天秤座 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Gia Vệ (家卫老师)

Lyrics & Translation

“天秤座” (Libra) by Gia Vệ (家卫老师) offers a beautiful entry point into the world of Chinese ancient-style music, known as "cổ phong" or "gu yun ban." Through its evocative lyrics and melodies, listeners can explore themes of balance and inner struggle, while also familiarizing themselves with common expressions and poetic structures in Mandarin Chinese. Its popularity on platforms like Douyin makes it a culturally relevant piece, showcasing contemporary Chinese music with traditional influences. Learning the lyrics can provide insight into modern Chinese pop culture and traditional aesthetics.

[English]

He is gentle even in a world of equals

Even when the heart doesn't linger, it can still be a path

How I wish to become the protagonist of an American story

Together with the gentle breeze I can fulfill my wish

This story is whispered softly in the wind

Anyway, not all words have time to be spoken

Everything in the world eventually flies into the night sky

Like the noisy world drifting toward distant dreams

You firmly tell me

like a pair of distant hands

holding down my restless, trembling heart

Your bold, unashamed favoritism

can steady my unsettled emotions

I sway between loss and longing

still waiting for time to turn back

You firmly tell me, the me who watches from the corner

How much I wish to become the protagonist of this drama

While fleeing, I also yearn

This story, again, is whispered softly in the wind

Anyway, the unsaid words are already etched in the heart

All worldly things eventually sink into the silent deep blue

Yet you light a lamp beyond the polar region, never fading

You firmly tell me

like a pair of distant hands

holding down my restless heart

Your bold, unashamed favoritism

can steady my helpless, wavering feelings

I sway between loss and longing

The wind still speaks... the story is unfinished...

The words that couldn’t be said drift into a sea of stars...

Your steadfastness holds down my wavering heart

Under the night sky... finally... free...

Your steadfastness holds down my wavering heart

Under the night sky finally free

[Chinese]

他在等号世界也温柔

心里没做停留也可以是一条路

想成为美国故事的主人多么想

和风一起也能达成愿望

这故事隔在风里轻轻讲

反正不是所有的话都来得及说出来

世间一切最后都飞向了夜空

像喧嚣的尘世总飘向遥远的梦

你坚定的告诉我

像一双遥远的手

按住我摇摆不安的心

你明目张胆的偏爱

能稳住我心绪不定的无奈

我在失去和渴望之间摇摆

还在等时间也回头

你坚定的告诉我说在角落旁观的我

想成为这场戏剧的主人多么想

在逃走的同时也在渴望

这故事啊在风里轻轻讲

反正未说出口的都已刻在了心上

世间种种终沉于寂静的深蓝

你却在极地外点一盏灯不散

你坚定的告诉我

像一双遥远的手

按住我摇摆不安的心

你明目张胆的偏爱

能稳住我心绪不定的无奈

我在失去和渴望之间摇摆

风还在讲...故事没讲完...

来不及说的话都飘散成星海...

你的坚定按住我摇摆的心

在夜空下...终于...自在...

你的坚定按住我摇摆的心

在夜空下终于自在

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
温柔 /wēnróu/ A2	adjective - gentle
停留 /tíngliú/ A2	verb - to stay
成为 /chēngwéi/ A2	verb - to become
愿望 /yuànwàng/ A2	noun - wish
故事 /gùshì/ A2	noun - story
坚定 /jiāndìng/ B1	adjective - firm
摇摆 /yáobǎi/ B1	verb - to swing
偏爱 /piān’ài/ B1	verb - to favor
失去 /shīqù/ B1	verb - to lose
渴望 /kěwàng/ B1	verb - to yearn for
戏剧 /xìjù/ B2	noun - drama
刻在 /kèzài/ B2	verb - to engrave
沉于 /chén yú/ C1	verb - to sink into
极地 /jí dì/ C1	noun - polar region
星海 /xīng hǎi/ C1	noun - sea of stars

Key Grammar Structures

• 他在等号世界也温柔

  ➔ also – 也

  ➔ The particle "也" is placed before the adjective to show that the quality also applies in this context: 他在等号世界"也"温柔.

• 心里没有停留也可以是一条路

  ➔ also can – 也可以

  ➔ The structure "也可以" expresses an additional possibility: 心里没有停留"也可以"是一条路.

• 想成为美国故事的主人多么想

  ➔ intensifier – 多么

  ➔ "多么" intensifies the desire, similar to "how much": 想成为美国故事的主人"多么"想.

• 这故事隔在风里轻轻讲

  ➔ location phrase – 在...里

  ➔ "在...里" indicates where the action takes place: "这故事隔在风""里"轻轻讲.

• 反正不是所有的话都来得及说出来

  ➔ double negative – 不是...都

  ➔ The pattern "不是...都" denies a universal claim: 不是所有的话"都"来得及说出来.

• 世间一切最后都飞向了夜空

  ➔ universal marker – 都

  ➔ "都" is placed before the verb to show that the action applies to all subjects: 世间一切最后"都"飞向了夜空.

• 像一双遥远的手 按住我摇摆不安的心

  ➔ adjectival modifier with 的 – 不安的

  ➔ "不安的" uses the adjective "不安" followed by "的" to modify the noun "心": 按住我摇摆"不安的"心.

• 在失去和渴望之间摇摆

  ➔ prepositional phrase – 在...之间

  ➔ "在...之间" expresses a range between two states: 在失去和渴望"之间"摇摆.

• 未说出口的都已刻在了心上

  ➔ relative clause with 未 – 未...的

  ➔ "未说出口的" is a relative clause formed with "未" + verb + "的" meaning "the things that have not been spoken out": 未说出口的"都"已刻在了心上.

• 你却在极地外点一盏灯不散

  ➔ negative verb – 不散

  ➔ "不散" is a negative verb meaning "does not dissipate": 点一盏灯"不散".