酷愛 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 張敬軒

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depths of Cantopop with Hins Cheung's iconic song “酷愛” (Cruel Love). This powerful ballad offers a rich vocabulary for expressing complex emotions like heartbreak, betrayal, and resilience. Through its poignant lyrics by Lin Xi and Hins Cheung's masterful vocal delivery, listeners can explore the nuances of romantic despair and the journey of recovering from a love that turned bitter. Its compelling storytelling and universal themes make it an excellent song for language learners to connect with authentic Cantonese expression and appreciate the artistry of Hong Kong's music scene.

[English]

No matter how much I offend you, you say I am a burden

Staying with me is like dying, losing all the joy

Who I used to be, or who I am now, what kind of partner are you

We slept together the night before, yet you shamelessly admitted you’re afraid of pain

Completely forget why we loved, still playing in the water at dawn

Could it be that love, love, love, love, love — I’ve given up on love

Desiring happiness, coldly dismissing, yet a kiss feels so real

Our ending is too terrible, unable to tell true from false love and hate

It’s pointless — love, love, love, love, love — too overwhelming

I guess I misjudged this world and learned a lesson

How can I trust people? Why do I love you so much in my fate

What kind of heart am I holding? I’ve been so kind to you

If you’d just think about how I’ve been hurt

You’ll see love’s poison is worse than arsenic

How can you be at ease and not change to stay beautiful

Imagine the nights we truly shared

As I turn my head, after intimacy, I’m punished to leave

Could it be that love, love, love, love, love — I’ve given up on love

Desiring happiness, coldly dismissing, yet a kiss feels so real

Our ending is too terrible, unable to tell true from false love and hate

It’s pointless — love, love, love, love, love — too overwhelming

I guess I misjudged this world and learned a lesson

How can I trust people? Why do I love you so much in my fate

Seems like an illusion

The love you gave me is like a toy, torn apart and turned to indifference

It's hard to endure this storm with no evidence of guilt

Parting is no crime, nor do I have the right to ask about your secrets

Farewell is no sin, no right to ask what's in your heart

Could it be that love, love, love, love, love — I’ve given up on love

Desiring happiness, coldly dismissing, yet a kiss feels so real

Our ending is too terrible, unable to tell true from false love and hate

It’s pointless — love, love, love, love, love — too overwhelming

I guess I misjudged this world and learned a lesson

How can I trust people? Why do I love you so much in my fate

Could it be that love, love, love, love, (failure)

I’ve given up on love (learned my lesson)

Coldly dismissing love (won’t die)

Yet a kiss feels so real (luck finally)

Our ending is too terrible (all’s clear, no crimes committed)

Unable to distinguish true from false love and hate (comforting others without guilt)

It’s pointless — love, love, love, love, love (together)

Too overwhelming — like being confined

I guess I misjudged this world and learned a lesson (definitely leaving)

How can I trust people? (update first)

Why do I love you so much in my fate? (fits perfectly)

...

[Chinese]

無論怎得罪 你說我是負累

陪著我等於死去了無情趣

從前或現在當我是誰 你這一種伴侶

前夜一起睡 你卻沒廉恥竟講出口你怕受罪

完全忘記往日為何 凌晨仍潮弄戲水

難道 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 我對愛情已死心

貪高興狠心敷衍 一下卻逼真的親吻

我們這結局太不堪 分不出真假的愛恨

無謂 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 太過動魄驚心

我估錯這個世界得到教訓

怎相信人 命中怎麼愛著你為人

立甚麼心腸 我對你極善良

如若你肯想想我這樣受傷

你會知愛情毒於砒霜

你怎安心可不改漂亮

怎想像 共你已同享多少很真確晚上

一轉頭 纏綿後要罰離場

難道 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 我對愛情已死心

貪高興狠心敷衍 一下卻逼真的親吻

我們這結局太不堪 分不出真假的愛恨

無謂 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 太過動魄驚心

我估錯這個世界得到教訓

怎相信人 命中怎麼愛著你為人

彷似幻像

你給我的愛是玩具磨爛後變絕情

難為這洗劫永沒罪證

道別並無罪也沒權問你內情話

難道 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 我對愛情已死心

貪高興狠心敷衍 一下卻逼真的親吻

我們這結局太不堪 分不出真假的愛恨

無謂 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 太過動魄驚心

我估錯這個世界得到教訓

怎相信人 命中怎麼愛著你為人

難道 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 (把失敗)

我對愛情已死心 (換教訓)

貪高興狠心不起 (不死)

一下卻逼真的親吻 (總算幸運)

我們這結局太不堪 (看 全沒罪案發生)

分不出真假的愛恨 (慰藉眾生不需責任)

無謂 愛 愛 愛 愛 愛 (一起)

太過動魄驚心 (若像軟禁)

我估錯這個世界得到教訓 (無疑離開)

怎相信人 (先更)

命中怎麼愛著你為人 (合襯)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
愛 /ài/ A2	noun - love verb - to love
情 /qíng/ B2	noun - emotion, feeling
心 /xīn/ A2	noun - heart, mind
死 /sǐ/ B1	verb - to die
痛 /tòng/ B2	adjective - painful
恨 /hèn/ B2	noun - hatred, resentment
孤單 /gūdān/ B2	adjective - lonely
時刻 /shíkè/ B1	noun - moment, time
救 /jiù/ B1	verb - to save
破碎 /pòsuì/ B2	verb/adjective - to break, shattered
真實 /zhēnshí/ B2	adjective - real, true
夢 /mèng/ A2	noun - dream
背叛 /bèipàn/ B2	verb - to betray

Key Grammar Structures

• 你怎安心可不改漂亮

  ➔ Expressing possibility with '可不' (can or not) to indicate whether someone can or cannot do something.

  ➔ '可不' is used here to question whether someone can or cannot do something, similar to 'may or may not' in English.

• 愛恨分不出真假的

  ➔ Using '分不出' (cannot distinguish) to express inability to differentiate between two things.

  ➔ '分不出' is a phrase to indicate the speaker cannot distinguish or tell apart two similar things — in this case, love and hate.

• 怎相信人 命中怎麼愛著你為人

  ➔ Using '怎' (how) in questions to express doubt or uncertainty about an action.

  ➔ '怎' is used to form questions that express doubt or inquire about the manner or reason of an action, reflecting uncertainty.

• 一轉頭 纏綿後要罰離場

  ➔ Using '一轉頭' (turning head) as an idiomatic expression to indicate a sudden change or shift in situation or emotions.

  ➔ '一轉頭' literally means 'turning head' and is used metaphorically here to describe a sudden change in circumstances or feelings.

• 我們這結局太不堪 分不出真假的愛恨

  ➔ Use of '太不堪' (too unbearable) to emphasize severity or extremity of a situation.

  ➔ '太不堪' conveys that the ending or situation is excessively difficult or intolerable.

• 怎相信人 命中怎麼愛著你為人

  ➔ Repeated use of '怎' (how) to question the manner or credibility of actions or feelings.

  ➔ '怎' is used multiple times to express doubt or uncertainty about the manner, sincerity, or truth of people's actions or feelings.