家 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳綺貞
• Album: 時間的歌

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and emotional journey with Cheer Chen's '家' (Home). This beautiful ballad offers a chance to learn Mandarin Chinese through its poetic and accessible lyrics, which explore the universal search for belonging. The song's gentle melody and heartfelt message make it a special and memorable way to connect with the nuances of the language and the shared human experience of defining what 'home' truly means.

[English]

What exactly is the dream in your heart?

Is it to be free from confinement or gently released?

In your ideal land, do I live there?

Busy during the day, sharing at night.

The warmth held tightly in my hand.

Gently holding your hand, walking this long road together.

Wherever we are, it's home to us.

Thinking of this

Why am I crying now?

...

On the edge of your fantasies, did I disappear?

Pretending during the day, letting go at night.

Where should my tired heart hide?

Gently letting go of your hand, walking this long road forward.

Only I am my own home.

Thinking of this

Why am I crying again?

...

Gently letting go of your hand, walking this long road ahead.

Only I am my own home.

Thinking of this

Why am I crying again?

Why am I crying again?

Where is my real home?

...

[Chinese]

你心中的夢想 到底是什麼

不被自由囚禁呢 還是被溫柔釋放

在你理想的國度 我住在那裡嗎

白天忙碌 晚上分享

握在手心裡的溫暖

輕輕牽著你的手 漫漫長路一直走

哪裡都是我們的家

想到這裡

怎麼我會哭了呢

在你幻想的邊緣 我消失了嗎

白天偽裝 晚上卸下

疲倦的心要藏在哪

輕輕放開你的手 漫漫長路繼續走

自己才是自己的家

想到這裡

怎麼我又哭了呢

輕輕放開你的手 漫漫長路繼續走

自己才是自己的家

想到這裡

怎麼我又哭了呢

怎麼我又哭了呢

哪裡才是我的家

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
夢想 (mèngxiǎng) /mɤŋ˥˩ ɕi̯ɑŋ˩/ B2	noun - dream, aspiration verb - to dream of
自由 (zìyóu) /tsz̩˥˩ i̯oʊ̯˧/ B1	noun - freedom, liberty adjective - free
囚禁 (qiújìn) /t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯˧ t͡ɕin˥˩/ B2	verb - to imprison, to confine
溫柔 (wēnróu) /wə́n ɻoʊ̯˧/ B1	adjective - gentle, tender
釋放 (shìfàng) /ʂɨ˥˩ faŋ˥˩/ B2	verb - to release, to set free
理想 (lǐxiǎng) /li˧˩ ɕi̯ɑŋ˩/ B1	noun - ideal adjective - ideal
國度 (guódù) /ku̯ɔ˧˥ tu˥˩/ B2	noun - country, kingdom
忙碌 (mánglù) /mɑŋ˧˥ lu˥˩/ B1	adjective - busy
分享 (fēnxiǎng) /fən˥ ɕi̯ɑŋ˩/ B1	verb - to share
握 (wò) /wɔ˥˩/ B1	verb - to hold, to grasp
溫暖 (wēnnuǎn) /wə́n nwan˩/ B1	adjective - warm
牽 (qiān) /t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn˥/ B1	verb - to lead along, to pull
漫漫 (mànmàn) /man˥˩ man˥˩/ B2	adjective - long and slow, endless
偽裝 (wèizhuāng) /weɪ˥˩ ʈ͡ʂwɑŋ˥/ B2	verb - to disguise, to feign, to pretend
卸下 (xièxià) /ɕi̯ɛ˥˩ ɕi̯a˥˩/ B2	verb - to unload, to take off
疲倦 (píjuàn) /pʰi˧˥ t͡ɕɥɛn˥˩/ B1	adjective - tired, weary
幻想 (huànxiǎng) /xwɑn˥˩ ɕi̯ɑŋ˩/ B2	noun - illusion, fantasy

Key Grammar Structures

• 你心中的夢想

  ➔ Possessive structure using 的 to indicate possession or description

  ➔ The phrase uses 的 to connect '心中' (inside the heart) with '夢想' (dream), forming a possessive or descriptive phrase.

• 到底是什麼

  ➔ Using 到底 as an adverb to inquire about the core or true nature of something, often with a question word.

  ➔ 到底 is used to emphasize the question about the true or fundamental nature of something.

• 不被自由囚禁呢

  ➔ Using 被 to form a passive voice indicating being subjected to an action.

  ➔ The structure 被 + verb expresses that the subject is acted upon or affected by the action.

• 自己才是自己的家

  ➔ Using 才 to emphasize that only the subject themselves is truly their own home.

  ➔ The word 才 emphasizes that something is only true in the case of the subject itself, highlighting an exclusivity or realization.

• 怎麼我會哭了呢

  ➔ Using 了 to indicate a change of state or a completed action.

  ➔ The particle 了 indicates that the action of crying has either just occurred or the speaker is surprised by this change.