戒心 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 鄧麗欣, Stephy Tang

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and immersive experience, and Stephy Tang's “戒心” offers a unique opportunity to delve into the nuances of Cantonese. The song's emotionally rich lyrics, which articulate feelings of betrayal and suspicion, can help you understand and express complex emotions in Cantonese. The narrative style of the song makes it a compelling tool for language learners to not only expand their vocabulary but also to gain insight into contemporary Cantopop storytelling.

[English]

Are you calling me? Or is it a surprise?

Saying you miss me, but you're actually drunk, right?

You tearfully admit you love me, do you know that?

Has it really been over ten months since we broke up?

If I remember, who was it that day?

Embracing her, I wouldn't feel tired

And then you lay me aside, claiming you and she are a pair

But on this day, who's the one who failed?

Complaining and feeling helpless

Hoping I forget the past and forgive you

Yesterday, I committed a sin

And knowing that women are hurt afterwards

Never able to let go—it's mistrust

Hating this shadow for being so dark

Dark enough to feel like a soul

Lingering close to me

How can I guarantee that in the future you'll...

Never experience something similar again?

Even our tightest grip is trembling

But my consciousness keeps sinking

Clearly, I don't want to trust

Yet I still love you—how annoying this heart addiction is

It's my own trouble seeking itself

The more I try to leave, the closer I get

Yet I fear tomorrow's kiss, hiding behind you

Someone behind you

And knowing that women are hurt afterwards

Never able to let go—it's mistrust

Hating this shadow for being so dark

Dark enough to feel like a soul

Lingering close to me

How can I guarantee that in the future you'll...

Never experience something similar again?

Even our tightest grip is trembling

Even if I still love you

Must I endure some twisted logic?

If there's another passerby...

Villainous interference, acting as if...

Fate is destined

After being betrayed, women...

Love will forever have mistrust

Can't endure being abandoned by lovers

When it's a kind of achievement

If you call this worry

But that's just a woman's curse

Who would keep a grudge over happiness?

Unfortunately, this wound

Has already become a scar

And we will still have scars

Healing takes time

Learning to push away and seduce

...

[Chinese]

你在致電我嗎 太意外嗎

說又掛念我 其實已喝醉了 是吧

你像帶淚說出 最愛我知嗎

忘掉分手都十數月嗎

若記得 當日是誰

纏綿她 不會覺累

然後放下我宣稱你二人一對

但這天 失敗是誰

在訴苦 無力面對

盼我忘掉過去 原諒你

昨日犯過罪

而明知傷過後女人

永沒法放下是戒心

恨這陰影太暗

暗到像靈魂

纏在我附近

如何擔保以後你

永沒類似 的故事發生

就算拖緊的手也在震

但意識 不斷陸沉

明明不 想去信任

還是愛着你多討厭 是場心癮

是我的 苦惱自尋

愈要走 為何愈近

卻怕來日接吻 藏在你

後面是某人

而明知傷過後女人

永沒法放下是戒心

恨這陰影太暗

暗到像靈魂

纏在我附近

如何擔保以後你

永沒類似 的故事發生

就算拖緊的手也在震

即使我 仍然愛你

難道要 承受一些歪理

如若再有途人

卑鄙介入當

緣分注定

原來給欺騙後女人

愛亦永遠具備戒心

不懂忍受 被情人遺棄

當一項成就

若你稱呼這叫擔憂

但這算女人的毒咒

得到快樂誰人會去記仇

無奈這個傷口

早已是朋友

瘡疤我們還會有

修補要用時間

學推搪引誘

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
意外 /ì wài/ B1	adjective - unexpected; accidental noun - accident; mishap
掛念 /guà niàn/ B2	verb - to miss; to think of
喝醉 /hē zuì/ A2	verb - to get drunk
分手 /fēn shǒu/ A2	verb - to break up; to part company
纏綿 /chán mián/ C1	adjective - lingering; affectionate
失敗 /shī bài/ A2	verb - to fail noun - failure
無力 /wú lì/ B1	adjective - powerless; weak
原諒 /yuán liàng/ B1	verb - to forgive
犯 /fàn/ B1	verb - to commit (a crime or error)
戒心 /jiè xīn/ C1	noun - vigilance; wariness
陰影 /yīn yǐng/ B2	noun - shadow; shade
靈魂 /líng hún/ B2	noun - soul; spirit
擔保 /dān bǎo/ B2	verb - to guarantee; to assure noun - guarantee
信任 /xìn rèn/ B1	verb - to trust
苦惱 /kǔ nǎo/ B2	adjective - distressed; worried
欺騙 /qī piàn/ B2	verb - to deceive; to cheat
遺棄 /yí qì/ C1	verb - to abandon; to desert
快樂 /kuài lè/ A1	adjective - happy; cheerful noun - happiness
傷口 /shāng kǒu/ B1	noun - wound; cut

Key Grammar Structures

• 你像帶淚說出

  ➔ Simile construction using '像' to compare two things.

  ➔ The word '像' means 'like' or 'as' and is used to create similes in Chinese.

• 忘掉分手都十數月嗎

  ➔ Use of '都' to emphasize 'even' or 'all' in time expressions.

  ➔ The word '都' means 'even' or 'all', emphasizing that a certain period has passed.

• 在訴苦 無力面對

  ➔ Use of '在' to indicate ongoing action or state in present tense.

  ➔ '在' is a preposition indicating the current ongoing action or state.

• 如何擔保以後你

  ➔ Use of '如何' to ask 'how' or 'in what way'.

  ➔ '如何' means 'how' or 'in what way' and is used in questions.

• 永沒法放下是戒心

  ➔ Use of '是' to equate or declare identity or definition.

  ➔ '是' is a copula used to assert equality, identity, or definition.

• 修補要用時間

  ➔ Use of '要' to indicate necessity or requirement.

  ➔ '要' functions as a modal indicating that something is necessary or required.