普渡眾生 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 林家謙

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the profound beauty of Cantonese through '普渡眾生' by Terence Lam. This song offers a gentle introduction to philosophical and emotional vocabulary related to life, loss, and acceptance. Its clear, piano-led melody makes the lyrics easy to follow, allowing learners to appreciate the poetic depth of Cantonese and explore universal themes of letting go and finding peace, making it a truly special piece for both musical and linguistic discovery.

[English]

People wandering through the cycle of dust, can't seem to let go

Meandering through the lives of reincarnation

...

A generous lamp in the sky, shining bright

Guiding wounds toward liberation, crossing to the next life, waiting again

On diverging roads, looking back at life, perhaps beyond fate

So many memories lost in regret and sorrow

Releasing it into the hidden depths of the heart

Remaining on this trembling platform, resonating together

People wandering through the cycle of dust, can't seem to let go

Meandering through the lives of reincarnation

Roots that haven't yet been severed, who will mourn for them

Still stubbornly burying their heads and moving forward

...

The weathered voice hums a southern tune

Echoes of lingering worries, unresolved worldly matters

A final dance begins, fleeting and without tomorrow

People wandering through the cycle of dust, can't seem to let go

Meandering through the lives of reincarnation

Roots that haven't yet been severed, who will mourn for them

Still saddened by the unshakable worldly dust (How can the past still linger?)

People wandering through the cycle of dust, perhaps in this lifetime

Liberating half a life tangled in knots

Growing roots with fallen leaves, no need for grief

Looking back at the countless beings liberated amidst regrets

Only then do I realize the blessings received

...

[Chinese]

輪迴塵間的人 揮之不能

徘徊來生的往生

蒼天慷慨的一盞五路燈

給傷痛引渡超脱往來生 又再等

分岔的走馬路返看人生 大概超出命運

多少的往事終給抱憾淹浸

將灑脱在心內幽禁

留在這悸動月台共振

輪迴塵間的人 揮之不能

徘徊來生的往生

還未斷的根 求誰來悲憫

仍頑固埋首往後行

滄桑的聲線哼起了南音

響起牽掛種種世事餘韻 未結束

翩翩起了一支最後沒明日的舞

輪迴塵間的人 揮之不能

徘徊來生的往生

還未斷的根 求誰來悲憫

仍為抹不開的世塵傷感 (前塵未過怎生?)

輪迴塵間的人 今生可能

渡化纏繞的半生

隨落葉生根 毋用來悲忿

回望在多少遺憾中普渡的眾生

才覺已得到福蔭

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
輪迴 (lúnhuí) /lun2 hui2/ B2	noun - reincarnation, cycle of rebirth
塵間 (chénjiān) /chén jiān/ C1	noun - the mortal world, earthly realm
往生 (wǎngshēng) /wǎng shēng/ C1	noun - rebirth (in Buddhism), afterlife
蒼天 (cāngtiān) /cāng tiān/ C1	noun - the blue sky; Heaven; God
慷慨 (kāngkǎi) /kāng kǎi/ B2	adjective - generous, liberal
傷痛 (shāngtòng) /shāng tòng/ B2	noun - pain, suffering
引渡 (yǐndù) /yǐn dù/ C1	verb - to extradite; (in Buddhism) to guide (souls to salvation)
超脱 (chāotuō) /chāo tuō/ C1	verb - to transcend, to be detached
分岔 (fēnchà) /fēn chà/ B2	verb - to fork, to diverge
走馬路 (zǒumǎlù) /zǒu mǎ lù/ C2	noun - Thoroughfare, main road; (figurative) life's journey.
命運 (mìngyùn) /mìng yùn/ B1	noun - fate, destiny
往事 (wǎngshì) /wǎng shì/ B2	noun - past events, bygone days
抱憾 (bàohàn) /bào hàn/ C1	verb - to regret, to feel remorse
淹浸 (yānjìn) /yān jìn/ C2	verb - to submerge, to flood; (figurative) to overwhelm
灑脫 (sǎtuō) /sǎ tuō/ B2	adjective - unrestrained, natural, free and easy
幽禁 (yōujìn) /yōu jìn/ C1	verb - to imprison, to confine (esp. for political reasons)
悸動 (jìdòng) /jì dòng/ C1	noun - palpitation, throbbing; emotional stirring
月台 (yuètái) /yuè tái/ B1	noun - platform (railway)
共振 (gòngzhèn) /gòng zhèn/ B2	verb - to resonate
悲憫 (bēimǐn) /bēi mǐn/ C1	verb - to show compassion, to pity
頑固 (wángù) /wán gù/ B1	adjective - stubborn, obstinate
滄桑 (cāngsāng) /cāng sāng/ C1	adjective - full of vicissitudes, having experienced great changes
牽掛 (qiānguà) /qiān guà/ B2	verb - to worry about, to be concerned about
世事 (shìshì) /shì shì/ B2	noun - worldly affairs, human affairs
餘韻 (yúyùn) /yú yùn/ C1	noun - lingering charm, aftertaste
翩翩 (piānpiān) /piān piān/ B2	adverb - lightly and gracefully
纏繞 (chánrào) /chán rào/ B2	verb - to twine, to entangle
落葉 (luòyè) /luò yè/ A2	noun - fallen leaves
生根 (shēnggēn) /shēng gēn/ B1	verb - to take root
遺憾 (yíhàn) /yí hàn/ B2	noun - regret, sorrow
普渡 (pǔdù) /pǔ dù/ C1	verb - to save all living beings (Buddhism)
眾生 (zhòngshēng) /zhòng shēng/ C1	noun - all living beings (Buddhism)
福蔭 (fúyìn) /fú yìn/ C1	noun - blessing, divine protection