怯 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Joey Yung

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of Cantonese love songs with Joey Yung's “怯”. This ballad offers a glimpse into the emotional complexities of new relationships, teaching listeners how to express vulnerability and fear in Cantonese. Discover the rich lyrical tradition of Hong Kong pop music through this heartfelt track.

[English]

I really want to ask if you'll stay with me in the middle of the night

But I'm afraid you've heard my voice too many times

How can I expect you to be happy and joyful all for me every time

And I blame you—you're more connected with friends than with me

I look forward to you blooming like a flower, but honestly, I hate feeling expectant

I'm worried that true love might hurt, and I could hate the thought of us breaking up tomorrow

How can love be so reckless and foolish

Why is it that before my first kiss, I'm already afraid of losing you

Even before our date ends, I keep thinking of you

I'm such an idiot—praying too much for tomorrow at night

Thinking you'll be right in front of me

Why is it that before we even argue, I'm already dreading the fight

Facing your tests every day

For the first time, I worry I have no seductive qualities

Suspecting that everything is my fault, but I haven't realized it yet

I know unrequited love is risky, but I haven't escaped it yet

If first love is superficial, how could I be so excited and passionate

But still, I’m afraid of everything

Every day I can’t sleep, fearing my energy will disappear and linger around you

Yet I hear that love should be beautiful, and there's no need to fear death

How can I love you so much to give myself to you

Still afraid that your gratitude might turn into guilt

Why is it that before my first kiss, I'm afraid of losing you

Even before our date is over, I think of you

Again, I pray too much for tomorrow at night

Thinking you'll be right in front of me

Why is it that before we argue, I already want to fight with you

Facing your tests every day

Worrying whether I have enough strength to reach the end

I've even heard that knowing you too well can hinder us from developing

I know unrequited love is risky, but I haven't escaped it yet

If first love is superficial, how could I be so excited and passionate

But still, I’m afraid of everything

I know unrequited love is risky, but I haven't escaped it yet

If first love is superficial, how could I be so excited and passionate

I want everything, yet I fear everything

...

[Chinese]

很想要求 你會三更半夜陪著我

然而我怕 我的聲音你已聽得太多

怎麼可能 要你每次開心快樂全為我

還怪你 你跟知己也見得比我多

期待你的花會開 其實自己也都討厭期待

恐怕正式真實戀愛 痛恨明日也許分開

這麼不知所謂怎麼愛

為何還沒有初吻 便要怕失戀

約會未完便掛念

傻得我晚上過份祈求明天

以為你會在眼前

為何還沒有吵架 便怕與你開戰

每日面臨你考驗

頭一次顧慮我沒動人條件

懷疑全是我問題 沒發現

明知單戀驚險 但我還未脫險

如果初戀膚淺 怎麼我會興奮狂熱

但卻又 什麼都怯

天天失眠 我怕消失氣力纏著你

然而據說 愛得精彩別要貪生怕死

怎麼可能 愛你愛到將我自己捐給你

還怕你 會將感激變成對不起

為何還沒有初吻 便要怕失戀

約會未完便掛念

傻得我晚上過份祈求明天

以為你會在眼前

為何還沒有吵架 便要與你開戰

每日面臨你考驗

還擔心我沒氣力去到終點

還聽講過分瞭解 沒發展

明知單戀驚險 但我還未脫險

如果初戀膚淺 怎麼我會興奮狂熱

但卻又 什麼都怯

明知單戀驚險 但我還未脫險

如果初戀膚淺 怎麼我會興奮狂熱

什麼都想 什麼都怯

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
怕 (pà) /pʰâ/ A1	verb - to fear, to be afraid of
愛 (ài) /aɪ/ A1	verb - to love noun - love
聲音 (shēngyīn) /ʂɤ́ŋ.in/ A2	noun - voice, sound
開心 (kāixīn) /kʰái.ɕin/ A2	adjective - happy
快樂 (kuàilè) /kʰwài.lə/ A2	adjective - happy, joyful
花 (huā) /xwá/ A1	noun - flower
戀愛 (liàn'ài) /ljên.ài/ B1	verb - to be in love, to have a love affair noun - love
失戀 (shīliàn) /ʂɻ.ljên/ B1	verb - to be lovelorn, to be disappointed in love
約會 (yuēhuì) /y̯œ́.xwêi/ B1	noun - appointment, date verb - to make an appointment
晚上 (wǎnshàng) /wàn.ʂâŋ/ A1	noun - evening, night
祈求 (qíqiú) /t͡ɕʰǐ.t͡ɕʰjǒʊ/ B2	verb - to pray for, to beg
明天 (míngtiān) /mɪŋ.tʰjɛ́n/ A1	noun - tomorrow
吵架 (chǎojià) /t͡ʂʰàʊ.t͡ɕjâ/ B1	verb - to quarrel, to argue
考驗 (kǎoyàn) /kʰàʊ.jɛ̂n/ B2	noun - test, trial verb - to test, to try
懷疑 (huáiyí) /xwǎɪ.ǐ/ B1	verb - to doubt, to suspect noun - doubt, suspicion
問題 (wèntí) /wə̂n.tʰǐ/ A2	noun - question, problem
興奮 (xīngfèn) /ɕíŋ.fə̂n/ B2	adjective - excited
氣力 (qìlì) /t͡ɕʰî.lî/ B2	noun - strength, energy
感激 (gǎnjī) /kàn.t͡ɕí/ B2	verb - to be grateful, to appreciate noun - gratitude

Key Grammar Structures

• 還怪你 你跟知己也見得比我多

  ➔ Using 'also' (也) to add information

  ➔ '也' indicates 'also' or 'too', adding another element to the previous statement.

• 期待你的花會開

  ➔ Using '會' to indicate future or possibility

  ➔ '會' is a modal verb indicating future tense or a future possibility.

• 我還未脫險

  ➔ Using '未' to express 'not yet' (negation with future implication)

  ➔ '未' is used to indicate 'not yet' or that something has not happened up to now.

• 明知單戀驚險 但我還未脫險

  ➔ Using '明知' to express 'knowing that' or 'aware that'

  ➔ '明知' means 'knowing that' or 'being aware that,' indicating a conscious awareness of a fact.

• 怎麼可能愛你愛到將我自己捐給你

  ➔ Using '怎麼可能' to express 'how is it possible' or disbelief

  ➔ ‘怎麼可能’ means 'how is it possible' and conveys disbelief or surprise about the situation.