離別的規矩 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 柳應廷

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music opens a door to its culture and soul, and “離別的規矩” by Jer Lau is a beautiful place to start with Cantonese. The song’s poetic and emotionally rich lyrics offer a profound look at themes of love, loss, and acceptance, which are universal yet expressed with unique cultural nuances. By exploring its verses, you can learn descriptive vocabulary and sophisticated phrases that capture complex feelings, making the language learning process both meaningful and memorable. This song is special because it connects a modern Cantopop sound with timeless, relatable emotions.

[English]

She pushes open that window

Wanting to overturn the world's beliefs

You long for the love you once deeply believed in

To return to normal

She lowers her head, turns her back to the light

Shadows connect, growing together

Ink stains everywhere, the silhouette is so beautiful

Longing for you to hold her in your arms, admiring

Finally, Woo Woo

When the dawn fades away

She watches you leave this endless, tiny home

No matter how far you go, you still can't leave

Body and heart, even if willing to follow

Deciding to let go

Is the rule of farewell

Leaving this exquisite, tiny home

No matter how far you go, your heart is still broken

Climbing over distant mountains, her face is covered in water

Regretful tears float in the wind

She closes that window tightly

Raindrops on the eaves, soothing the pain

A silly face hangs on the glass window

The continuous rain, reflected, is actually an imagery

Finally, Woo Woo

When the sound of rain turns into blessings

She watches you leave this endless, tiny home

No matter how far you go, you still can't leave

Enduring the pain, deleting that photo

Never changed

Is the scenery after people leave

Leaving this exquisite, tiny home

No matter how far you go, your heart is still broken

The mountains still look like mountains, the water is still water

The wind has blown, the regret will gradually fade

Whether long or wide, falling into it, the space shatters

Leaving behind a pile of messy hair

She leaves this empty, tiny home alone

Looking back in the mountains

Remembering your favorite flower by the window

Still blooming

Using tears to replace watering

She still wants you to be well

And prays for peace in her heart

Thanks to the lovers who spent time together in the old home

[Chinese]

她推開　那一扇窗

想推翻　世間信仰

你盼望　曾經　深信的愛

可回復　正常

她俯首　轉身背光

影子相接　共成長

餘墨遍地　剪影多美

渴望你　擁進懷裡　欣賞

最後　Woo　Woo

當曙光　已消退

她看著你　離開這　無涯蝸居

行多遠　仍離不去

身與心　縱願意跟隨

決定放手

是離別的　規矩

離開這　玲瓏蝸居

行多遠　仍然心碎

攀過遠山　臉龐是水

風裡飄過　遺憾眼淚

她關好　那一扇窗

雨落簷篷　緩和痛癢

傻臉掛在　玻璃窗

連夜雨　映襯間　原來是意象

最後　Woo　Woo

當雨聲　變祝福句

她看著你　離開這　無涯蝸居

行多遠　仍離不去

忍痛讓　那合照刪除

永未變遷

是人後的　山水

離開這　玲瓏蝸居

行多遠　仍然心碎

山也似山　水仍是水

風已吹過　遺憾會漸　退

長或闊　淪陷了　空間粉碎

遺下了　亂髮一堆

她獨個　離開這　無人蝸居

群山裡　回眸

想起窗邊　你最愛的花

盛放依然

已用眼淚　來代替　澆水

她始終　想你好

亦祈求　心裡安寧

鳴謝　故居中　同度過的　愛侶

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
推開 /tuī kāi/ B1
信仰 /xìn yǎng/ B2
推翻 /tuī fān/ B2
深信 /shēn xìn/ B2
轉身 /zhuǎn shēn/ B1
影子 /yǐng zi/ A2	noun - shadow
成長 /chéng zhǎng/ B1	noun - growth, development
擁進 /yōng jìn/ B2	verb - to embrace, to hold close
欣賞 /xīn shǎng/ B2	verb - to appreciate, to admire
消退 /xiāo tuì/ B2	verb - to fade, to diminish
離開 /lí kāi/ A2	verb - to leave, to depart
蝸居 /gū jū/ B2	noun - small, cramped dwelling
心碎 /xīn suì/ B2	verb - to be heartbroken
水 /shuǐ/ A1	noun - water
遺憾 /yí hàn/ B2	noun - regret, remorse
痛癢 /tòng yǎng/ C1	noun - pain and itch

Key Grammar Structures

• 她推開　那一扇窗

  ➔ Demonstrative Pronoun + Classifier (那一扇)

  ➔ “那一扇” specifies “that” door, using “扇” (shàn) as the classifier for doors.

• 你盼望　曾經　深信的愛

  ➔ Adjective Clause (深信的愛)

  ➔ “深信的愛” is an adjective clause modifying “愛” (love), meaning "the love that was deeply believed in."

• 餘墨遍地　剪影多美

  ➔ Subject-Predicate Structure (餘墨遍地, 剪影多美)

  ➔ The sentences use a simple subject-predicate structure to describe the scene.

• 是離別的　規矩

  ➔ Possessive Particle 的 (離別的)

  ➔ 的 indicates possession or association, translating to "of separation" or "the rule of separation."

• 連夜雨　映襯間　原來是意象

  ➔ Adverbial Phrase + Sentence Structure (連夜雨 映襯間)

  ➔ “連夜雨 映襯間” functions as an adverbial phrase setting the scene, modifying the understanding of the following statement.

• 忍痛讓　那合照刪除

  ➔ Causative Verb 讓 (讓...刪除)

  ➔ The verb “讓” indicates causation, meaning “to allow” or “to make something happen”. Here, it means "enduring the pain to let that photo be deleted."

• 長或闊　淪陷了　空間粉碎

  ➔ Ellipsis (長或闊 [的空間])

  ➔ The phrase omits the noun “空間 (space)” after “長或闊 (long or wide)”, implying “long or wide [space]”. This is a common form of ellipsis in Chinese.

• 已用眼淚　來代替　澆水

  ➔ Using 來 (lái) to indicate purpose.

  ➔ The phrase '來代替' means 'to use... to replace' and 來 is placed before the verb代替 (dàitì) to show the purpose.