桃花诺 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周深, 宋亚轩

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a lyrical journey through "桃花诺" (Peach Blossom Promise), a beautiful Guofeng (ancient style) Chinese song performed by Zhou Shen and Song Yaxuan. Its poetic lyrics and emotional depth make it an excellent choice for learning Chinese, offering insights into rich cultural metaphors and expressions of love and destiny. Discover how the blend of traditional aesthetics and modern vocal prowess creates a truly special and moving musical experience, perfect for understanding the nuances of the language.

[English]

If our first meeting was tender

Vows

Wind blows, clouds drift and change

Through the years

Wondering what year this is

Our hearts are linked, yet I wish

This deep longing

Reincarnated through the years

In a blink of an eye

How many times have flowers bloomed and withered?

The ties of this life

So intertwined

Stirred my heartstrings

In the next life

I wonder if we'll meet again

Leave a peach blossom

As a memory

To fulfill our fleeting fate

In your gaze

My longing lingers there

An inch of earth, a year of wood

Each bloom, each tree, a yearning deep

Love is a seed

But love blooms astray

Forget the path ahead, forget the past

Forget my heart, forget you, forget how it began

Faded blossoms

Remain on the path where I loved you

The ties of this life

So intertwined

Stirred my heartstrings

In the next life

I wonder if we'll meet again

Leave a peach blossom

As a memory

To fulfill our fleeting fate

In your gaze

My longing lingers there

An inch of earth, a year of wood

Each bloom, each tree, a yearning deep

Love is a seed

But love blooms astray

Forget the path ahead, forget the past

Forget my heart, forget you, forget how it began

Faded blossoms

Remain on the path where I loved you

A fervent, long-held wish

On the path to the next life

One thought of peach blossoms, karma carries us through

That one thought

How many moments of time repeat

Listening to the rain, watching the sky lake

In this vast world, feelings are hard to tell

Faded memories remain on the path where I loved you

Faded memories remain on the path where I loved you

Faded memories remain on the path where I loved you

[Chinese]

初见若缱绻

誓言

风吹云舒卷

岁月间

问今夕又何年

心有犀但愿

执念

轮回过经年

弹指间

繁花开落多少遍

这一世牵绊

纠结

触动了心弦

下一世

不知可否再见

留一片桃花

纪念

了却浮生缘

眉目间

还有我的思念

一寸土 一年木

一花一树一贪图

情是种

爱偏开在迷途

忘前路 忘旧物

忘心忘你忘最初

花斑斑

留在爱你的路

这一世牵绊

纠结

触动了心弦

下一世

不知可否再见

留一片桃花

纪念

了却浮生缘

眉目间

还有我的思念

一寸土 一年木

一花一树一贪图

情是种

爱偏开在迷途

忘前路 忘旧物

忘心忘你忘最初

花斑斑

留在爱你的路

虔诚夙愿

来世路

一念桃花因果渡

那一念

几阙时光在重复

听雨书 望天湖

人间寥寥情难诉

回忆斑斑 留在爱你的路

回忆斑斑 留在爱你的路

回忆斑斑 留在爱你的路

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
初见 chū jiàn A2	noun - first meeting
誓言 shì yán B1	noun - vow; oath
风 fēng A1	noun - wind
云 yún A1	noun - cloud
岁月 suì yuè B2	noun - time; years
执念 zhí niàn C1	noun - obsession; lingering thought
轮回 lún huí C1	noun - reincarnation; cycle of rebirth
繁花 fán huā B2	noun - blooming flowers; profusion of blossoms
牵绊 qiān bàn B2	noun - bond; tie; attachment
纠结 jiū jié B2	verb - to be tangled; to be conflicted
触动 chù dòng B2	verb - to touch; to move (emotionally)
心弦 xīn xián C1	noun - heartstrings; inner feelings
桃花 táo huā B1	noun - peach blossom
纪念 jì niàn B1	verb - to commemorate; to remember
思念 sī niàn B2	noun - longing; nostalgia
迷途 mí tú C1	noun - lost path; being astray
忘 wàng A2	verb - to forget
回忆 huí yì B1	noun - memory; recollection
因果 yīn guǒ C1	noun - cause and effect; karma
时光 shí guāng B2	noun - time; fleeting years

Key Grammar Structures

• 初见**若**缱绻

  ➔ Conditional Clause using 若 (rúo)

  ➔ This sentence uses the conditional conjunction "若" (rúo), which means "if" or "in case". It sets up a hypothetical situation, that is "If (when) first met, it was so intimate..."

• 风吹云**舒卷**

  ➔ Verb-Object Construction (舒卷 - shū juǎn)

  ➔ "舒卷" (shū juǎn) functions as a verb-object compound, literally meaning "to stretch and roll". Here, it describes the movement of clouds. The wind is the subject, and the clouds are the object.

• 问今夕**又**何年

  ➔ Adverb "又" (yòu) - indicating repetition or continuation

  ➔ The adverb "又" (yòu) means "again" or "and also". In this context, it emphasizes the question of time, implying the passage of time and the repeated questioning across time.

• 心有**犀**但愿

  ➔ Noun as Adverbial Modifier

  ➔ The word "犀" (xī) refers to 'rhino' or 'sharpness/understanding'. In this context, the noun is used adverbially, modifying the verb "有" (yǒu, to have). The sentence implies a sharp, insightful longing.

• 轮回**过**经年

  ➔ Aspect particle 过 (guò)

  ➔ The particle "过" (guò) indicates an experience. Here, it indicates that the action of "轮回" (reincarnation) has been experienced, implying a past action with present relevance.

• 这一世**牵绊**

  ➔ Noun as a predicative element

  ➔ "牵绊" (qiānbàn - entanglement) is a noun. Here, it functions as a predicative, stating that 'this life is entanglement'.

• 一寸土 一年木 一花一树**一贪图**

  ➔ Parallel Structure and Emphasis

  ➔ This line uses a parallel structure with the format "一 + measure word + noun" (one + measure word + noun) repeated three times to create rhythm and emphasize the concept of longing and desire. "一贪图" sums up the idea of "longing" or "greed".

• 花**斑斑**

  ➔ Reduplication for emphasis

  ➔ "斑斑" (bān bān) is reduplication of the character "斑" (bān, meaning 'spot' or 'mark'). Reduplication emphasizes the idea of numerous or visible marks, implying the traces of memories or love.

• 虔诚夙愿 来世路

  ➔ Ellipsis of verbs and use of descriptive phrases

  ➔ The phrase "虔诚夙愿 来世路" uses ellipsis, omitting the verb, such as 是 (shì, to be). The sentence implies "(This is) a pious long-held wish for the road of the next life". The words function as descriptive phrases.