Trách Ai Vô Tình – Bilingual Lyrics Vietnamese/English

• By: Instrumental (Originally by various artists, composed by Nhật Ngân)

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the sorrowful beauty of Vietnamese bolero with “Trách Ai Vô Tình,” a classic song exploring themes of lost love and unintentional heartbreak. This song offers a glimpse into the emotional depth of Vietnamese music and the cultural emphasis on enduring love and regret.

[English]

My dear, even so, we’ve grown apart.

The river glides slowly as the boat rides the waves, pulling away from the shore.

Whose fault is it that our fate went astray—no matter what we say, it’s useless.

Who has forgotten me, and why do I still love?

Whose fault is it that our love has faded after so many days chasing a new fate.

I fell in love with you, and now my life is in pieces.

(If we hadn't walked the same country roads back then, if we hadn't promised to meet today, there would be no hurting between us.)

My dear, even though we’re far apart,

Despite all the obstacles, please don't forget the vow.

The old love, after all, is but a dream.

Let the warmth of the heart melt away the cold of the years.

If in the past we hadn't walked the same rural road together,

If in the past we hadn't promised to meet today, we wouldn't be hurting each other.

[Vietnamese]

Bạn tình ơi... dẫu gì cũng xa nhau rồi.

Dòng sông lững lờ trôi con thuyền sóng đưa xa bờ.

Tại vì ai mà duyên ta lỡ nói gì cũng thôi...

Ai đã quên ta mà cớ sao ta còn thương.

Trách ai quên tình bao ngày chạy theo duyên mới,

Lỡ yêu thương người nên giờ dang dở đời ta.

(Nếu xưa đôi mình không cùng đường quê chung lối, nếu xưa không hẹn bây giờ đâu làm khổ nhau)

Bậu mình ơi ví dầu lỡ xa nhau rồi,

Dù bao trắc trở xin người chớ quên câu thề.

Chuyện tình xưa dù sao đi nữa cũng là giấc mơ.

Hơi ấm con tim để tháng năm thôi lạnh căm.

Nếu xưa đôi mình chưa lần đường quê chung lối,

nếu xưa không hẹn bây giờ đâu làm khổ nhau.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bạn /baːn/ A1	noun - friend
tình /tiɲ/ B2	noun - love, affection
dòng /zoŋ/ B1	noun - stream, line, flow
sông /soŋ/ A1	noun - river
thuyền /twiən/ A2	noun - boat
xa /sa/ A1	adjective - far
lỡ /lɤː/ B2	verb - to miss, to fail to do something on time; accidentally
quên /kwɛn/ A2	verb - to forget
thương /tɯəŋ/ B1	verb - to love, to pity adjective - dear, beloved
chạy /tʃaɪ/ A1	verb - to run
mới /mɤi/ A1	adjective - new
người /ŋɨəj/ A1	noun - person, human
đời /ɗɤi/ B1	noun - life
nếu /nɨu/ A2
đường /ɗɨəŋ/ B1	noun - road, way, path
khổ /xo/ B2	adjective - suffering, painful, miserable
thề /tɛ/ C1	verb - to swear, to vow noun - an oath, a vow
giấc /zɨk/ B2	noun - dream
ấm /am/ B2	adjective - warm

Key Grammar Structures

• Bạn tình ơi... dẫu gì cũng xa nhau rồi.

  ➔ Conditional particle 'dẫu gì' expressing concession.

  ➔ The phrase 'dẫu gì' means 'even if' or 'no matter what', indicating that despite something, the outcome (separation) is inevitable. It softens the statement. The word being highlighted is **dẫu gì**.

• Tại vì ai mà duyên ta lỡ nói gì cũng thôi...

  ➔ Interrogative pronoun 'ai' used in a rhetorical question.

  ➔ The question 'Tại vì ai...' isn't seeking an answer, but rather expressing frustration and blame. It's a rhetorical question. The word being highlighted is **ai**.

• Trách ai quên tình bao ngày chạy theo duyên mới,

  ➔ Use of the verb 'trách' (to blame) with an indirect object.

  ➔ The verb 'trách' is used to express blame directed *towards* someone. The phrase 'chạy theo duyên mới' means 'chasing a new fate/relationship'. The word being highlighted is **trách**.

• Nếu xưa đôi mình không cùng đường quê chung lối,

  ➔ Use of 'Nếu' (if) to introduce a counterfactual conditional clause.

  ➔ This sentence expresses a hypothetical situation in the past. 'Nếu xưa...' means 'If in the past...'. It's suggesting that if things had been different, the current situation wouldn't exist. The word being highlighted is **Nếu**.