精卫 – Bilingual Lyrics Vietnamese/English

• By: Tưởng Lặc Lặc

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey through "精卫" by Tưởng Lặc Lặc, a song rich in cultural nuance and emotional depth. Its evocative lyrics, rooted in a classic Chinese myth, offer a unique window into Chinese storytelling and poetic expression. Learning the language through this song allows you to appreciate the blend of traditional 'cổ phong' aesthetics with contemporary C-pop, making it a special piece for language learners to connect with Chinese heritage and modern music trends.

[English]

I understand the sea in my heart

Filled, never to return, return

You and I first speak of the Hall of Mental Cultivation

Then kneel beneath cascading waters

In leisure, flip through pages, read stale books

Let it be

Until drowned in the human tide

All fate’s words now empty as air

To life and death, to death with grace

Pour wine into the sea, drunk on sky and earth

Leap into the heavens, embraced by all things

All fate’s words now empty as air

To life and death, to death with grace

Pour wine into the sea, drunk on sky and earth

Leap into the heavens, embraced by all things

They call it wanting without gaining

Human hearts—bottomless chasms

That could drain the deepest seas

Success or failure, not worth a breath

Like fleeting shadows in this world

Chasing phantoms without rest

Wading through rivers of tears

Drowning in silent despair

All things return to the sea

Why clutch twigs and stones?

Moonlight sways in the wind

Still I race toward the waves

I just crave love so desperately

I just yearn to be cherished tenderly

First speak of the Hall of Mental Cultivation

Then kneel beneath cascading waters

In leisure, flip through pages, read stale books

Let it be

Until drowned in the human tide

All fate’s words now empty as air

To life and death, to death with grace

Pour wine into the sea, drunk on sky and earth

Leap into the heavens, embraced by all things

All fate’s words now empty as air

To life and death, to death with grace

Pour wine into the sea, drunk on sky and earth

Leap into the heavens, embraced by all things

[Vietnamese]

我明白 我心中的海

填满不回来 回来

你与我 先谈养心殿

后拜瀑淋身

闲暇闻几页 臭读几篇书

也罢

至填没在人海

今命中万事一字空

赴生死 赴死亦从容

泼酒入海醉倒天地

投身苍穹 万物长拥

今命中万事一字空

赴生死 赴死亦从容

泼酒入海醉倒天地

投身苍穹 万物长拥

所谓有求而不得

人心欲壑

可填沧海

成败不堪一说

如人间过客

总追着虚无漂泊

趟着泪河

沉沦沉默

万物终归向海

何必衔木石来

月色随风摇摆

我仍飞奔向海

我只是太想要份爱

我只是太想被好好对待

先谈养心殿

后拜瀑淋身

闲暇闻几页 臭读几篇书

也罢

至填没在人海

今命中万事一字空

赴生死 赴死亦从容

泼酒入海醉倒天地

投身苍穹 万物长拥

今命中万事一字空

赴生死 赴死亦从容

泼酒入海醉倒天地

投身苍穹 万物长拥

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
明白 míngbái B1	verb - to understand; to realize; to know adjective - clear; obvious; frank; explicit
海 hǎi A2	noun - sea; ocean
回来 huílái A2	verb - to come back; to return
养心殿 yǎngxīndiàn C1	noun - Hall of Mental Cultivation (in the Forbidden City)
瀑淋身 pùlínshēn C1	verb-object - to shower oneself with waterfall
书 shū A1	noun - book
人海 rénhǎi B1	noun - sea of people; crowd
万事 wànshì B1	noun - everything; all affairs
空 kōng A2	adjective - empty; hollow; void verb - to empty
生死 shēngsǐ B2	noun - life and death
容 róng B2	adjective - calm; tolerant; composed
酒 jiǔ A2	noun - wine; liquor; alcohol
天地 tiāndì B1	noun - world; heaven and earth
苍穹 cāngqióng C1	noun - sky; firmament
万物 wànwù B1	noun - all things; everything
欲壑 yùhè C2	noun - desire
沧海 cānghǎi C1	noun - vast sea
成败 chéngbài B2	noun - success or failure
过客 guòkè B1	noun - passerby; transient
虚无 xūwú B2	noun - nothingness; void
漂泊 piāobó B2	verb - to drift; to roam
泪河 lèihé C1	noun - river of tears
沉沦 chénlún B2	verb - to sink; to be mired in
沉默 chénmò B1	verb - to be silent; to be quiet adjective - silent; quiet
衔 xián C1	verb - to hold in the mouth
木石 mùshí C1	noun - wood and stone
摆 bǎi A2	verb - to swing; to sway; to wave
飞奔 fēibēn B1	verb - to gallop; to rush
爱 ài A1	noun - love; affection verb - to love
对待 duìdài B1	verb - to treat; to handle

