陌生人 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 蔡健雅

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of Mandarin Chinese through Tanya Chua's touching ballad, “陌生人”. This song provides a window into understanding themes of love, loss, and acceptance, making it a meaningful way to learn the language of emotions and relationships. Discover how music can help you connect with Mandarin on a deeper, more personal level.

[English]

How much longing can a cloud carry?

In a sudden encounter on the street

When we brushed past each other, in that brief second

We both understood that everything had changed

Who can leave all emotions behind in just a turn?

After everything has passed

Even if this relationship was once deeply unforgettable

It's over, so what does it change?

How many times has the earth revolved?

I'm not sad anymore, I even sincerely hope you can be happy

When I understand that you only live in my memories

I don't hate you anymore, I even forgive your cruel reasons

When I understand that there's no more love, even memories are a burden

Who can leave all emotions behind in just a turn?

After everything has passed

Even if this relationship was once deeply unforgettable

It's over, so what does it change?

Our passionate love is now unfamiliar

I'm not sad anymore, I even sincerely hope you can be happy

When I understand that you only live in my memories

I don't hate you anymore, I even forgive your cruel reasons

When I understand that there's no more love, even memories are a burden

I'm not sad anymore, I even sincerely hope you can be happy

When I understand that you only live in my memories

I don't hate you anymore, I even appreciate this unexpected encounter

When I see in your eyes that we're already strangers

I am already a stranger

[Chinese]

一朵雲能載多少思念的寄託

在忽然相遇街頭

當我們擦身而過 那短短一秒鐘

都明白　什麼都變了

一轉身誰能把感慨拋在腦後

在事過境遷以後

這段情就算曾經 刻骨且銘心過

過去了　又改變什麼

地球它又　公轉幾週了

我不難過了　甚至真心希望你能幸福

當我瞭解　你只活在記憶裡頭

我不恨你了　甚至原諒你的殘忍理由

當我瞭解不愛了　連回憶都是負荷

一轉身誰能把感慨拋在腦後

在事過境遷以後

這段情就算曾經 刻骨且銘心過

過去了　又改變什麼

濃情愛戀　都已陌生了

我不難過了　甚至真心希望你能幸福

當我瞭解　你只活在記憶裡頭

我不恨你了　甚至原諒你的殘忍理由

當我瞭解不愛了　連回憶都是負荷

我不難過了　甚至真心希望你能幸福

當我瞭解　你只活在記憶裡頭

我不恨你了 甚至感謝這樣不期而遇

當我從你眼中發現已是　陌生人了

我已是　陌生人了

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
雲 /yún/ A1	noun - cloud
思念 /sīniàn/ B2	noun - longing, missing someone
相遇 /xiāngyù/ B1	verb - to meet, to encounter
感慨 /gǎngǎi/ C1	noun - emotion, sentiment
改變 /gǎibiàn/ B2	verb - to change
幸福 /xìngfú/ A2	noun - happiness
記憶 /jìyì/ B1	noun - memory
殘忍 /cánrěn/ C1	adjective - cruel
負荷 /fùhè/ C2	noun - burden, load
陌生 /mòshēng/ B2	adjective - strange, unfamiliar

Key Grammar Structures

• 一朵雲能載多少思念的寄託

  ➔ Potential Complement (能)

  ➔ The use of “能 (néng)” indicates capability or possibility. Here, it questions how much longing a cloud is capable of carrying. "能载" means "able to carry".

• 當我們擦身而過 那短短一秒鐘 都明白　什麼都變了

  ➔ 都 used for generalization / emphasis

  ➔ “都” here emphasizes that everyone/everything changed, not just some things. It creates a stronger sense of universality to the realization.

• 一轉身誰能把感慨拋在腦後

  ➔ Rhetorical Question (誰能)

  ➔ “誰能 (shéi néng)” implies that no one can easily forget their feelings, making the question rhetorical. It's used to express a strong statement rather than seek an answer.

• 刻骨且銘心過

  ➔ 且 (qiě) - Conjunctive adverb indicating 'and' and a stronger connection between the adjectives

  ➔ “且” connects "刻骨" (deeply engraved in bone) and "銘心" (etched in the heart). It emphasizes the intensity of the feeling, more so than just using “和 (hé)” or “與 (yǔ)”.

• 地球它又　公轉幾週了

  ➔ Subject + '它' + 又...

  ➔ Using '它' after '地球' emphasizes that the Earth, in a detached and impersonal way, has continued its orbit. '它' functions like 'it' and highlights the Earth's indifference to personal emotions.

• 當我瞭解不愛了　連回憶都是負荷

  ➔ 连...都 structure (lián...dōu)

  ➔ “连...都 (lián...dōu)” emphasizes that even memories have become a burden. It indicates that everything related to the past relationship has a negative weight, even something as intangible as memories.

• 甚至感謝這樣不期而遇

  ➔ 甚至 (shènzhì) - adverb meaning 'even'

  ➔ The adverb “甚至” emphasizes that she's not just *okay* with the unexpected encounter, but actually grateful for it. It underscores the extent of her emotional healing and acceptance.

• 當我從你眼中發現已是　陌生人了

  ➔ 已是 (yǐ shì) - 'already is'

  ➔ “已是 (yǐ shì)” indicates a state that has already come into being. In this context, the person she once knew has definitively transformed into a stranger. It's a statement of finality.