漸漸地 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Phoebus Ng 吳啟洋

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the tender emotions of Phoebus Ng's "漸漸地" (Gradually). This Cantonese ballad offers a window into the nuances of unspoken affection and the beauty of gradual feelings. Through its poignant lyrics and gentle melody, you can explore common expressions of love and longing in Cantonese, making it an excellent song to deepen your understanding of the language and its emotional depth.

[English]

Able to like you, even if the results are delayed day after day

Our feelings gradually build up along the way, always caring with subtlety

Difficult to hold tightly, but there's always time to speak of heaven and earth

Love isn’t about rushing, that’s when the details come into focus

Together, I dare not put my arm around you

Afraid that sweetness might make you hesitant

In secret, I love you more each day, unwilling to let go

Why rush to say it

Gradually paying more attention to you

Slowly, you’re all I see

Bit by bit, I try to remember everything

Starting to get used to you

Gradually trying to please you

Quietly feeling happy

When you come closer, I begin to feel curious

Looking for reasons to get closer, to care for you

How can I comfort you? You said no future with him

Suspecting love has no chance, unable to bear the pain of parting

Difficult to hold tightly, yet we can still speak of heaven and earth

Sometimes, only missing out without hesitation

Together, knowing each other deeply

Too sweet, naturally avoiding certain things

In secret, I love you more each day, unwilling to give up

Why rush to say it

Gradually paying more attention to you

Slowly, you’re all I see

Bit by bit, I try to remember everything

Starting to get used to you

Gradually trying to please you

Quietly feeling happy

When you draw closer, I become curious

This dream of gradually coming true, afraid of self-deception

Longing to be with you, little by little

My unwavering passion, like no one else’s

Even if heartbroken, I won’t lose hope

Gradually, I tense up around you

Slowly, you’re all I see

Bit by bit, I try to remember everything

Starting to get used to you

Gradually trying to please you

Quietly feeling happy

When you come closer, I begin to feel curious

Looking for reasons to get closer, to care for you

...

[Chinese]

能夠喜歡你 哪怕結果 日復日延期

沿途情感漸儲起 始終體貼入微

難抱緊處理 總可細說天和地

愛不趕時機 才夠細節來細味

在一起 不敢把臂

怕甜蜜才叫你避忌

暗中我為你漸愛得不捨不棄

何必急於說起

漸漸地留心關於你

漸漸地眼中只得你

漸漸地太多想緊記

逐漸開始熟悉你

漸漸地存心討好你

漸漸地暗喜

當你漸行近 才漸好奇

找漸進的理由 愛護你

何以開解你 你說與他漸後會無期

懷疑情感沒轉機 未可忍痛別離

難抱緊處理 總可細說天和地

有一些時機 唯有錯過無顧忌

在一起 當位知己

太甜蜜難免會避忌

暗中我為你漸愛得不捨不棄

何必急於說起

漸漸地留心關於你

漸漸地眼中只得你

漸漸地太多想緊記

逐漸開始熟悉你

漸漸地存心討好你

漸漸地暗喜

當你漸行近 才漸好奇

這漸進的美夢怕自欺

渴望能和你一點一點一起

我這種專一熱度 誰人可比

心灰都不會心死

漸漸地時刻緊張你

漸漸地眼中只得你

漸漸地太多想緊記

逐漸開始熟悉你

漸漸地存心討好你

漸漸地暗喜

當你漸行近 才漸好奇

找漸進的理由 愛護你

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
喜歡 (xǐhuan) /ɕìxuɑn/ A1	verb - to like
結果 (jiéguǒ) /tɕjě.kwò/ A2	noun - result, outcome
情感 (qínggǎn) /tɕʰǐŋ.kɑ̀n/ B1	noun - feeling, emotion
體貼 (tǐtiē) /tʰì.tʰje/ B2	adjective - considerate, thoughtful
處理 (chǔlǐ) /ʈʂʰù.lì/ B1	verb - to handle, to deal with
細節 (xìjié) /ɕî.tɕjě/ B1	noun - detail
甜蜜 (tiánmì) /tʰjěn.mî/ B1	adjective - sweet, happy
避忌 (bìjì) /pî.tɕì/ B2	verb - to avoid as taboo
愛 (ài) /âi/ A1	verb - to love noun - love
捨 (shě) /ʂɤ/ B2	verb - to give up, to abandon
棄 (qì) /tɕʰî/ B2	verb - to abandon, to discard
留心 (liúxīn) /ljǒʊ.ɕín/ B1	verb - to pay attention to, to take care
熟悉 (shúxī) /ʂǔ.ɕi/ B1	adjective - familiar, well-acquainted
討好 (tǎohǎo) /tʰɑ̀ʊ.xɑ̀ʊ/ B2	verb - to ingratiate oneself with, to please
好奇 (hàoqí) /xâʊ.tɕʰi/ B1	adjective - curious
愛護 (àihù) /âi.xû/ B1	verb - to cherish, to take good care of
懷疑 (huáiyí) /xwǎɪ.ǐ/ B1	verb - to doubt, to suspect
別離 (biélí) /pjě.lǐ/ B2	verb - to part, to leave
錯過 (cuòguò) /tswô.kwô/ B1	verb - to miss (an opportunity)
專一 (zhuānyī) /ʈʂwán.i/ B2	adjective - devoted, single-minded
緊張 (jǐnzhāng) /tɕǐn.ʈʂɑŋ/ A2	adjective - nervous, tense

Key Grammar Structures

• 能夠喜歡你

  ➔ Modal verb + verb (able to/ capable of liking)

  ➔ The structure '能夠 + verb' expresses the ability or capability to do something.

• 漸漸地留心關於你

  ➔ Adverb + verb + preposition phrase

  ➔ The adverb '漸漸地' intensifies the verb, indicating a gradual process.

• 逐漸開始熟悉你

  ➔ Verb + 順序詞 + verb phrase

  ➔ The sequence indicates the gradual commencement of becoming familiar.

• 愛不趕時機

  ➔ Negation + verb + time expression

  ➔ The phrase indicates that love does not rush the timing, emphasizing patience.

• 才夠細節來細味

  ➔ Conjunction + verb + purpose clause

  ➔ The word '才' indicates that something happens only if certain conditions are met, often implying a sense of 'only then.'

• 心灰都不會心死

  ➔ Negation + verb + result clause

  ➔ The phrase indicates that even if your spirits are low, they will not die, expressing resilience.