridge reflecting the shimmering moonlight.

Recalling the past, my pen moves slowly, also dimming.

A beauty like frost, crystallizing the past.

The reeds bloom, yet the years are cold.

If frost falls again, the road is long and distant.

Who is singing outside the wall? The phoenix seeks its mate.

On the stage of the pear garden, the melodies of the two styles.

But without you, no one asks about warmth.

Who is on the other shore, at the ends of the earth?

A phrase of reassurance, you say it's too hard to write.

Outside the window, the ancient zither plays softly, adding to the loneliness.

I wrote a few lines with ink, tears fell quietly.

Longing is left on paper, an entire piece blurred.

A phrase of reassurance, you say it's too hard to write.

Why did you leave for Xiao Xiang? Yet your words are so indirect.

Walking through the desolate autumn chill, waiting for the reeds to turn yellow.

And I gaze far away, gently sighing.

...

Who is troubled by the unsealed letter? Just a few lines.

The elegant handwriting is gentle, yet sorrowful.

You put your thoughts in light makeup.

The words that should be said are carefully stored away.

The message from afar, how many rivers apart?

How many twists did the letter take?

Fate drifts away, beyond the mountains.

The reeds bloom, yet the years are cold.

If frost falls again, the road is long and distant.

Who is singing outside the wall? The phoenix seeks its mate.

On the stage of the pear garden, the melodies of the two styles.

But without you, no one asks about warmth.

Who is on the other shore, at the ends of the earth?

A phrase of reassurance, you say it's too hard to write.

Outside the window, the ancient zither plays softly, adding to the loneliness.

I wrote a few lines with ink, tears fell quietly.

Longing is left on paper, an entire piece blurred.

A phrase of reassurance, you say it's too hard to write.

Why did you leave for Xiao Xiang? Yet your words are so indirect.

Walking through the desolate autumn chill, waiting for the reeds to turn yellow.

And I gaze far away, gently sighing.

A phrase of reassurance, you say it's too hard to write.

Outside the window, the ancient zither plays softly, adding to the loneliness.

I wrote a few lines with ink, tears fell quietly.

Longing is left on paper, an entire piece blurred.

A phrase of reassurance, you say it's too hard to write.

Why did you leave for Xiao Xiang? Yet your words are so indirect.

Walking through the desolate autumn chill, waiting for the reeds to turn yellow.

And the fish and wild geese no longer return.

...

[Chinese]

信劄拆封誰為難 不過寥寥數行

娟秀字跡溫柔 卻感傷

妳將心事 上了淡妝

該說的話 卻被仔細收藏

暮色望垂楊 拱橋粼粼月光

憶往事我走筆 也闌珊

紅顏如霜 凝結了過往

蘆葦花開歲已寒

若霜又降路遙漫長

墻外是誰在吟唱 鳳求凰

梨園臺上 西皮二黃

卻少了妳 無人問暖

誰在彼岸 天涯一方

一句甚安勿念 妳說落筆太難

窗外古琴幽蘭 琴聲平添孤單

我墨走了幾行 淚潸然落了款

思念徒留紙上 一整篇被暈染

一句甚安勿念 妳說落筆太難

何故遠走瀟湘 妳卻語多委婉

走過蕭瑟秋涼 等來芒草催黃

而我遙望輕輕嘆

信劄拆封誰為難 不過寥寥數行

娟秀字跡溫柔 卻感傷

妳將心事 上了淡妝

該說的話 卻被仔細收藏

捎來的他鄉 到底隔幾條江

一封信到底轉了幾道彎

緣分飄落 在山外山

蘆葦花開歲已寒

若霜又降路遙漫長

墻外是誰在吟唱 鳳求凰

梨園臺上 西皮二黃

卻少了妳 無人問暖

誰在彼岸 天涯一方

一句甚安勿念 妳說落筆太難

窗外古琴幽蘭 琴聲平添孤單

我墨走了幾行 淚潸然落了款

思念徒留紙上 一整篇被暈染

一句甚安勿念 妳說落筆太難

何故遠走瀟湘 妳卻語多委婉

走過蕭瑟秋涼 等來芒草催黃

而我遙望輕輕嘆

一句甚安勿念 妳說落筆太難 (妳說落筆太難)

窗外古琴幽蘭 琴聲平添孤單 (琴聲平添孤單)

我墨走了幾行 淚潸然落了款 (淚潸然落了款)

思念徒留紙上 一整篇被暈染

一句甚安勿念 妳說落筆太難

何故遠走瀟湘 妳卻語多委婉

走過蕭瑟秋涼 等來芒草催黃

而魚雁不再往返