面具 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 許廷鏗

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the emotional depth of Cantopop with Alfred Hui's "面具" (Mask). This song offers a great opportunity to learn Cantonese through its expressive lyrics about shedding the masks we wear. Its powerful theme of seeking authenticity is a universal feeling, making it a relatable and moving piece for language learners to connect with.

[English]

I’ve dreamed the dreams I needed to, but my passion’s turning cold

Been hurt and fallen, then I understand

Who’s mocking me? Behind this silence, I want to go crazy

I desperately want to let loose for a moment, dare to act like I’m fighting terrorists

I’ve been impulsive before, rushing into big matters without thinking

Missed my chance, still rushing to make things right

Breaking out of the deadlock, bravery like a knightly hero

But has there been any real peace talks?

Wearing a mask to hide my tired face

Facing the gunfire, still keeping a relaxed expression

Emotions shouldn’t be restless, like lifting a light weight

Trying to release all the pressure, like I’ve gone missing

Taking off the mask, maybe my face will turn red

Riding the evening breeze, chasing carefree stars in the sky

Shedding fake tolerance, still can’t quite understand

The youthful innocence I once had, carrying ideals even through pain

...

Been impulsive before, rushing into big matters without thinking

Missed my chance, still rushing to make things right

Breaking out of the deadlock, bravery like a knightly hero

But has there been any real peace talks?

Wearing a mask to hide my tired face

Facing the gunfire, still keeping a relaxed expression

Emotions shouldn’t be restless, like lifting a light weight

Trying to release all the pressure, like I’ve gone missing

Taking off the mask, maybe my face will turn red

Riding the evening breeze, chasing carefree stars in the sky

Shedding fake tolerance, still can’t quite understand

The youthful innocence I once had, forgetting the worldly chains

Hey-yeah

Whoa-whoa

Who understands? Maybe meeting you again after so long

Regrets are many, but the clock can’t turn back

Like the lament of a violin, crying out in pain, even he’s sobbing

Who understands my original intention?

Restlessness is just a dream

But I truly feel the pain

...

[Chinese]

發過要發的夢 但熱烈漸覺冰凍

跌過痛過便會懂

誰在作弄 沉默背後也想發狂

很想找一剎來放縱 斗膽一次如反恐

也試過太衝動 大件事沒計輕重

錯過悔過仍要衝

衝出困局 形象似義勇軍般英勇

但結果有沒有停戰的溝通

如戴著面具去掩飾倦容

迎著炮火也依然表情輕鬆

情緒不可激動 還若輕的舉重

來化解一切壓力似失蹤

如放下面具去也許面紅

乘著晚風去追尋逍遙星空

除去假的寬容 還真想不通

曾年少的青蔥 懷著理想那怕痛

也試過太衝動 大件事沒計輕重

錯過悔過仍要衝

衝出困局 形象似義勇軍般英勇

但結果有沒有停戰的溝通

如戴著面具去掩飾倦容

迎著炮火也依然表情輕鬆

情緒不可激動 還若輕的舉重

來化解一切壓力似失蹤

如放下面具去也許面紅

乘著晚風去追尋逍遙星空

除去假的寬容 還真想不通

曾年少的青蔥 忘卻世間的縳束

Hey-yeah

Whoa-whoa

誰明白像和你也許重逢

遺憾太多卻不能倒流的鐘

如琴聲的哀號 連結他都哭訴

誰明白我初衷

煩躁也是個夢

但我真的痛

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
夢 (mèng) /məŋ/ A1	noun - dream
冰凍 (bīng dòng) /bɪŋ dɔŋ/ B2	verb - to freeze adjective - frozen
痛 (tòng) /tʰʊŋ/ A2	adjective - painful verb - to hurt
沉默 (chén mò) /tʃʰən mɔ/ B1	adjective - silent noun - silence
發狂 (fā kuáng) /fa kʰwaŋ/ B2	verb - to go mad
放縱 (fàng zòng) /fɑŋ tsʊŋ/ B2	verb - to indulge adjective - dissolute
衝動 (chōng dòng) /tʃʰʊŋ tʊŋ/ B1	noun - impulse adjective - impulsive
悔 (huǐ) /xweɪ/ B2	verb - to regret
困局 (kùn jú) /kʰwən ʥy/ C1	noun - dilemma, predicament
形象 (xíng xiàng) /ɕɪŋ ɕjɑŋ/ B1	noun - image, form
英勇 (yīng yǒng) /ɪŋ jʊŋ/ B2	adjective - heroic, valiant
停戰 (tíng zhàn) /tʰɪŋ ʈʂɑn/ B2	verb - to cease fire
面具 (miàn jù) /mjɛn ʥy/ A2	noun - mask
掩飾 (yǎn shì) /jɛn ʃɻ/ B2	verb - to cover up
倦容 (juàn róng) /tɕɥɛn ʐʊŋ/ C1	noun - tired look
炮火 (pào huǒ) /pʰɑʊ xwo/ B2	noun - artillery fire
輕鬆 (qīng sōng) /tʃʰɪŋ sʊŋ/ A2	adjective - relaxed, easy
壓力 (yā lì) /ja li/ A2	noun - pressure
星空 (xīng kōng) /ɕɪŋ kʰʊŋ/ B1	noun - starry sky
寬容 (kuān róng) /kʰwan ʐʊŋ/ B1	noun - tolerance, forgiveness adjective - tolerant
青蔥 (qīng cōng) /tʃʰɪŋ tsʰʊŋ/ C1	adjective - verdant, lush (used to describe youth)
理想 (lǐ xiǎng) /li ɕjɑŋ/ A2	noun - ideal
遺憾 (yí hàn) /i xan/ B2	noun - regret
煩躁 (fán zào) /fan tsɑʊ/ B2	adjective - agitated

Key Grammar Structures

• 誰在作弄

  ➔ Using the question word + verb to ask 'who is doing something'

  ➔ '誰' (shéi) is the question word for 'who'

• 像義勇軍般英勇

  ➔ Using '像...般' (like...) to indicate comparison

  ➔ '像' (xiàng) means 'like' or 'similar to'

• 錯過悔過仍要衝

  ➔ Using '仍要' (still need to) to express persistence or continuation

  ➔ '仍要' (réng yào) means 'still need to' or 'must still'

• 如放下面具去也許面紅

  ➔ Using '如...去' to express hypothetical or subjunctive mood

  ➔ '如' (rú) is used as 'like' or 'as if', and '去' (qù) indicates a subjunctive or hypothetical action

• 如戴著面具去掩飾倦容

  ➔ Similar to previous, using '如...去' to indicate hypothetical or metaphorical action

  ➔ '戴著面具去' means 'wearing a mask to...'

• 乘著晚風去追尋逍遙星空

  ➔ Using '乘著...去' to express 'by means of' or 'taking... to' for doing something

  ➔ '乘著' (chéng zhe) means 'by means of' or 'taking' (e.g., a wind or vehicle)

• 除去假的寬容 還真想不通

  ➔ Using '除去...' to mean 'removing...' or 'getting rid of...'

  ➔ '除去' (chú qù) means 'to remove' or 'to eliminate'