時空 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周國賢

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and philosophical journey with Endy Chow's poignant Cantopop song "時空" (Time and Space). This track is a masterclass in introspective lyricism, offering a rich vocabulary related to time, regret, and personal growth. By delving into its poetic lines, you can explore nuanced expressions of self-reflection and the human experience, making it a special piece for language learners seeking deeper cultural and emotional connections through music.

[English]

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo)

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo)

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo)

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo)

In front of the neon, this down-and-out old man has become just an accessory of a time machine

Until living through the years to the end, with no personal classics left behind

Mocking your youth, flashing in the rearview mirror for a moment

Then life evaporates like a puff of smoke, discovered only after it's already gone

How to regret—knowing there's no way to turn back

Exploring is necessary—adventure calls

Tomorrow, will we look back here again? Fear that one person might be more regretful than the other

How does one face a parallel universe alone?

Once opposed in the past, now quietly retreating

Who remembers this young boy and this old man, once truly a pair?

Dreaming again at 600 years, recalling when I was six, seeing the rough days

Just trying to live up to that child, not letting that child down

Once set out for faith, ignoring opposition (wo-wo)

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo)

Catch a cicada, mistakenly believing you'll hold onto this garden

With childish innocence, one day, build a monument as a reminder to yourself

Each year passes, only fearing that the years slip by in vain

And the only mark left is an end point

Tomorrow, at 600 years, dreaming again of when I was six, seeing how rough the days were

Only then can I be true to that childhood, not disappointing that child

Once set out for faith, ignoring opposition (wo-wo)

...

There is still interest in life, enough to make your life interesting, to see all the mountains and water (wo)

Like tomorrow here, where will you go? With someone paving the way for another

No one can predict whether choosing right or wrong before departing

The passage of time is engraved in our bones, age can't be reversed

No regrets about the journey, leaving behind the process, once breaking out of the fortress

At 600 years, dreaming again of when I was six, observing the rise and fall of life

Remembering today’s performance, regardless of how it ends

Struggling for faith, even willing to die for it (wo)

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo)

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo)

(Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo woo)

...

[Chinese]

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo）

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo）

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo）

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo）

霓虹前這位潦倒老年 淪為時光機的配件

直到活到歲月到終點 沒有自己經典

挖苦你的少年 在倒後鏡片段裏一閃

然後人生蒸發一縷煙 被發現經已大殮

如何後悔 也知道 無從後退

能探險必需探險

明日在那裏再望向這裏 怕那一位較這一位更唏噓

一個人平行時空怎去面對

從前起身嗌反對 而如今偷偷隱退

誰記得這少年 和這老年 曾天生一對

六百歲再夢見過往六歲 這一天看那一天崎嶇

才對得起當天那個小孩 無負那個小孩

曾為信仰出發不理反對 （wo-wo）

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo）

捉得到一只蟬 誤信便會抱住這花園

懷著童真可笑的某天 立紀念碑去自勉

年年度過 怕只怕 年年白過

而據點只得句點

明日六百歲再夢見過往六歲 這一天看那一天崎嶇

才對得起當天那個小孩 無負那個小孩

曾為信仰出發不理反對 （woo wo）

還是有生活興趣 能令你生命有趣 看盡山水 （wo）

如明日在這裏你又到哪裏 有這一位替那一位作先驅

出發前無人能知選錯或對

年輪都刻進骨髓 年齡都不可倒退

無悔於這旅程 留低過程 曾沖出堡壘

六百歲再夢見過往六歲 這一生看那一生興衰

還記得今天演過這一場 無論去到終場

曾為信仰掙紮可以死去 （wo）

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo）

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo）

（Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo woo）

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
時空 /shí kōng/ B2	noun - space-time
潦倒 /liáo dǎo/ C1	adjective - down and out; in dire straits; destitute
老年 /lǎo nián/ A2	noun - old age; elderly years
歲月 /suì yuè/ B1	noun - years; time; days
經典 /jīng diǎn/ B2	noun - classic adjective - classic
少年 /shào nián/ A2	noun - young man; youth; teenager
人生 /rén shēng/ A2	noun - life
蒸發 /zhēng fā/ B2	verb - to evaporate; to vanish
後悔 /hòu huǐ/ B1	verb - to regret
探險 /tàn xiǎn/ B2	verb - to explore; to adventure
平行 /píng xíng/ B1	adjective - parallel
隱退 /yǐn tuì/ C1	verb - to retire (from public life)
信仰 /xìn yǎng/ B2	noun - belief; faith
童真 /tóng zhēn/ C1	noun - childlike innocence; naivety
紀念碑 /jì niàn bēi/ B2	noun - monument; memorial
生命 /shēng mìng/ A2	noun - life
有趣 /yǒu qù/ A2	adjective - interesting; fascinating
骨髓 /gǔ suí/ C1	noun - bone marrow
無悔 /wú huǐ/ B2	adjective - without regret; unrepentant
旅程 /lǚ chéng/ B1	noun - journey; trip

Key Grammar Structures

• 直到活到歲月到終點 沒有自己經典

  ➔ Until + verb phrase, ...

  ➔ This structure shows a point in time "until" which an action occurs or a state persists.

• 曾為信仰出發不理反對

  ➔ 曾 + verb phrase (indicating past experience)

  ➔ This structure, with '曾', expresses an action or experience completed in the past.

• 能探險必需探險

  ➔ 能 + verb, indicating possibility or ability

  ➔ This structure, using '能', expresses a capability or possibility to perform an action.

• 才對得起當天那個小孩 無負那個小孩

  ➔ 才 + verb, meaning 'only then' or 'not until'

  ➔ This structure '才' indicates that a certain condition must be met for something to be justified or achieved.

• 年輪都刻進骨髓

  ➔ 都 + verb, emphasizing 'all' or 'everything'

  ➔ This structure '都' emphasizes that the action applies to everything without exception.

• 無悔於這旅程 留低過程

  ➔ 於 + noun/verb, used to indicate 'in' or 'regarding'

  ➔ This structure indicates the relation or connection 'regarding' or 'in' a specific context.