沙文 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 林憶蓮

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the powerful message of 林憶蓮's “沙文”, a rock anthem that tackles gender inequality and societal pressures. By studying its strong lyrics, you'll gain insight into contemporary social issues and enhance your understanding of modern Chinese expression.

[English]

Is this genetic remote control?

Or the temptation of domination?

...

Before blooming, what flows is destined to be blood

After blooming, is there only withering left? (Stop!)

Black soil covers wide-open eyes (Just stop!)

Burying a pair of heavy witnesses the boundaries of power

Slowly spreading, a kind of restriction (Just stop!)

This is genetic remote control (I'm being controlled)

Or the temptation of domination (I'm being tempted)

The outline of invisible violence

...

The indifference that makes it hard to breathe

(Appreciating this kind of silence)

The silence under fear, scars piled up into dimples

...

How many executioners (Victory is in hand)

Are worshiped as heroes, a tenacious gentleness

(Is a kind of fragility)

Worn as decorative flowers (Playing the role of my red)

To you (Stop!)

A flower's mission is only to be beautiful (Just stop!)

Push to death when withered, can't destroy my dignity

Slowly spreading all over the mountains and fields

...

This is genetic remote control

Or the temptation of domination

The self that doesn't want to give in

...

Turn off the genetic remote control (The controlled me)

Cut off the temptation of domination (The tempted me)

The self with roots in the soul

...

Waves depend on the raging wind (The raging wind self)

Ultimately just a bubble, whoever fears it will be easily seen through

...

[Chinese]

這是基因的遙控

還是支配的誘惑

盛開之前 流的註定是血

盛開之後 難道只剩枯萎 (Stop!)

黑土蓋住眼睜睜 (Just stop!)

活埋一雙沉甸甸 見證了權力邊界

漫漫蔓延一種制約 (Just stop!)

這是基因的遙控 （我被遙控）

還是支配的誘惑 （我被誘惑）

隱形暴力的輪廓

不能呼吸的冷漠

（欣賞這種 沉默）

在恐懼下的沉默 傷痕堆成了酒窩

多少劊子手 （勝券在握）

被崇拜成英雄 堅韌的溫柔

（是一種脆弱）

佩戴成 裝飾的花朵 （扮演我的紅）

對你而言 (Stop!)

花的任務只是美 (Just stop!)

凋謝了往死裡推 毀不掉我的尊嚴

漫漫蔓延滿山遍野

這是基因的遙控

還是支配的誘惑

不想屈服的自我

關掉基因的遙控 （遙控的我）

斷了支配的誘惑 （誘惑的我）

靈魂生根的自我

浪花依賴著狂風 （狂風自我）

最終也只是泡沫 誰恐懼一看就破

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
基因 (jīyīn) /dʒiːˈiːn/ B2	noun - gene
遙控 (yáokòng) /jɑʊˈkɔŋ/ B2	verb - to control remotely noun - remote control
支配 (zhīpèi) /ʈʂʰɨ́peɪ/ C1	verb - to dominate, to control noun - domination, control
誘惑 (yòuhuò) /joʊˈxwɔ/ B2	noun - temptation verb - to tempt
盛開 (shèngkāi) /ʃəŋˈkaɪ/ B2	verb - to bloom, to be in full bloom
血 (xiě) /ʃjɛ/ A1	noun - blood
枯萎 (kūwěi) /kʰúwèi/ B2	verb - to wither
黑 (hēi) /xeɪ/ A1	adjective - black
土 (tǔ) /tʰù/ A1	noun - earth, soil
活埋 (huómái) /xwɔ̌mái/ C1	verb - to bury alive
權力 (quánlì) /tɕʰwǎnlɪ/ B2	noun - power, authority
邊界 (biānjiè) /bjɛ́ntɕjɛ/ B1	noun - border, boundary
制約 (zhìyuē) /ʈʂɨ̀ʏœ/ C1	noun - restriction, constraint verb - to restrict, to constrain
輪廓 (lúnkuò) /lʊ̌nkʰwɔ/ B2	noun - outline, contour
暴力 (bàolì) /pɑʊlɪ/ B1	noun - violence
冷漠 (lěngmò) /lɤŋmɔ/ B2	adjective - indifferent, apathetic
沉默 (chénmò) /ʈʂənmɔ/ B1	noun - silence adjective - silent
恐懼 (kǒngjù) /kʰɔŋtɕy/ B2	noun - fear, dread
傷痕 (shānghén) /ʂɑŋxən/ B2	noun - scar
劊子手 (guìzishǒu) /kueɪtsɨʃoʊ/ C1	noun - executioner
崇拜 (chóngbài) /ʈʂʰʊŋpaɪ/ B2	verb - to worship, to adore
英雄 (yīngxióng) /iŋɕjʊŋ/ A2	noun - hero
堅韌 (jiānrèn) /tɕjɛnrən/ B2	adjective - firm and tenacious, tough
溫柔 (wēnróu) /wənrɔʊ/ B1	adjective - gentle, tender
脆弱 (cuìruò) /tsʰweɪɻwɔ/ B2	adjective - fragile, weak
花朵 (huāduǒ) /xwɑduɔ/ A1	noun - flower
任務 (rènwù) /ʐənwʊ/ B1	noun - task, mission
美 (měi) /meɪ/ A1	adjective - beautiful
凋謝 (diāoxiè) /tjɑʊɕjɛ/ B2	verb - to wither, to fade
尊嚴 (zūnyán) /tsʊnjěn/ B2	noun - dignity, honor
屈服 (qūfú) /tɕʰyfy/ B2	verb - to surrender, to yield
自我 (zìwǒ) /tsɨ̀wɔ/ B2	noun - self, ego
靈魂 (línghún) /liŋxwʊn/ B1	noun - soul, spirit
生根 (shēnggēn) /ʂəŋgən/ B2	verb - to take root
浪花 (lànghuā) /lɑŋxwɑ/ B1	noun - wave, spray
狂風 (kuángfēng) /kʰwǎŋfəŋ/ B2	noun - gale, strong wind
泡沫 (pàomò) /pɑʊmɔ/ B2	noun - bubble, foam
毀 (huǐ) /xweɪ/ B2	verb - to destroy, to ruin

Key Grammar Structures

• 這是基因的遙控

  ➔ The use of '這是' (this is) + noun indicates a definition or identification.

  ➔ The phrase '**這是**' introduces a statement that clarifies what something represents.

• 還是支配的誘惑

  ➔ The word '還是' indicates a choice or contrast, meaning 'still' or 'or'.

  ➔ The phrase '**還是**' presents an alternative or contrast in the sentence.

• 活埋一雙沉甸甸

  ➔ The verb '活埋' (to bury alive) is used metaphorically here to indicate suppression or suppression of something or someone.

  ➔ The phrase '**活埋**' is used metaphorically to describe suppression or concealment.

• 盛開之前 流的註定是血

  ➔ The phrase '註定是' uses the structure '註定' (destined) + '是' (is) to express inevitability or predestination.

  ➔ The expression '**註定是**' indicates that something is destined or predetermined.

• 我被遙控

  ➔ The phrase '我被遙控' uses passive voice with '被' to indicate the subject is acted upon.

  ➔ The structure '**我被**' indicates a passive construction where '我' (I) is the receiver of the action.

• 斷了支配的誘惑

  ➔ The verb '斷了' (to cut off, to break) indicates the cessation or interruption of an action or state.

  ➔ The phrase '**斷了**' emphasizes the stopping or breaking of the '誘惑' (temptation).