可惜沒如果 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 林俊傑
• Album: 全新視野 / GENESIS

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and JJ Lin's “可惜沒如果” (If Only) offers a rich emotional landscape for Mandarin learners. The song's lyrical depth, penned by the famous Albert Leung (Lin Xi), allows you to explore complex emotions of regret and longing through beautifully crafted phrases. Its clear enunciation and ballad tempo make it easier to follow along and appreciate the nuances of the language, all while connecting with a story of love and loss that is universally understood. This song is special because it not only teaches you vocabulary related to emotions and relationships but also introduces you to the poetic side of Mandarin.

[English]

If only I could make amends for the mistakes worth making

Missing out on all the mistakes, maybe there's still time to regret

If I hadn't exposed everything

That small storm could just be a smile and pass by

What does it matter to speak of myself in love?

It's better to take it easy than to overthink

Everything's my fault

Silence when I should speak, weakness when I should be brave

If it weren't for me

Misunderstanding myself has made us sad

Back then and now, if only I could start over

If only that day

I had spoken the words I needed to say, understood what I shouldn’t cling to

If that day I wasn’t stirred by emotions, what would you do?

So many 'if's, maybe if I

Only if there were no 'what ifs,' only the outcome remains

...

If only I had understood your impulsive nature earlier

Or met the mature me a little later, but

Everything's my fault

Silence when I should speak, weakness when I should be brave

If it weren’t for me

Misunderstanding myself has made us sad

Back then and now, if only I could start over

If only that day

I had spoken the words I needed to say, understood what I shouldn’t cling to

If that day I wasn’t stirred by emotions, what would you do?

So many 'if's, maybe if I

Only if there were no 'what ifs,' just the result remains

...

It’s all my fault

Silence when I should speak, weakness when I should be brave

If it weren’t for me

Misunderstanding myself has made us sad

Back then and now, if only I could start over

If only that day

I had spoken the words I needed to say, understood what I shouldn’t cling to

If that day I wasn’t stirred by emotions, what would you do?

So many 'if's, maybe if I

Only if there were no 'what ifs,' only the outcome remains

...

No 'what ifs' left

...

[Chinese]

假如把犯得起的錯

能錯的都錯過 應該還來得及去悔過

假如沒把一切說破

那一場小風波將一笑帶過

在感情面前講什麼自我?

要得過且過才好過

全都怪我

不該沉默時沉默 該勇敢時軟弱

如果不是我

誤會自己灑脫 讓我們難過

可當初的你和現在的我 假如重來過

倘若那天

把該說的話好好說 該體諒的不執著

如果那天我不受情緒挑撥 你會怎麼做?

那麼多如果 可能如果我

可惜沒如果 只剩下結果

如果早點了解那率性的你

或者晚一點遇上成熟的我 不過

全都怪我

不該沉默時沉默 該勇敢時軟弱

如果不是我

誤會自己灑脫 讓我們難過

可當初的你和現在的我 假如重來過

倘若那天

把該說的話好好說 該體諒的不執著

如果那天我不受情緒挑撥 你會怎麼做?

那麼多如果 可能如果我

可惜沒如果 沒有你和我

都怪我

不該沉默時沉默 該勇敢時軟弱

如果不是我

誤會自己灑脫 讓我們難過

可當初的你和現在的我 假如重來過

倘若那天

把該說的話好好說 該體諒的不執著

如果那天我不受情緒挑撥 你會怎麼做?

那麼多如果 可能如果我

可惜沒如果 只剩下結果

可惜沒如果

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
錯 /cuò/ A2	noun - mistake verb - to make a mistake
感情 /gǎnqíng/ B1	noun - emotion
勇敢 /yǒnggǎn/ B1	adjective - brave
沉默 /chénmò/ B2	noun - silence verb - to be silent
難過 /nánguò/ B1	adjective - sad
結果 /jiéguǒ/ B2	noun - result
重來 /chónglái/ B2	verb - to start over
體諒 /tǐliàng/ C1	verb - to understand (someone's feelings)
挑撥 /tiāobō/ C2	verb - to instigate or provoke
風波 /fēngbō/ C1	noun - trouble or disturbance

Key Grammar Structures

• 假如把犯得起的錯能錯的都錯過

  ➔ Conditional sentence using '假如' (jiǎrú) to express 'if' or 'suppose'. In this case, a hypothetical situation.

  ➔ The word '**假如**' functions as an **if** clause indicating a hypothetical scenario.

• 應該還來得及去悔過

  ➔ Modal verb '應該' indicating 'should' or 'ought to' to express advice or expectation in a hypothetical context.

  ➔ The modal '**應該**' expresses **should** or **ought to** in this context, indicating a sense of obligation or expectation.

• 如果不是我

  ➔ Conditional phrase using '如果' (rúguǒ) to mean 'if' or 'if not'.

  ➔ The phrase '**如果**' introduces a **conditional** 'if' clause.

• 只剩下結果

  ➔ Phrase using '只剩下' (zhǐ shèng xià) meaning 'only剩下' or 'nothing but'.

  ➔ The phrase '**只剩下**' indicates that **only** the remaining **result** is present.

• 把該說的話好好說

  ➔ Use of the '把' (bǎ) construction to emphasize the handling or performing of an action on an object.

  ➔ The '**把**' structure emphasizes the action of '**say the good words properly**' directed at the object.

• 該體諒的不執著

  ➔ Use of '該' (gāi) to indicate 'should' or 'ought to' in expressing obligation or moral duty.

  ➔ The word '**該**' signifies **should** or **ought to** in the context of moral or emotional expectations.

• 讓我們難過

  ➔ Use of '讓' (ràng) as a causative verb meaning 'to make' or 'to let', indicating causing an emotion or action.

  ➔ The character '**讓**' signifies **to make** or **to cause**, here expressing causing **us to feel sad**.