深夜告別練習 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Zpecial, 賴映彤

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and emotional journey with Zpecial and Lai Ying Tung's "深夜告別練習" (Late Night Goodbye Practice). This poignant Cantonese synth-pop track offers a beautiful narrative about fleeting connections and the bittersweet art of farewells, perfect for learners to grasp everyday emotions and nuanced expressions in Cantonese. Its introspective lyrics and atmospheric soundscape provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the language's poetic depth and cultural sensitivity surrounding human relationships.

[English]

Walking alone on the road before dawn, wandering

Moving back and forth, drifting at the fastest pace

Traveling aimlessly, without asking for or blaming

In the pitch black night, stumbling and falling

But who is looking back on the road someday?

Impossible to forget, eyes shimmering like waves

A heart free of traces and dust

Stirs up my longing for this life

Walking through long miles hundreds of times, just hoping to meet

Moving through the streets, as if seasoned and experienced

Will you be just a moment ahead or behind, and almost brush past?

On the slide, tipping over, retreating, then turning around

For a moment, we seem infinitely close

Missing this moment

Eventually becoming strangers

Bending down under the moonlit night, speeding up then steadying

Every night, not coming home, searching for someone

Slowly forgetting, counting the minutes, seeking in regret

Still sliding through the cold days into summer

Confused, about to bury old dreams

Facing a surprising encounter with her

Dared to start a conversation

Walking the same path, dreaming and chatting softly

If you're thirsty, let's share a drink, shall we?

Laughing and scolding amidst the hazy fog

Unable to tell if this half-evening is real or fake, yet it’s blooming

On the slide, tipping over, retreating, then turning around

For a moment, we seem infinitely close

Meeting at this moment

Always strangers like this

Bending down under the moonlight, speeding up then steadying

Tonight I won't go home, walking with someone

Slowly forgetting, sharing minutes on the street

But then you turn around again

Leaving no trace, no words

Saying goodbye in this moment

Claiming you like someone so unfamiliar

Eyes shining with tears, kissing me, saying farewell, no more questions

A glance back, I again clutch my heart tightly

Hoping for a new day to continue, waiting for what’s next

...

[Chinese]

黎明前獨個踩於路上 遊盪

來來回回 用最快 速度在流浪

無求無尤地往返

淒身漆黑裡 跌撞

然而誰在某天於路上 回望

無從忘懷是眼睛閃耀著如浪

無痕無塵的心臟

掀起這一世嚮往

踏盡長途百次 只想碰面

穿梭於 街道上 猶似歷練

妳會否在前與後 差一剎 便擦肩

滑道上傾側倒退又轉身

我與妳一刻似是無限近

錯過若於此刻

終於都這樣陌生

月夜下彎身加快又企穩

每晚也不歸家找一個人

徐徐遺忘分針 於抱憾中覓尋

仍如常滑過冷天踏入 炎夏

糊糊塗塗就快要將舊夢 埋下

迎來奇情遇上她

膽敢展開了對話

同途同行就這麼踩著夢 閒話

説到渴了就對分一支水 喝嗎

迷迷濛濛的笑罵

搞不清這半晚真假 卻已經開花

滑道上傾側倒退又轉身

我與妳一刻似是無限近

碰見就於此刻

始終都這樣陌生

月夜下彎身加快又企穩

這晚我不歸家跟一個人

徐徐遺忘分針 於馬路間共行

但然後妳卻又轉身

妳要走沒留下印

說告別於此刻

講喜歡我夠陌生

亮著淚眼 吻吻我 妳説再 別問

悠悠回眸 我再次 揪一揪心

我盼望於 新一天 繼續 等下文

Key Grammar Structures

• 黎明前獨個踩於路上 遊盪

  ➔ Use of 時間+前 + verb/clause to indicate 'before' a specific time

  ➔ '黎明前' means 'before dawn', with '前' indicating 'before'.

• 無求無尤地往返

  ➔ Use of 無 + noun + 地 + verb to describe doing something without certain qualities or conditions

  ➔ '無求無尤地' means 'without seeking or blaming', describing acting freely or without concern.

• 滑道上傾側倒退又轉身

  ➔ Use of 之後 / 又 / 又 + verb to connect actions sequentially

  ➔ '又' is used to link actions, meaning 'and then' or 'again', showing sequence.

• 錯過若於此刻

  ➔ Use of 若於 + time/place to express 'if' or 'when' something happens

  ➔ '若於' means 'if' or 'when', indicating a conditional or specific moment.

• 說告別於此刻

  ➔ Use of 說 + 告別 + 於 + 時間/時刻 to express 'to say farewell at (a specific moment)'

  ➔ '說告別於' means 'to say farewell at', denoting parting words at a specific moment.

• 講喜歡我夠陌生

  ➔ Use of 講 + 喜歡 + 我 + 夠 + 形容詞 to express 'to describe something as sufficiently' (e.g., sufficiently strange)

  ➔ '講喜歡我夠陌生' means 'to say that liking me is sufficiently strange or unfamiliar', emphasizing the degree.