時代巨輪 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳奕迅
• Album: Listen to Eason Chan

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the rhythm of modern life through Eason Chan's “時代巨輪”. This energetic Cantopop song offers a great opportunity to learn Cantonese by exploring its poetic and critical lyrics about the pressures of our fast-paced world. The song is special for its powerful social commentary wrapped in a dynamic and compelling electronic soundscape, a testament to Eason Chan's versatility as an artist.

[English]

Unstoppable planning, unstoppable building

Every day the BB class is filled with doubts

Heart-stopping, shadows are trampled

Flowing like a motor, flowing like a script

Zero space leaves blank for time

A day's journey, too many choices

Long sleeves or tank tops, snacks or meals

Nursing or tearing down, entertainment or work

Moving forward or turning, hesitation in a moment

Tomorrow has already arrived

Always hoping for stability, still hoping for spontaneity

Singing endlessly, I fear this is my destiny

Unable to correct, unable to stop

From the start, born already aged

From the start, wings flapping but can't catch up

When the dominoes fall, I already know

Every day pushing me on the road, every day pushing me to improve

Hard to avoid being caught up in this terrifying era

...

Parting or marriage, harmony or competition

Ask me what to do, stop or turn

Helplessly, in the blink of an eye, the city gate is closed

The era reacts quickly, but I am slow

Endless competition, endless changing of programs

Soap operas continue day and night

Participating, which day will be the ending

I want to make good choices, really want to pause and think about how to live

Afraid, thinking about the future, the audience around me gets up and leaves

...

Always hoping for stability, still hoping for spontaneity

Singing endlessly, I fear this is my destiny

Unable to correct, unable to stop

From the start, born already aged

From the start, wings flapping but can't catch up

When the dominoes fall, I already know

Every day pushing me on the road, every day pushing me to improve

Hard to avoid being caught up in this terrifying era

From the start, born already aged

From the start, wings flapping but can't catch up

When the dominoes fall, I already know

Every day pushing me on the road, every day pushing me to improve

Hard to avoid being caught up in this terrifying era

...

[Chinese]

停不低地計劃 停不低地建立

BB班便每日疑惑

驚心動魄 背影給踐踏

流水式做馬達 流水式唸對白

零空間為歲月留白

一天路程 太多的抉擇

長袖或背心 零食或正餐

護理跟拆爛 娛樂或上班

前行還是轉彎 猶豫停頓瞬間

明日已經到站

常期望安定 還期望即興

無崖地唱唱唱唱我恐怕畢竟這是我的宿命

無能力修正 無能力嗌嗌嗌嗌嗌停

一開始誕下已經蒼老

一開始拍翼已追不到

當骨牌瀉下已知道

天天迫我上路 天天迫我進步

難避免捲入時代太恐怖

離別或結婚 和睦或競爭

問我怎去辦 停下或轉彎

無奈驟眼間 城門便已關

時代快反應慢

無止境地角逐 無止境換節目

肥皂劇日與夜延續

參演下去 哪一天結局

我 想好好抉擇 好想嗌暫停想一想哪樣過

怕 想一想以後 身邊觀眾便離座

常期望安定 還期望即興

無崖地唱唱唱唱我恐怕畢竟這是我的宿命

無能力修正 無能力嗌嗌嗌嗌嗌停

一開始誕下已經蒼老

一開始拍翼已追不到

當骨牌瀉下已知道

天天迫我上路 天天迫我進步

難避免捲入時代太恐怖

一開始誕下已經蒼老

一開始拍翼已追不到

當骨牌瀉下已知道

天天迫我上路 天天迫我進步

難避免捲入時代太恐怖

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
計劃 /jì huà/ B1	noun - plan
驚心動魄 /jīng xīn dòng pò/ C1	adjective - thrilling
抉擇 /jué zé/ B2	verb - to choose
安定 /ān dìng/ B1	noun - stability
宿命 /sù mìng/ C1	noun - destiny
迫 /pò/ B2	verb - to force
恐怖 /kǒng bù/ B2	adjective - terrifying
轉彎 /zhuǎn wān/ B1	verb - to turn
結婚 /jié hūn/ A2	verb - to marry
娛樂 /yú lè/ B1	noun - entertainment
瞬間 /shùn jiān/ B2	noun - moment
骨牌 /gǔ pái/ C2	noun - domino
日 /rì/ A1	noun - day
夜 /yè/ A1	noun - night
空間 /kōng jiān/ B1	noun - space
能力 /néng lì/ B2	noun - ability

Key Grammar Structures

• 停不低地計劃 停不低地建立

  ➔ the structure '不+verb' to express 'not able to' or 'cannot' + verb, indicating inability or impossibility

  ➔ The phrase '停不低地' combines '不' (not) with the verb '停' (stop) to indicate an inability or difficulty in stopping or doing something continuously.

• 零空間為歲月留白

  ➔ The use of '為' (to/for) as a preposition indicating purpose or benefit, often followed by a noun to signify 'leaving blank' or 'making space' for something

  ➔ In this context, '為' indicates the act of intentionally leaving space or blank for the passage of time ('歲月'), emphasizing preservation or reflection.

• 常期望安定 還期望即興

  ➔ The verbs '期望' (hope, expect) are often followed by nouns or verb phrases indicating the desired outcome or action, showing a desire for stability or spontaneity

  ➔ '期望' expresses a desire or hope, and the patterns indicate the speaker's contrasting wishes for stability and spontaneity.

• 難避免捲入時代太恐怖

  ➔ The phrase '難避免' (difficult to avoid) is a verb + adjective structure expressing a strong likelihood or inevitability, followed by '捲入' (to get involved) + Object

  ➔ This expression indicates that something is inherently difficult to prevent or escape, and is often used to reflect on unavoidable situations.