羅生門 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 麥浚龍, 謝安琪

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a journey into its culture, and “羅生門” is a masterclass in Cantonese storytelling. The song's rich, narrative-driven lyrics offer a deep dive into nuanced expressions of love, memory, and heartbreak. Its special status as the finale of a ten-year musical story makes it a unique and compelling piece to explore the emotional depth and literary quality of Cantopop.

[English]

If you’re not feeling the despair

The madman talked about in rumors, holding hands

I’m grateful you liked me for ten years, still not tired

Recently, an old classmate said I’ve

Been haunting you for over 600 weeks

It’s a pity we couldn’t stay together in this life

But honestly, if I tell you, it’d be even more guilty

That I loved you—Hello Kitty? It seems not

Dickens, is that a comic?

Still a girl—Did I misunderstand?

Obscured by infatuation, beautifying what isn’t real

But do you truly understand me?

Those beautiful times don’t need to be looked back on often

We can draw warmth to face the harsh cold someday, just close that room

The most touching moments aren’t necessarily until forever

Unforgettable because I miss you so much, that’s why I can’t forget

Holding someone for ten years is easy; the hardest part is letting go

...

Honestly, remembering that love still feels worthwhile

If we meet again on the road, I’d smile and ask how you’ve been

Your nightly Facebook updates—no point in even looking

Don’t look back at the past every night if you want peace of mind

Look toward a better place, soaking up the sunshine for the next love

Those beautiful times don’t need to be looked back on often

We can draw warmth to face the harsh cold someday, just close that room

The most touching moments aren’t necessarily until forever

Unforgettable because I miss you so much, that’s why I can’t forget

Tears flow easily for ten years

Still lamenting that love—until breathless, it’s buried (hard to wipe away)

Teaching two hearts an unspoken spell that can’t be broken (fear it will become too haunting)

Everyone asking for the secret to eternal love

Only a glorious departure—(holding onto the remnants) could be remembered forever

You haven’t forgotten, I haven’t forgotten—still beside you (love letters fading too)

Feeling uneasy, waiting for dawn and night, hoping again

No signal, check again after a few seconds

You said we’d always keep in touch

Those beautiful times don’t need to be looked back on often (the old number, just like the old place)

We can draw warmth to face the harsh cold someday, just close that room (don’t dare tear down and rebuild)

The most touching moments aren’t necessarily until forever (like a terminal illness, feeling it daily)

Most tender is that shadow—though wandering every night (happiness is near again)

Actually, it was buried early

If you’re still my lover, too

Let’s plan to secretly reunite in ten years, to continue our night journey

Don’t be crazy

Next month

Let’s reunite as scheduled somewhere in Iceland (letting the past rest in a place like Fukushima)

...

[Chinese]

若果你 未覺荒謬

被傳聞談論的瘋子 挽著手

很感激 喜歡我十年 仍不休

近日舊同學 說我已

耿耿於你心 六百週

很可惜 這一世未能 長廝守

但事實 如若告訴你 或更內疚

我愛過 哈囉吉蒂嗎 似乎沒有

狄更斯 是 漫畫嗎

仍然少女 誤會了嗎

迷戀蔽眼 才給美化

但其實 真懂得我嗎

那動人時光 不用常回看

能提取溫暖 以後渡嚴寒 就關起那間房

最動人時光 未必地老天荒

難忘的 因你太念念 才難忘

容易抱住誰十年 最難是放

真心講 想起那段情 仍不枉

若路上重遇 會笑笑問你近況

你每晚更新的臉書 卻無謂看

離別了若想心安 先不要每夜重翻舊案

望著更好的地方 為下段愛戀吸收陽光

那動人時光 不用常回看

能提取溫暖 以後渡嚴寒 就關起那間房

最動人時光 未必地老天荒

難忘的 因你太念念 才難忘

容易眼淚流十年

還在嘆息 那愛戀 不到氣絕 便已安葬 (難在擦乾)

敎兩人 心裡有道 不解的咒 沒法釋放 (怕掛念太猖狂)

個個也探問 愛戀不老的秘方

唯獨壯烈離座 (難道抱著殘像) 可百世流芳

你未忘 我未忘 猶勝伴在旁 (情信亦泛黃)

不心安 清早與夜來 亦望望

收不到信號 過兩秒 又再看看

你說過 常聯繫對方

那動人時光 不用常回看 (從前號碼 等於老地方)

能提取溫暖 以後渡嚴寒 就關起那間房 (不敢拆掉再裝)

最動人時光 未必地老天荒 (猶如絕症 天天有預感)

最纏綿 那黑影 即使 每夜遊蕩 (幸福即將再降)

其實一早 已給安葬

情人若 你也未忘

約定誰 過十年暗渡陳倉 再續夜航

別瘋狂

下個一月

願如期團聚於 冰島某地方 (讓前塵沉澱於 福島某地方)

Key Grammar Structures

• 若果你 未覺荒謬

  ➔ Conditional clause using "若果" (if)

  ➔ "若果" introduces a condition similar to "if" in English, indicating that the following statement depends on this condition.

• 很感激 喜歡我十年 仍不休

  ➔ Expressing gratitude with a verb + object + duration and continued action

  ➔ This phrase shows gratitude for a long-lasting love, emphasizing the duration "十年" (ten years) with the continuous verb "仍不休" (still not ceased).

• 迷戀蔽眼 才給美化

  ➔ Cause and effect structure using "才" (only then, just) to indicate that only after infatuation blinds you, you start to beautify (distort) the image.

  ➔ The particle "才" emphasizes that the action of beautifying occurs only after the state of infatuation blinds the person.

• 能提取溫暖 以後渡嚴寒

  ➔ Use of modal verbs "能" (can/able to) to express capability, and a sequential structure "以後" (after) to indicate future actions.

  ➔ "能" expresses the ability to perform an action, and "以後" indicates the sequence in time, meaning 'afterward'.