男二號 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 薛之謙

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of Chinese emotional expression through 薛之謙's “男二號,” a song that delves into the complex feelings of unrequited love and silent support. This song offers a unique opportunity to understand the cultural perspectives on relationships and the unspoken sacrifices within them, wrapped in a beautifully crafted melody and poignant lyrics.

[English]

That script is so deliberately written

I don't really matter

The reason I exist

Is to support him and you

I'm not that petty

Still have to face you

Set the stage for my breath to pause

All because of you

That's why I'm especially important

Playing the second male lead for you

Don't push if I don't take the lead

Waiting for you to worry about love

You’ll come find me

What episode am I on now

Watching you reconcile

Tears falling from the audience

Your apologies are careless

I understand it’s all just acting

I'm okay

This script is a pity

It’s worn out my sincerity

After all, I’m the lead

Having the ability to heal oneself

I’ve long been captivated

Will do my best to cooperate with you

Making the drama touching and grand

Just seeking a little reward

That’s why I’m especially important

Playing the second male lead for you

Don’t push if I don’t take the lead

Waiting for you to worry about love

You’ll come find me

What episode am I on now

Watching you reconcile

Tears falling from the audience

Your apologies are careless

I understand it’s all just acting

I’m okay

The final scene

I’m especially important

You run away at the last minute

I can’t heal anymore

Your brief stopover

No need to explain

It feels like a knife stabbing me

I no longer care

But I can't copy this

Only you know

How much you loved me

Let’s meet again next time

Still young

[Chinese]

那劇本很刻意

我沒什麼意義

我存在的目的

是成全他和你

我不算太小氣

還總要面對你

設定我的喘息

全部因你而起

所以我特別重要

為你演繹男二號

不主動別計較

等你為情困擾

會來找

我到第幾集

目送你和好

觀眾眼淚掉

你歉意潦草

我懂這都是劇情騷

我還好

這劇本很可惜

耗光了我誠意

畢竟我是首席

有自愈的能力

我早已入了迷

會全力配合你

讓戲感天動地

好討一點獎勵

所以我特別重要

為你演繹男二號

不主動別計較

等你為情困擾

會來找

我到第幾集

目送你和好

觀眾眼淚掉

你歉意潦草

我懂這都是劇情騷

我還好

最後一場戲

我特別重要

你臨陣脫逃

我愈合不了

你短暫的停靠

沒解釋的必要

會如刀絞

我已無關緊要

但複製不了

只有你知道

愛過我多少

讓我們下次再遇到

還年少

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
劇本 /tɕŷː.pən˥˩/ B1	noun - script; screenplay
重要 /tʂʊ̂ŋ.ɻ̂aʊ̯˥˩/ A2	adjective - important, significant
演繹 /jɛn˥˩.îːk̚˥˩/ B2	verb - to interpret, to perform (a role)
男二號 /nâŋ˥˩.ʈɤ̂ː˥˩.xɑ̂ʊ̯˥˩/ B2	noun - male supporting role (second male lead)
主動 /tʂûː.tʊ̂ŋ˥˩/ B1	adjective - proactive, initiative
計較 /tɕîː.kɤ̂ː˥˩/ B2	verb - to haggle, to argue over trivial matters
目送 /mɤ̂ː.sʊ̂ŋ˥˩/ B2	verb - to see someone off, to watch from a distance as they leave
觀眾 /kʷân.tʂʊ̂ŋ˥˩/ B1	noun - audience, spectators
眼淚 /jɤ̌n.lêi˥˩/ A2	noun - tears
複製 /fúː.tɕîː˥˩/ B1	verb - to copy, to replicate
愛過 /âi˥˩.kwòː˥˩/ A2	verb - to have loved (in the past)
年少 /ɲɛn˩.ʂàʊ̯˥˩/ B1	adjective - young; juvenile
自愈 /tɕì˥.ɥ̂ː˥/ C1	verb - to self‑heal, to recover on one's own
能力 /nə̂ŋ.liː˥/ A2	noun - ability, capability
獎勵 /tɕjàŋ.ɹèi˥˩/ B1	noun - reward, prize
逃 /tɑ̂ʊ̯˥/ A2	verb - to escape, to flee
愈合 /ŷː.xɤ̂ː˥˩/ B2	verb - to heal, to mend
短暫 /tʂwɑ̂n.tɕi̯ɑ̂n˥˩/ B1	adjective - short‑lived, brief
必要 /pɤ̂i.jɔ̂ː˥˩/ B1	adjective - necessary, essential
刻意 /kʰɤ̂ː.îː˥˩/ B2	adjective - deliberate, intentional

Key Grammar Structures

• 那劇本很刻意

  ➔ Adjective predicate with the degree adverb 很

  ➔ The word "很" intensifies the adjective "刻意" to describe the script.

• 我沒什麼意義

  ➔ Negation with 沒 before a noun phrase

  ➔ The word "沒" negates the noun phrase "什麼意義", meaning "no meaning".

• 全部因你而起

  ➔ Cause‑result pattern 因…而…

  ➔ The phrase "因你而起" means "arises because of you", linking cause (因) and result (而).

• 不主動別計較

  ➔ Negative imperative using 別 + verb

  ➔ The word "別" precedes the verb "計較" to form the command "don't bother calculating".

• 耗光了我誠意

  ➔ Perfective aspect marker 了 after a verb

  ➔ The particle "了" after "耗光" shows that the action of exhausting sincerity is completed.

• 畢竟我是首席

  ➔ Conjunctive adverb 畢竟 meaning "after all"

  ➔ The word "畢竟" introduces a reason or conclusion: "After all, I am the chief."

• 會全力配合你

  ➔ Modal verb 會 indicating future or ability

  ➔ The modal "會" before "全力配合" shows the speaker's willingness or future intention to cooperate fully.

• 讓戲感天動地

  ➔ Causative construction 讓 + verb phrase

  ➔ The verb "讓" makes the following action happen: "let the drama feel earth‑shaking".

• 我早已入了迷

  ➔ Adverbial early marker 早已 combined with perfective 了

  ➔ The adverb "早已" (already long ago) and the particle "了" together stress that the speaker fell into a trance long before.

• 只有你知道

  ➔ Exclusive particle 只有 meaning "only"

  ➔ The word "只有" limits the knowledge to "you" – "Only you know".