Key Grammar Structures

• 你与我 先谈养心殿 / 后拜瀑淋身

  ➔ Sequence of actions: 先...后...

  ➔ The structure "先...后..." is used to indicate a sequence of actions or events, meaning "first...then...". For example, "先"喝水，"后"吃饭 (First drink water, then eat).

• 闲暇闻几页 臭读几篇书 / 也罢

  ➔ Resignation/Acceptance: 也罢

  ➔ "也罢" expresses resignation or acceptance, meaning "let it be", "fine", "never mind", or "it doesn't matter". It often implies a sense of helplessness or giving up on a situation.

• 至填没在人海

  ➔ Preposition: 至 (until/to reach)

  ➔ "至" functions as a preposition meaning "until", "up to", or "to reach (a certain point/state)". It indicates the end point of a process or a destination. E.g., "至"死不渝 (unswerving until death).

• 泼酒入海醉倒天地

  ➔ Directional and Resultative Complements

  ➔ "入" (rù) is a directional complement indicating "into". "倒" (dǎo) is a resultative complement indicating a state of "falling down" or "being overwhelmed/intoxicated to the point of collapse". Here, "泼酒" "入海" means "pour wine into the sea", and "醉" "倒天地" means "so drunk that heaven and earth are overwhelmed/spinning".

• 所谓有求而不得

  ➔ Introducing a concept: 所谓...

  ➔ "所谓" means "so-called" or "what is called". It's used to introduce a common saying, a concept, or to refer to something that is generally understood or named as such. It can sometimes carry a slightly critical or skeptical tone.

• 所谓有求而不得

  ➔ Fixed structure: 有...而不得 (desire but cannot obtain)

  ➔ This is a fixed phrase structure expressing the idea of "having the desire/opportunity for something but being unable to obtain it". It conveys a sense of regret or unfulfilled longing. Here, "有" "求" "而" "不得" means "to have a desire/request, but not be able to obtain it".

• 成败不堪一说

  ➔ Verb modifier: 不堪 + V (+ 一 + N)

  ➔ "不堪" means "cannot bear", "cannot stand", or "not worth". When followed by a verb (often with "一" + noun), it indicates that something is so bad, trivial, or overwhelming that it's "not worth mentioning/doing" or "unbearable to...". Here, "不堪" "一说" means "not worth mentioning".

• 何必衔木石来

  ➔ Rhetorical question: 何必 (why bother?)

  ➔ "何必" is a rhetorical question meaning "why bother?", "there's no need to", or "what's the point?". It implies that the action being questioned is unnecessary, futile, or unwise.

• 总追着虚无漂泊

  ➔ Continuous action: V + 着

  ➔ The particle "着" (zhe) is placed after a verb to indicate a continuous action or a state of being. It suggests that the action is ongoing, or that the state resulting from the verb is maintained. Here, "追" "着" means "chasing continuously" or "in the state of chasing".

• 我只是太想被好好对待

  ➔ Passive Voice: 被 + V

  ➔ "被" (bèi) is a common marker for the passive voice in Chinese. It indicates that the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the performer. E.g., "被" "好好" "对待" means "to be treated well".