認真如初 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳柏宇

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a journey into the nuances of Cantonese love songs with Jason Chan's "認真如初" (Sincere as Ever). This song offers a beautiful lyrical exploration of sustained devotion and the art of nurturing a lifelong partnership, providing an authentic and relatable entry point into the richness of the Cantonese language and its emotional expressions.

[English]

Until only the sea is quiet

I walk, and you follow

This shadow of ours

Remains unchanged through storm and rain

Having experienced joy and sorrow

Learning to boldly declare my love

Love so pure, let me be the one to show it

Devoting my lifetime to you

Promises made, living seriously with you

From loving to being together

Is undeniably a philosophical question

Hand in hand, crossing the snowy white ground

Spring breeze blows, flowers bloom

Counting all the moments from the start

...

Keep moving forward, climbing mountains

Some things are easy, some are hard

But everything shines brightly and beautifully

Just like your kindness never fades

Tomorrow, back to work again

Sharing my worries in your ear

Getting used to it? Just smile

Between bitterness and sweetness

Devoting my lifetime to you

Promises made, living seriously with you

From loving to being together

Is undoubtedly a philosophical question

Hand in hand, crossing the snowy white ground

Spring breeze blows, flowers bloom

Finding a shade of tree to stay together

Like the earth that finally calms, always a refuge

Devoting my lifetime to you

Promises made, living seriously with you

From arguing to embracing

If I don’t learn kindness, I’ll lose respect

This love speaks loudly and clearly

I only wish to be guiltless

Thinking back to the first time I fell in love

Proving everything with my eyes

Seeing you clearly once more

Devoting my lifetime to you

Promises made, living seriously with you

From first sight to growing old together

Turns out, it’s a beautiful lesson

Hand in hand, crossing the snowy white ground

Spring breeze blows, flowers bloom

Finding a shade of tree to stay together

Like a step gone astray

Hearts always find their way back

Devoting my lifetime to you

Only wish to grow old, feeling comforted

From far away to close by

Fate makes you by my side beautiful and precious

Marriage vows spoken clearly and proudly

I only wish to be guiltless

Never lower my standards

Never humiliate you

Stay with me for a lifetime

...

[Chinese]

寧靜到 只有海

我走著 你跟來

這一雙背影

就這麼風雨不改

遊歷過 喜與哀

學會放膽宣揚我的愛

這麼愛 交給我來公開

留一輩子給你

承諾認真與你活一世

從相愛到相處

無疑是一個哲學命題

手牽手跨過白雪

春風吹花卉

從數著最初的一切

行下去 攀上山

有些易 有些難

卻風光美好

像你的親切不減

明日再 趕上班

在你耳邊紓懷

慣不慣 笑一笑

於苦與甜之間

留一輩子給你

承諾認真與你活一世

從相愛到相處

無疑是一個哲學命題

手牽手跨過白雪

春風吹花卉

尋個樹蔭雙宿雙棲

如大地靜了 總有依歸

留一輩子給你

承諾認真與你學一世

從爭拗到擁抱

仁慈若學不懂我便失禮

這種愛擲地有聲

我但願無愧

想到最初 動情之際

憑雙眼證明一切

重新將你看仔細

留一輩子給你

承諾認真與你活一世

從初見到終老

原來是一個美學命題

手牽手跨過白雪

春風吹花卉

尋個樹蔭雙宿雙棲

如步伐亂了

心中有依歸

留一輩子給你

唯求認真到老懷安慰

從很遠到很近

緣份令枕邊的你美麗而矜貴

婚約擲地有聲

我但願無愧

不會放低

不將你放低

跟我一世

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
靜 /d͡ʒiŋ/ B1	adjective - quiet, still, calm
走 /tsoʊ/ A1	verb - to walk, to go
風雨 /fəŋ yü/ B2	noun - wind and rain; hardship, adversity
愛 /aɪ/ A1	noun - love verb - to love
承諾 /tʃʰɤŋ nwo/ B2	noun - promise, commitment verb - to promise
哲學 /ʈ͡ʂɤ.ɕɥɛ/ C1	noun - philosophy
白雪 /paɪ ɕɥɛ/ B1	noun - white snow
春風 /ʈ͡ʂʰwən fəŋ/ B2	noun - spring breeze
花卉 /xwɑ hwɛɪ/ B2	noun - flowers, flowering plants
山 /ʃan/ A1	noun - mountain
美好 /mei hɑʊ/ B1	adjective - fine, happy, glorious
耳邊 /ɚ biɛn/ B1	noun - earside, beside one's ear
苦 /kʰu/ A2	adjective - bitter
甜 /tʰian/ A2	adjective - sweet
樹蔭 /ʂu jin/ B2	noun - shade of a tree
大地 /da ti/ B1	noun - earth, the world
緣份 /ɥɛn fən/ B2	noun - fate, predestined affinity
美麗 /mei li/ B1	adjective - beautiful

Key Grammar Structures

• 寧靜到 只有海

  ➔ Adjective + 到 (dào) indicating degree

  ➔ The sentence uses "寧靜到" (níngjìng dào) to express that the level of tranquility is so high that only the sea exists. "到" here indicates the extent or degree to which the adjective applies.

• 就這麼風雨不改

  ➔ 就 (jiù) + 这么 (zhème) + Verb Phrase: Emphasizing the manner of the action.

  ➔ "就這麼風雨不改" (jiù zhème fēngyǔ bù gǎi) means "just like that, unchanging through wind and rain." "就這麼" emphasizes the simple and unwavering manner of the action (remaining unchanged).

• 遊歷過 喜與哀

  ➔ 過 (guò) indicating past experience.

  ➔ "遊歷過" (yóulì guò) means "have traveled/experienced." The "過" indicates that the action of traveling has been experienced.

• 學會放膽宣揚我的愛

  ➔ 學會 (xuéhuì) + Verb: Learning how to do something.

  ➔ "學會放膽宣揚" (xuéhuì fàngdǎn xuānyáng) means "learned to boldly proclaim." It describes learning the skill or ability to do something.

• 承諾認真與你活一世

  ➔ 與 (yǔ) meaning "with" and used to connect two subjects.

  ➔ "與你活一世" (yǔ nǐ huó yī shì) means "to live a lifetime with you." "與" connects the subject with the person they will live a lifetime with.

• 從相愛到相處

  ➔ 從 (cóng) ... 到 (dào) ...: From...to...

  ➔ "從相愛到相處" (cóng xiāng'ài dào xiāngchǔ) means "from loving each other to living together." This structure is used to indicate a transition or range between two points in time or states.

• 無疑是一個哲學命題

  ➔ 是 (shì) meaning "is" used to define or categorize a subject.

  ➔ "是一個哲學命題" (shì yī gè zhéxué mìngtí) means "is a philosophical proposition." "是" links the subject to its definition.