十八 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Beyond
• Album: Goodtime

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the reflective world of Beyond's “十八,” a poignant Cantonese song that captures the essence of youth and the transition to adulthood. Discover the rich cultural context and the song's powerful connection to Hong Kong's social movements, offering a unique opportunity to learn about the band's later musical style and the social awareness of Hong Kong through music.

[English]

Never knowing how high the sky is or how deep the earth is, I gradually learn many worries.

I've tried both rules and freedom.

Maybe I have nothing left, or maybe I no longer want to pursue it.

I realize this earth is actually very big,

But my soul has already been corrupted.

If I use this song, it can represent me.

Help me add a little harmony for you.

If only all barriers could be gone,

It could represent me.

It can accompany you through good times and bad.

That's already enough for me.

...

Meeting again from the photo album, flipping through each page lightly.

At eighteen, it reappears before me.

Maybe everything is changing, or maybe I never really planned to.

I've already been far apart from myself, very far.

Spinning around in the waves.

If I use this song, it can represent me.

Help me add a little harmony for you.

If only all barriers could be gone,

It could represent me.

It can accompany you through good times and bad.

That's already enough for me.

...

If I use this song, it can represent me.

Help me add a little harmony for you.

If only all barriers could be gone,

It could represent me.

It can accompany you through good times and bad.

That's already enough for me.

...

That's already enough for me.

...

[Chinese]

從不知天高與地厚 漸學會很多困憂

也試過制度和自由

也許不再沒有 又或者不想再追究

我發覺這地球原來很大

但靈魂已經敗壞

如用這歌 可以代表我

幫我為你加一點附和

假使可以全沒隔阻

可以代表我

可以伴你不管福或禍

這樣已是很足夠

從相簿中跟我又再會面 輕翻起每一片

十八歲再度浮面前

也許一切在變 又或者始終沒打算

我與我分開已很遠 很遠

在浪潮兜兜轉轉

如用這歌 可以代表我

幫我為你加一點附和

假使可以全沒隔阻

可以代表我

可以伴你不管福或禍

這樣已是很足夠

如用這歌 可以代表我

幫我為你加一點附和

假使可以全沒隔阻

可以代表我

可以伴你不管福或禍

這樣已是很足夠

這樣已是很足夠

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
天高 /tiān gāo/ B2	adjective - The sky is high; boundless (often used to describe arrogance or naivete)
地厚 /dì hòu/ B2	adjective - The earth is thick; not knowing the immensity of the world
困憂 /kùn yōu/ B2	noun - Troubles; worries
制度 /zhì dù/ B1	noun - System; institution
自由 /zì yóu/ A2	noun - Freedom; liberty
追究 /zhuī jiū/ B2	verb - To investigate; to look into
地球 /dì qiú/ A2	noun - Earth; globe
靈魂 /líng hún/ B2	noun - Soul; spirit
敗壞 /bài huài/ C1	verb - To corrupt; to ruin; to degenerate
歌 /gē/ A1	noun - Song
代表 /dài biǎo/ B1	verb - To represent; to stand for
隔阻 /gé zǔ/ C1	noun - Obstacle; barrier
相簿 /xiàng bù/ B1	noun - Photo album
會面 /huì miàn/ B1	verb - To meet
歲 /suì/ A1	noun - Year (of age)
浪潮 /làng cháo/ B2	noun - Tide; wave
福 /fú/ B1	noun - Blessing; good fortune
禍 /huò/ B2	noun - Misfortune; disaster

Key Grammar Structures

• 從不知天高與地厚

  ➔ Negation with 不了 (bu le) or 不 (bu) + verb

  ➔ The phrase '從不知' uses '不' to negate the verb '知', meaning 'never know'.

• 漸學會很多困憂

  ➔ Use of '漸' + verb to indicate gradual action

  ➔ The character '漸' (gradually) modifies the verb '學會' to show gradual learning.

• 也許不再沒有

  ➔ Use of '也許' + negative structure to express possibility

  ➔ The phrase '也許不再沒有' uses '也許' to suggest possibility, and the double negative '不再沒有' emphasizes the removal of something persistent.

• 可以代表我

  ➔ Use of '可以' + verb to express possibility or capability

  ➔ The phrase '可以代表我' uses '可以' to indicate that something can represent the speaker.

• 不管福或禍

  ➔ Use of '不管' + Clifford conjunction to mean 'regardless of'

  ➔ The phrase '不管福或禍' uses '不管' to indicate 'regardless of fortune or misfortune'.

• 這樣已是很足夠

  ➔ Use of '已是' + adjective/quantifier to emphasize sufficiency

  ➔ The phrase '這樣已是很足夠' uses '已是' to emphasize that something is already quite sufficient.