飄洋過海來看你 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 劉明湘

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt melody of Liu Mingxiang's "飄洋過海來看你" (Across the Ocean to See You) – a song that beautifully expresses profound longing and the dedication to overcome vast distances for love or a dream. Learning the lyrics and understanding the cultural context of this Mandopop classic will not only deepen your appreciation for Chinese music but also provide a rich and emotive way to practice Mandarin Chinese, allowing you to grasp nuanced expressions of love, perseverance, and hope.

[English]

For you, I used half a year's savings, crossing the ocean just to see you

For this reunion, I practiced my breath over and over again just to be ready to meet you

Words have never been able to express even a tiny fraction of my feelings for you

Because of this regret, I keep thinking all night and can't fall asleep

Memories gradually accumulate in my heart, impossible to erase

For your promise, I held back tears even in the most hopeless moments

...

In this strange city, in familiar corners

We once comforted each other, once embraced and sighed. No matter what the future holds

Watching you leave into the vast wind and sand, I was overwhelmed with sadness

I wish I could see you off a thousand miles, until the mountains run out and waters dry, staying with you all my life

...

For you, I used half a year's savings, crossing the ocean just to see you

For this reunion, I practiced my breath over and over again just to be ready to meet you

Words have never been able to express even a tiny fraction of my feelings for you

Because of this regret, I keep thinking all night and can't fall asleep

Memories gradually accumulate in my heart, impossible to erase

For your promise, I held back tears even in the most hopeless moments

In this strange city, in familiar corners

We once comforted each other, once embraced and sighed. No matter what the future holds

Watching you leave into the vast wind and sand, I was overwhelmed with sadness

I wish I could see you off a thousand miles, until the mountains run out and waters dry, staying with you all my life

...

In this strange city, in familiar corners

We once comforted each other, once embraced and sighed. No matter what the future holds

Watching you leave into the vast wind and sand, I was overwhelmed with sadness

I wish I could see you off a thousand miles, until the mountains run out and waters dry, staying with you all my life

I wish I could send you off a thousand miles, until the mountains are exhausted and waters run dry, and stay with you forever

...

[Chinese]

為你我用了 半年的積蓄飄洋過海的來看你

為了這次相聚 我連見面時的呼吸都曾反覆練習

言語從來沒能將我的情意表達千萬分之一

為了這個遺憾 我在夜裡想了又想不肯睡去

記憶它總是慢慢的累積 在我心中無法抹去

為了你的承諾 我在最絕望的時候都忍著不哭泣

陌生的城市啊 熟悉的角落裡

也曾彼此安慰 也曾相擁嘆息 不管將會面對什麼樣的結局

在漫天風沙裡望著你遠去 我竟悲傷得不能自己

多盼能送君千里直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依

為你我用了半年的積蓄 飄洋過海的來看你

為了這次相聚 我連見面時的呼吸都曾反覆練習

言語從來沒能將我的情意表達千萬分之一

為了這個遺憾 我在夜裡想了又想不肯睡去

記憶它總是慢慢的累積 在我心中無法抹去

為了你的承諾 我在最絕望的時候都忍著不哭泣

陌生的城市啊 熟悉的角落裡

也曾彼此安慰 也曾相擁歎息 不管將會面對什麼樣的結局

在漫天風沙裡望著你遠去 我竟悲傷的不能自己

多盼能送君千里直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依

陌生的城市啊 熟悉的角落裡

也曾彼此安慰 也曾相擁歎息 不管將會面對什麼樣的結局

在漫天風沙裡望著你遠去 我竟悲傷的不能自己

多盼能送君千里直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依

多盼能送君千里直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
飄洋過海 /piāo yáng guò hǎi/ B2	verb - to travel across the ocean; to cross the sea
積蓄 /jī xù/ B2	noun - savings; accumulation
相聚 /xiāng jù/ B1	verb - to get together; to reunite
呼吸 /hū xī/ A2	noun - breath; breathing verb - to breathe
練習 /liàn xí/ A2	verb - to practice; to exercise
情意 /qíng yì/ B2	noun - affection; feeling; sentiment
表達 /biǎo dá/ B1	verb - to express; to convey
遺憾 /yí hàn/ B2	noun - regret; pity adjective - regretful
累積 /lěi jī/ B2	verb - to accumulate; to amass
承諾 /chéng nuò/ B1	noun - promise; commitment verb - to promise; to commit
絕望 /jué wàng/ B2	adjective - desperate; hopeless
忍 /rěn/ B1	verb - to endure; to tolerate
陌生 /mò shēng/ A2	adjective - strange; unfamiliar
熟悉 /shú xī/ A2	adjective - familiar
安慰 /ān wèi/ B1	verb - to comfort; to console
相擁 /xiāng yōng/ B2	verb - to embrace each other
嘆息 /tàn xī/ B2	verb - to sigh
結局 /jié jú/ B1	noun - ending; outcome; result
悲傷 /bēi shāng/ B1	adjective - sad; sorrowful
相依 /xiāng yī/ C1	verb - to depend on each other

Key Grammar Structures

• 為你我用了半年的積蓄

  ➔ 用了 (used) indicates a completed action; 在 + 时间段 indicates the duration of an action.

  ➔ The phrase "用了半年的積蓄" means "spent half a year's savings," indicating a completed purchase or effort over a specific period.

• 飄洋過海的來看你

  ➔ 飄洋過海 (to cross the ocean) is an idiomatic phrase indicating undertaking a long journey; 的 (de) links verb and noun, functioning as a descriptive complement.

  ➔ The phrase "飄洋過海的來看你" means "coming to see you after crossing the ocean," emphasizing the effort and distance involved.

• 言語從來沒能將我的情意表達千萬分之一

  ➔ 從來沒能 (never able to) expresses inability; 將 ... 表達 (to express) indicates the action of conveying feelings; 千萬分之一 (one ten-millionth) specifies an extremely small degree.

  ➔ This sentence means "never able to fully express my feelings," highlighting the limitations of words in conveying deep emotions.

• 在漫天風沙裡望著你遠去

  ➔ 在 + 空间/时间 + 动词 (is/are doing) indicates ongoing action; 望著 (looking at) is a continuous aspect of seeing; 遠去 (to go far away) describes movement away from the speaker.

  ➔ The phrase "在漫天風沙裡望著你遠去" means "watching you go away amidst the blowing sand," depicting a scene of longing and farewell.

• 多盼能送君千里直到山窮水盡

  ➔ 多盼 (hope a lot) expresses strong desire; 能 (can/able to) indicates ability or possibility; 直到 (until) shows the endpoint of an action; 山窮水盡 (mountains exhausted, rivers end) is an idiomatic phrase meaning to go to the very end.

  ➔ This line means "hoping to escort you a thousand miles until the mountains and rivers run out," expressing deep dedication and willingness to go to the very end for loved ones.