Shall We Talk – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳奕迅

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a journey of cultural and emotional discovery, and Eason Chan's 'Shall We Talk' is a perfect gateway into the heart of Cantonese expression. This song is special because its simple, yet profound, lyrics about the universal human need for connection can help you learn words and phrases that convey deep feeling. As you listen, you'll not only pick up the beautiful sounds of Cantonese but also gain insight into the subtle ways emotions are expressed in the culture, making your language learning experience both meaningful and memorable.

[English]

Why does the bright moonlight shine again on the temple?

I'd rather hide in the park, not want to drink the soup

Letting our eyes linger on a corner of the comic

Why does a look at my mother feel like a punishment?

Children just hope for joy, adults only know how to expect

Why don't we understand each other's efforts to cherish?

Outside the door, there are crickets; their echoes feel like illusions

Shall we talk, shall we talk

Let's pretend to hold hands again and go to school

Talk with me, tell me how we ended up so estranged

Who's afraid to speak? Who's sadder than dancing alone in loneliness?

It's rare to sit together—why avoid the vulnerability?

If speaking truly heals, who’s afraid to reveal more? Don't fear me

...

The screen glows, showing everything

Lovers on the brink of breaking up, only daring to sip soup

If silence is gold, why still talk about love?

I'd rather smile and stay busy in front of the voice machine

Adults hope to gain; lovers only hear promises

Why don't we understand how to cherish each other more?

Mantis facing the cricket, echoes feel like illusions

Shall we talk, shall we talk

Even if my jaw starts to shake, don’t lie

Talk with me, tell me how our distance grew

Who's afraid to speak? Who's sadder than dancing alone in loneliness?

It's rare to sit together—why avoid the vulnerability?

If speaking truly heals, who’s afraid to reveal more?

Talk with me, face the tears and see who falls harder

Cannot speak, unless we've lost the ability to touch each other

The ringing can bring calm, but grief is unavoidable

If silence is too heavy, don't just pass over it lightly

...

Why doesn’t the bright moonlight shine over the temple?

Children are busy at work, no need to drink soup

And shall we talk, as the setting sun rushes by

Silence makes me listen to the leaves falling softly

...

[Chinese]

明月光為何又照地堂?

寧願在公園躲藏 不想喝湯

任由目光留在漫畫一角

為何望母親一眼就如罰留堂?

孩童只盼望歡樂 大人只知道寄望

為何都不大懂得努力體恤對方?

大門外有蟋蟀 迴響卻如同幻覺

Shall we talk, shall we talk

就當重新手拖手去上學堂

陪我講 陪我講出我們最後何以生疏

誰怕講? 誰會可悲得過孤獨探戈?

難得可以同座 何以要忌諱赤裸?

如果心聲真有療效 誰怕暴露更多? 你別怕我

屏幕發光 無論什麼都看

情人在分手邊緣 只敢喝湯

若沉默似金 還談什麼戀愛?

寧願在發聲機器面前笑著忙

成人只寄望收穫 情人只聽見承諾

為何都不大懂得努力珍惜對方?

螳螂面對蟋蟀 迴響也如同幻覺

Shall we talk, shall we talk

就算牙關開始打震 別說謊

陪我講 陪我講出我們最後何以生疏

誰怕講? 誰會可悲得過孤獨探戈?

難得可以同座 何以要忌諱赤裸?

如果心聲真有療效 誰怕暴露更多?

陪我講 陪我親身正視眼淚誰跌得多

無法講 除非彼此已失去了能力觸摸

鈴聲可以寧靜 難過卻避不過

如果沉默太沉重 別要輕輕帶過

明月光為何未照地堂?

孩兒在公司很忙 不需喝湯

And shall we talk 斜陽白趕一趟

沉默令我聽得見葉兒聲聲降

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
照 /t͡ʂɑʊ̯/ B1	verb - to shine; to illuminate; to reflect
躲藏 /duò cáng/ B2	verb - to hide; to conceal oneself
目光 /mù guāng/ B2	noun - sight; view; gaze
盼望 /pàn wàng/ B2	verb - to hope for; to look forward to noun - hope; expectation
努力 /nǔ lì/ B1	verb - to make an effort; to strive adjective - hardworking
體恤 /tǐ xù/ C1	verb - to understand and sympathize with; to show consideration
蟋蟀 /xī shuài/ B2	noun - cricket (insect)
迴響 /huí xiǎng/ B2	noun - echo; reverberation
幻覺 /huàn jué/ C1	noun - illusion; hallucination
生疏 /shēng shū/ B2	adjective - unfamiliar; estranged
可悲 /kě bēi/ B2	adjective - pathetic; sad
孤獨 /gū dú/ B1	adjective - lonely; isolated
忌諱 /jì huì/ C1	verb - to be taboo; to avoid as unlucky
赤裸 /chì luǒ/ B2	adjective - naked; bare
療效 /liáo xiào/ C1	noun - curative effect; therapeutic effect
暴露 /bào lù/ C1	verb - to expose; to reveal
沉默 /chén mò/ B1	adjective - silent; taciturn noun - silence
珍惜 /zhēn xī/ B2	verb - to cherish; to treasure

Key Grammar Structures

• 為何又照地堂?

  ➔ Use of the question word '為何' (why) to form a question.

  ➔ '為何' means 'why' and is used to ask about the reason or cause.

• 就當重新手拖手去上學堂

  ➔ Use of '就' to indicate 'just' or 'simply' doing something.

  ➔ '就' indicates that the action is happening simply or as a natural consequence.

• 誰怕講?

  ➔ Use of '誰' to ask 'who' and '怕' to express 'fear' or 'be afraid'.

  ➔ '誰' means 'who' and '怕' means 'fear' or 'be afraid of', used together to ask who is afraid to speak.

• 陪我講 陪我講出我們最後何以生疏

  ➔ Use of '陪' as a verb meaning 'to accompany' or 'to spend time with'.

  ➔ '陪' means to accompany or spend time with someone, used here to express sharing moments with someone else.

• 你别怕我

  ➔ Use of '别' as a prohibitive form meaning 'don't', combined with '怕' to say 'don't be afraid'.

  ➔ '别' means 'don't' and is used to prohibit or advise against an action, here telling someone not to be afraid.

• 沉默令我聽得見葉兒聲聲降

  ➔ Use of '令' to mean 'make' or 'cause', and '得见' to indicate ability or perception.

  ➔ '令' means 'to make' or 'cause', and '得见' means 'able to see' or 'perceive'.