彌敦道 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 洪卓立

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heart of Hong Kong's Canto-pop scene with Ken Hung's iconic ballad, "彌敦道." This song offers a beautiful entry point into the Cantonese language, with its poetic lyrics depicting a poignant story of lost love and chance encounters in a bustling city. Learning the song can help you grasp evocative descriptions and emotional expressions unique to Cantonese, all wrapped in a melody that has touched listeners for over a decade.

[English]

Too many people and cars on the street, the busy city lights make the night feel intoxicating

Fear of waiting so long for the train after work, lining up with my umbrella in the rain

Once the heavy rain poured down on Sihwa

Walking along the long queue but reluctant to get too close

The brushed shoulder, realizing I see that familiar face

Silently exchanging glances in these few seconds

Maybe a simple hello, but seldom

Then saying goodbye again, like a reunion that day

So many memories sweet in my heart

Night rain touching flowers, this scene makes me sad

Seeing her figure, I can't possess it anymore

I never thought I’d watch her walk away in despair

The two words ‘breakup,’ love leaves no more trace

Heartbroken voice turned nostalgic for love

Love no longer stirs, everything feels too little

In the end, this segment is done

Focused on the distant view outside the window

The noisy crowd knows well, stirring dust

I got lost, searching for footprints, longing for guidance

If the ending could be changed

I’d love her well, more urgently

Meeting again or parting, it’s all so final, but the road feels too short

So many memories sweet in my heart

Night rain touching flowers, this scene makes me sad

Seeing her figure, I can't possess it anymore

I never thought I’d watch her walk away in despair

The two words ‘breakup,’ love leaves no more trace

Heartbroken voice turned nostalgic for love

Love no longer stirs, everything feels too little

Heartbreak and memories stay in my heart

Night rain touching flowers, this scene makes me sad

Seeing her figure, I can't possess it anymore

I’ll stop watching her walk away in despair

Even if we say goodbye, I’ll still wait

But my sad voice has turned nostalgic

Love no longer stirs, everything burns bright

In the end, this segment is over

Too many people and cars on the street, the busy city lights make the night feel intoxicating

害怕下班等很久 懷念很久也不夠

...

[Chinese]

街邊太多人與車 繁華鬧市人醉夜

害怕下班等很久的車 排隊兼帶雨遮

一經信和暴雨瀉

沿著長龍又不想 貼近些

擦過的肩 發現看見 那熟悉嘴臉

沉默對望在這幾秒

亦有簡單問好 不過少

然後再次說告別 像重遇那天

多少往事甜在心頭

夜雨觸花這景致令我憂愁

望見她的身影已無法佔有

我未有想過絕望看她走

分手兩字情絕不留

為愛傷心的聲線變了懷舊

愛不轟動了 什麼都嫌少

最終這片段完了

專心看車外遠境

嘈雜人群極知多 惹塵埃

我卻走失 遍尋腳印 欠命中指引

如若結局是可改變

願我好好愛她 逼切點

重遇再散也夠絕 但嫌路太短

多少往事甜在心頭

夜雨觸花這景致令我憂愁

望見她的身影已無法佔有

我未有想過絕望看她走

分手兩字情絕不留

為愛傷心的聲線變了懷舊

愛不轟動了 什麼都嫌少

心酸往事停在心頭

夜雨觸花這景致令我憂愁

望見她的身影已無法佔有

我是再不要絕望看她走

即使告別仍舊守候

但我傷心的聲線已變懷舊

愛不轟動了 什麼都燃燒

最終這片段完了

街邊太多人與車 繁華鬧市人醉夜

害怕下班等很久 懷念很久也不夠

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
街 (jiē) /d͡ʑjɛ/ A1	noun - street
人 (rén) /ʐən/ A1	noun - person, people
車 (chē) /t͡ʃʰɤ/ A1	noun - vehicle, car
夜 (yè) /jɛ/ A1	noun - night
害怕 (hàipà) /xâɪpʰâ/ A2	verb - to be afraid; to be scared
雨 (yǔ) /y/ A1	noun - rain
肩 (jiān) /t͡ɕjɛn/ B1	noun - shoulder
沉默 (chénmò) /ʈ͡ʂʰən.mwo/ B1	adjective - silent
往事 (wǎngshì) /wɑŋʃɨ/ B1	noun - past events; memories
心頭 (xīntóu) /ɕintʰoʊ̯/ B2	noun - heart; mind
憂愁 (yōuchóu) /joʊt͡ʃʰoʊ/ C1	noun - melancholy; sorrow
身影 (shēnyǐng) /ʂənyɪŋ/ B1	noun - figure; silhouette
絕望 (juéwàng) /t͡ɕɥœ̌waŋ/ B2	adjective - desperate; hopeless verb - to despair
傷心 (shāngxīn) /ʂaŋɕin/ B1	adjective - heartbroken; sad
燃燒 (ránshāo) /ʐǎnʃaʊ̯/ B2	verb - to burn