Thiên Thu Diệt – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Hạc Quân Sơn Trang

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the rich sounds of traditional Vietnamese music with “Thiên Thu Diệt” by Hạc Quân Sơn Trang. This song provides a glimpse into Vietnamese culture, history, and philosophical concepts through its evocative melodies and profound themes of time and destruction.

[English]

A spring wind passed, startling the flower seller

The swallows come and go, another year, growing a few inches

Disturbing the willow catkins, fluttering about

Staining a thin layer of powder

Smiling, thanking this life, bowing in gratitude

A horseman treads on the fragrant path, disappearing into the deep forest

Ten thousand aspirations, good feelings embraced in the heart

Filling a cup with spirit, how much?

A young heart is full of vigor

Just wish this life could end by mistake and fulfill my wishes

Wind and rain cannot make him retreat

Holding wine and flowers, waiting for the next chapter

Traveling the world, righteousness as armor

Carrying a sword, passing through the peaks

Spring blossoms, autumn moon, the wind can make one drunk

Ignoring the rights and wrongs of the world

The free one passes, dreaming a thousand dreams

A spring wind passed, startling the flower seller

The swallows come and go, another year, growing a few inches

Disturbing the willow catkins, fluttering about

Staining a thin layer of powder

Smiling, thanking this life, bowing in gratitude

A horseman treads on the fragrant path, disappearing into the deep forest

Ten thousand aspirations, good feelings embraced in the heart

Filling a cup with spirit, how much?

A young heart is full of vigor

Just wish this life could end by mistake and fulfill my wishes

Wind and rain cannot make him retreat

Holding wine and flowers, waiting for the next chapter

Traveling the world, righteousness as armor

Carrying a sword, passing through the peaks

Again, the willow catkins are flying

No longer the years gone by

How to ask whether it's right or wrong?

Strong liquor is the only match

On the long street, the young man drinks another cup

Laughing and scolding, saying that he is not of the same kind as the mundane

The paper kites in the sky, long threads, can't be tied back

[Chinese]

一春風過招卻驚了賣花人

燕子來去又一年長近幾寸

擾亂柳絮紛紛

染了一身薄粉

笑言謝過此生賜賜躬身

一騎踏芳遠沒入山林深

萬種裝志好情入懷中

滿一盞意氣幾分

少年心氣盛

但願此生可誤願而終

風摧雨折不肯退

把酒拈花看下回

走四方俠義為盔

負劍過群峰

春花秋月風可一醉

哪管人間是是非非

逍遙者過萬丈枕紅夢

一春風過招卻驚了賣花人

燕子來去又一年長近幾寸

擾亂柳絮紛紛

染了一身薄粉

笑言謝過此生賜賜躬身

一騎踏芳遠沒入山林深

萬種裝志好情入懷中

滿一盞意氣幾分

少年心氣盛

但願此生可誤願而終

風摧雨折不肯退

把酒拈花看下回

走四方俠義為盔

負劍過群峰

又是柳絮飛

再不是曾經年歲

如何問是錯是對

烈酒才相配

長街少年又一杯

笑駡說凡俗非我輩

滿空紙鳶長線束不回

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
風 /fəŋ/ A2	noun - wind
花 /hwa/ A1	noun - flower
年 /ni̯ɛn/ A2	noun - year
柳絮 /ljoʊ̯.ɕɥ̩/ B2	noun - willow catkins
身 /ʂɨn/ A2	noun - body
騎 /t͡ɕi/ B1	verb - to ride (a horse)
山林 /ʂan.lin/ B1	noun - mountains and forests
情 /t͡ɕʰiŋ/ B2	noun - feeling, emotion
心 /xin/ A2	noun - heart, mind
願 /ɥɥan/ B2	verb - to wish, to hope noun - wish, desire
退 /tʰɥei̯/ B1	verb - to retreat, to withdraw
走 /tsau/ A1	verb - to walk, to run
劍 /t͡ɕjɛn/ B2	noun - sword
醉 /tsɥuei̯/ B1	verb - to be drunk
是非 /ʂɨ.fei/ C1	noun - right and wrong
夢 /mʊŋ/ A2	noun - dream
錯 /tsʰwɔk/ B1	noun - mistake, error

Key Grammar Structures

• 一春風過招卻驚了賣花人

  ➔ Use of '卻' (que) indicating a reversal or unexpected consequence.

  ➔ The sentence describes how a spring breeze's greeting unexpectedly startled the flower seller. The '卻' highlights the contrast between the gentle breeze and the startled reaction. "卻" modifies the verb '驚了' (startled).

• 擾亂柳絮紛紛

  ➔ Use of reduplication '紛紛' (fen fen) to emphasize the scattering and abundance of willow catkins.

  ➔ The phrase describes how the wind disrupts and scatters the willow catkins. '紛紛' intensifies the image of the catkins falling in a flurry. "擾亂" (disrupt) acts on "柳絮" (willow catkins).

• 但願此生可誤願而終

  ➔ Use of '而' (er) to connect two clauses expressing a desired outcome and its manner.

  ➔ This line expresses a wish to live a life where one's desires are unfulfilled, leading to a peaceful end. '而' connects the desire ('可誤願') with the outcome ('終'). "誤願" (unfulfilled desires) is the core concept.

• 走四方俠義為盔

  ➔ Use of '為' (wei) as 'as' or 'to be' indicating purpose or function.

  ➔ This line means to travel the world, with righteousness being one's armor. '為' indicates that righteousness serves as protection. "盔" (armor) is a metaphor for moral protection.