時候不早 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: MC 張天賦

Lyrics & Translation

“時候不早” by MC 張天賦 offers a beautiful and introspective dive into the nuances of farewell, making it an excellent song for learning Cantonese. Its rich lyrical imagery, often using seasonal metaphors, and MC's heartfelt vocal delivery provide an authentic experience of expressing complex emotions in Cantonese, making it special for its relatable theme of bittersweet goodbyes and its strong chart performance.

[English]

A new beginning, is it?

Has your uneasy face given it away?

Honestly, is everything perhaps destined?

Silly, be happy

Life is short, I must learn to say goodbye

There must be too many changes, you need to travel and adventure

Why not end it with a happy full stop?

Remember, remember to be well

Like I am doing well, the hour is already late

I want one last hug before we part

Hold tight to this moment's feeling and warmth

Enough for me to savor in the days to come, how wonderful

Promise that everything is alright

The joy is in the early morning, I pray for you

In the future, I will grow old with you like good friends

If it feels like catching a cold

Like being better after being sick, I will do it

...

I will do it, yeah, ayy

I remember those days like yesterday

I don't wanna let my memory slip away

Yeah, no-no-no

Guess I never thought that I have to say goodbye

And I think about, think about you

How's it gonna be without you?

Honestly, Iife never be the same, yeah

It's only at this moment that I realize

There are too many feelings in my heart, too many silly words unspoken

Now I fear my tears will all run dry

Remember, remember to be well

Like I am doing well, the hour is already late

I want one last hug before we part

Hold tight to this moment's feeling and warmth

Enough for me to savor in the days to come, how wonderful

Promise that everything is alright

The joy is in the early morning, I pray for you

The hour is already late, I know

People always need to go their separate ways

If we meet again next time, I'll say hello to you

I remember those days like yesterday

Never wanna let our memories slip away

I remember those days like yesterday

Like yesterday

I remember those days like yesterday

Never wanna let our memories slip away

I remember those days like yesterday

Like yesterday

...

[Chinese]

新開始 是嗎

如你忐忑的嘴臉說穿了嗎

講真的 一切也許都注定嗎

傻瓜高興吧

人生苦短我始終要懂講再見

必經有太多改變 你需遊歷冒險

何不痛快烙下這句點？

你記得記得安好

像我都很好 時候已都不早

我想臨別一次 跟你的擁抱

抱緊這秒感覺與及溫度

來足夠往後日子回味著 多好

答應一切都安好

樂趣在清早 為你祝禱

來日我便和你好友般偕老

如若換來感覺似患感冒

如病過就會更好 我會做到

我做到 Yeah, ayy

I remember those days like yesterday

I don't wanna let my memory slip away

Yeah, no-no-no

Guess I never thought that I have to say goodbye

And I think about, think about you

How's it gonna be without you?

Honestly, Iife never be the same, yeah

無非偏偏到這一秒鐘 先發覺

心中有太多感覺 太多傻話未講

如今我怕熱淚都流光

你記得記得安好

像我都很好 時候已都不早

我想臨別一次 跟你的擁抱

抱緊這秒感覺與及溫度

來足夠往後日子回味著 多好

答應一切都安好

樂趣在清早 為你祝禱

時候都不早了 我知道

人總需要各自上路

如下次遇見到 向你問好

I remember those days like yesterday

Never wanna let our memories slip away

I remember those days like yesterday

Like yesterday

I remember those days like yesterday

Never wanna let our memories slip away

I remember those days like yesterday

Like yesterday

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
開始 (kāishǐ) /kái ʃì/ A1	verb - to start, to begin noun - start, beginning
嘴臉 (zuǐliǎn) /tswèɪ ljàn/ B2	noun - face (often with negative connotation)
注定 (zhùdìng) /ʈʂû tîŋ/ B2	verb - to be doomed, destined
傻瓜 (shǎguā) /ʂà kwá/ A2	noun - fool, idiot
苦短 (kǔduǎn) /kʰù twàn/ B2	adjective - short and bitter (referring to life)
改變 (gǎibiàn) /kài pjèn/ A2	verb - to change, to alter noun - change, alteration
冒險 (màoxiǎn) /mâʊ ɕjàn/ B1	verb - to take a risk, to venture noun - adventure, risk
安好 (ānhǎo) /án xàʊ/ B1	adjective - safe and sound, well
臨別 (línbié) /lǐn pjě/ B2	noun - parting, moment of farewell
擁抱 (yōngbào) /jóŋ pâʊ/ B1	verb - to embrace, to hug noun - embrace, hug
溫度 (wēndù) /wə́n tû/ A2	noun - temperature
回味 (huíwèi) /xwěɪ wêɪ/ B2	verb - to reminisce, to savor the memory
樂趣 (lèqù) /lə̂ tɕʰŷ/ B1	noun - pleasure, joy, fun
清早 (qīngzǎo) /tɕʰíŋ tsàʊ/ A2	noun - early morning
祝禱 (zhùdǎo) /ʈʂû tàʊ/ B2	verb - to pray, to wish well
感冒 (gǎnmào) /kàn mâʊ/ A2	noun - cold, flu

Key Grammar Structures

• 如你忐忑的嘴臉說穿了嗎

  ➔ Modal particle “嗎” (ma)

  ➔ The particle “嗎” (ma) is used at the end of a statement to turn it into a question. In this case, it softens the question, making it more of a confirmation seeking question: “Has your anxious face given it away?”

• 人生苦短我始終要懂講再見

  ➔ The use of “始終 (shǐ zhōng)” to express “eventually” or “in the end.”

  ➔ “始終 (shǐ zhōng)” indicates that after a period of consideration or experience, one comes to a certain understanding or decision. Here, it means “eventually I have to learn to say goodbye.”

• 必經有太多改變 你需遊歷冒險

  ➔ The use of “需 (xū)” expressing need or requirement.

  ➔ “需 (xū)” conveys a sense of necessity or requirement, similar to “need” or “must.” In this context, it emphasizes that you need to travel and experience adventures.

• 你記得記得安好

  ➔ Repetition of verb (記得) for emphasis

  ➔ Repeating the verb '記得' (remember) twice emphasizes the importance and depth of the request, showing a stronger desire for the other person to remember to take care of themselves.

• 來足夠往後日子回味著 多好

  ➔ The use of “足夠 (zú gòu)” + verb + “多好 (duō hǎo)” structure to express a desirable outcome.

  ➔ “足夠 (zú gòu)” means “enough,” and “多好 (duō hǎo)” means “how good.” The phrase expresses the wish that something is sufficient for creating a positive outcome in the future. In this case, the warmth of the hug should be enough for fond memories in the future.

• 如若換來感覺似患感冒

  ➔ Conditional clause with "如若 (rú ruò)"

  ➔ "如若 (rú ruò)" introduces a hypothetical situation, similar to 'if' in English. The sentence describes what would happen if experiencing the feeling is like catching a cold.

• I don't wanna let my memory slip away

  ➔ Use of "wanna" (want to) and "let" in the sense of 'allow'

  ➔ "Wanna" is a colloquial contraction of "want to", and "let" is used to express the idea of not allowing something to happen. The phrase means "I don't want to allow my memory to disappear."