是但求其愛 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳奕迅

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the nuances of Cantonese through Eason Chan's evocative song, “是但求其愛”. This song offers a deep dive into the language's capacity for layered meaning, particularly around the concept of love, inviting listeners to explore the emotional and cultural richness embedded in its lyrics.

[English]

If love is just about seeking happiness, I ask

Should we seek sadness instead?

...

After discussing half a lifetime, I still don't understand love

Looking back, there's no heart to plan for the future

Only now alone, reflecting well

What is called love, you just come

In the chaos, I got to know you

Romance calls everything, embellishing and hoping

In a sudden moment, feelings become adorably deep

At the moment of confession, it echoes

Feelings were never love

If love is just about seeking a lifetime, you ask

I fear only seeking a lifetime will be a trap

You cherish your parents, I pity as a good friend

No matter what, it's still a good person

If love is just about seeking sincerity, I ask

Should we seek loyalty instead?

Even if both sides share many similar ideas

They still don't blend, no need to discuss matching

...

When we meet again, I didn't expect a deep embrace

Together we sparked, creating surprises

In a moment of illusion, love can be once or again

At the moment of understanding, I recall

Romance is not love at all

If love is just about seeking a lifetime, you ask

I fear only seeking a lifetime will be a trap

You work for perfection, I strive for the future

How can I have another mind?

If love is just about seeking sincerity, I ask

Should we seek loyalty instead?

Even if both sides share many similar ideas

They still don't blend, no need to discuss matching

If love is just about seeking peace of mind

I fear only seeking stability

...

If love is just about seeking this life, I regret

Should we seek another life instead?

Looking at each other's instincts

The scars of love are extremely matched

Love has many colors and flavors, so complicated

More dust falls into the five aggregates

...

[Chinese]

若愛是但求開心 我問

要不要求其傷心

論盡半生不懂愛

回頭沒有心計劃未來

才來獨處 好好檢討

什麼叫愛 你便來

混亂裏結識到你

浪漫叫一切 粉飾 同盼待

某一剎驟覺 感情深得可愛

在傾吐那刻 迴響

感情 從不是愛

若愛是但求終身 你問

怕只怕求其終生 被困

你寵愛父母親 我為良朋憐憫

怎都算是個好人

若愛是但求衷心 我問

要不要求其忠心

縱雙方理念多相同

卻不相融 莫論配襯

再會時 沒料到深深擁抱

合力擦出了 火花 和意外

某一剎幻覺 戀情可一可再

在參透那刻 回想

戀情全不是 愛

若愛是但求終身 你問

怕只怕求其終生 被困

你工作覓滿分 我為前途勤奮

怎可再另有心神

若愛是但求衷心 我問

要不要求其忠心

縱雙方理念多相同

卻不相融 莫論配襯

若愛是但求 安心

怕只怕求其 安穩

若愛是但求今生 抱憾

要不要求其他生

看雙方各自的本能

愛的傷痕 極度配襯

愛七色五味多紛陳

更多灰塵 落入五藴

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
愛 (ài) /aɪ/ A1	noun - love verb - to love
傷心 (shāngxīn) /ʂɑŋɕin/ B1	adjective - sad, grieved
半生 (bànshēng) /bânʂəŋ/ B2	noun - half a lifetime
未來 (wèilái) /weɪlai/ A2	noun - future
獨處 (dúchǔ) /duʃu/ B2	verb - to be alone
混亂 (hùnluàn) /xunlwan/ B2	adjective - chaotic, confused
浪漫 (làngmàn) /lɑŋmɑn/ B1	adjective - romantic
感情 (gǎnqíng) /gɑnʈ͡ɕʰɪŋ/ B1	noun - feeling, emotion
終身 (zhōngshēn) /ʈ͡ʂʊŋʂən/ C1	noun - lifetime
寵愛 (chǒng'ài) /tʂʰʊŋaɪ/ B2	verb - to dote on, to pamper
父母親 (fùmǔqīn) /fuːmuːt͡ɕʰin/ A1	noun - parents
良朋 (liángpéng) /ljɑŋpʰəŋ/ B2	noun - good friend
憐憫 (liánmǐn) /ljɛnmin/ C1	verb - to pity, to have compassion for
理念 (lǐniàn) /lini̯ɛn/ B2	noun - idea, concept
相融 (xiāngróng) /ɕjaŋʐʊŋ/ C1	verb - to blend together, to be compatible
配襯 (pèichèn) /pʰeɪʈ͡ʂʰən/ B2	verb - to match, to coordinate
火花 (huǒhuā) /xwɔxwɑ/ B1	noun - spark
意外 (yìwài) /iːwai/ A2	noun - accident, unexpected event
幻覺 (huànjué) /xwɑn ʈ͡ʂɥɛ/ B2	noun - hallucination, illusion
工作 (gōngzuò) /kʊŋt͡swɔ/ A1	noun - work, job verb - to work
本能 (běnnéng) /pən nʌŋ/ B2	noun - instinct
傷痕 (shānghén) /ʂɑŋxən/ B2	noun - scar, wound
灰塵 (huīchén) /xweɪʈ͡ʂʰən/ B1	noun - dust
五蘊 (wǔyùn) /wuː yːn/ C2	noun - the five aggregates (skandhas) in Buddhism

Key Grammar Structures

• 若愛是但求開心

  ➔ Conditional sentence with "若" (ruò) meaning "if" or "should"

  ➔ "若" introduces a condition, indicating "if" or "should"

• 論盡半生不懂愛

  ➔ Use of "論" (lùn) meaning "discuss" or "talk about"

  ➔ "論" is a classical Chinese verb meaning "to discuss" or "to debate"

• 在傾吐那刻 迴響

  ➔ Using "在" + verb + "那刻" to indicate the moment when an action takes place

  ➔ "在" is a preposition meaning "at" or "during" combined with a verb and a time indicator "那刻" meaning "that moment"

• 感情 從不是愛

  ➔ Using "從不是" (cóng bù shì) to emphasize "not at all" or "never"

  ➔ "從不是" expresses a denial or negation, meaning "not at all" or "never"

• 卻不相融 莫論配襯

  ➔ Use of "卻不" (què bù) to express contrast "but not", and "莫論" (mò lùn) meaning "nothing to say about"

  ➔ "卻不" indicates contrast, meaning "but not", while "莫論" indicates there is nothing to be said about it