明天 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Diana Wang, 王蕾, Khalil Fong

Lyrics & Translation

'明天' (Tomorrow) offers a unique opportunity to learn Mandarin through a captivating blend of classic Chinese culture and modern music. The song's fusion of Beijing Opera and R&B provides a window into both traditional storytelling and contemporary language use, making the learning process both exciting and culturally enriching.

[English]

The crimson sunset remains, silent on the windowsill

Peach, horse, pear, spear—how willing am I?

I just want tomorrow, osmanthus scent, to lull you to sleep

When I return, when will my love no longer hurt?

Singing this tune, forever in my heart

Starting tomorrow, I won't be able to hold your hand again

Tomorrow, I'll watch your back fade away

Tomorrow, our tenderness will no longer lock in our memories

From now on, etched deep in my soul

...

Purple night sky, full of fog, leaning on your shoulder

Ancient trees, misty wind—reluctant

I only want tomorrow to see your familiar smile

When I return, when will my love no longer hurt?

Singing this tune, forever in my heart

Starting tomorrow, I can't hold your hand anymore

Tomorrow, watching your figure disappear in the distance

Tomorrow, our tenderness no longer trapped in thoughts

From now on, imprinted in my soul

...

Goodbye—first, tell me who it is

Bound by hair, following, never letting go of my lord

Seeing tomorrow, how to recall those days

...

Back in the day, peach blossoms, mighty and fearless

Enemy blood splattered, pomegranate skirt

Back in the day, peach blossoms, mighty and fearless

Enemy blood flying, pomegranate skirt

...

Back in the day, peach blossoms, mighty and fearless

Enemy blood splattered, pomegranate skirt

Back in the day, peach blossoms, mighty and fearless

Enemy blood flying, pomegranate skirt

...

[Chinese]

嫣紅夕陽依舊 靜臥在窗沿

桃馬梨槍 怎情願

我只想明天 桂花香 伴你入眠

歸來 幾時才 我的愛 別傷懷

唱著 這曲調 心中 永駐

明天開始 再也無法牽你的手

明天就要 看著背影淹沒

明天你我 柔情不復在思念上鎖

從此要銘心刻骨

霧紫夜空漫天 依偎在你肩

古木嵐煙 不情願

我只想明天 看見你 熟悉笑顏

歸來 幾時才 我的愛 別傷懷

唱著 這曲調 心中 永駐

明天開始 再也無法牽你的手

明天就要 看著背影淹沒

明天你我 柔情不復在思念上鎖

從此要銘心刻骨

再見 先說是誰

束髮追隨 絕不讓鬚眉

眼看明天 要怎麼喚回想當年

想當年 桃花馬上威風凜凜

敵血飛濺石榴裙

想當年 桃花馬上威風凜凜

敵血飛濺石榴裙

想當年 桃花馬上威風凜凜

敵血飛濺石榴裙

想當年 桃花馬上威風凜凜

敵血飛濺石榴裙

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
明天 /míng tiān/ A1	noun - tomorrow
愛 /ài/ A2	noun - love
心 /xīn/ A2	noun - heart
情 /qíng/ B1	noun - emotion/feeling
夢 /mèng/ B1	noun - dream
笑 /xiào/ A2	verb - to laugh/smile
眼 /yǎn/ A2	noun - eye
歌 /gē/ A1	noun - song
手 /shǒu/ A1	noun - hand
影 /yǐng/ B1	noun - shadow
回 /huí/ A2	verb - to return
情願 /qíng yuàn/ B2	verb - to be willing
淹沒 /yān mò/ B2	verb - to drown/immerse
刻骨 /kè gǔ/ C1	verb - to engrave deeply
依偎 /yī wēi/ B2	verb - to snuggle/lean against

Key Grammar Structures

• 我只想明天

  ➔ Using '只' (only) to emphasize limitation or exclusivity

  ➔ '只' indicates that the speaker's desire is limited to wanting only the next day

• 再也無法牽你的手

  ➔ Using '再也' (never again) with a negative verb to express a permanent ending

  ➔ '再也' indicates the impossibility of something happening again, emphasizing finality

• 唱著這曲調 心中永駐

  ➔ Using '著' (zhe) to indicate ongoing action or state

  ➔ '著' indicates that the singing and the feeling of 'heart forever stays' are ongoing

• 從此要銘心刻骨

  ➔ Using '從此' (from now on) to indicate a point in time and '要' (will/must) to indicate intention

  ➔ '從此' indicates starting from this point in time, and '要' indicates a future intention or action to be taken

• 敵血飛濺石榴裙

  ➔ Using '飛濺' (to splash/fly scattering) to describe violent action

  ➔ '飛濺' describes blood splashing or scattering violently, indicating intense conflict or action

• 桃花馬上威風凜凜

  ➔ Using '馬上' (immediately) to indicate immediacy, and '威風凜凜' as an idiomatic phrase to describe majestic and formidable presence

  ➔ '馬上' emphasizes immediacy, meaning 'right away' or 'immediately', and '威風凜凜' describes a majestic and awe-inspiring appearance