問好 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: AGA

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depths of AGA's '問好' (Wèn Hǎo), a Cantopop masterpiece that beautifully articulates the bittersweet experience of encountering a past love. Through its poignant lyrics and melancholic melody, you can explore nuanced expressions of nostalgia, awkwardness, and acceptance in Cantonese, gaining a richer understanding of human relationships and the subtleties of the language.

[English]

In the small corridor, I can't turn around, I have to say hello once.

You and I both hear another voice, feeling shy.

Nervously hiding behind a smile, battling inside.

An awkward smile reveals that we once had something.

Old grudges left unspoken, yet the past still holds me.

Suddenly, memories call me back, reliving the pain and longing.

Trying to hold hands like before, but mistaking the person; it’s not me.

On the way, I run into you; when I turn back, there's no way out, blocked by the past.

Your simple greeting stirs my endless worries.

You, just an ordinary passerby, bring a different flavor when we meet.

Having seen each other’s backups, how can I complain about this role?

She’s with you, you’re with me, so why does releasing his hand make me fear you'll see?

There’s still some lingering passion that sparks a fire, yet it also takes over my heart.

Why do I suddenly run into you in this narrow alley, unable to hide, almost enchanted?

Actually, this person also makes me feel at peace, a good person.

My brows still tremble for you; why am I willing to suffer the consequences for love?

Your simple greeting stirs my endless worries.

You, just an ordinary passerby, bring a different flavor when we meet.

Having experienced each other’s backups, even breaking up is okay.

She’s with you, you’re with me—how good is this situation?

The harder I try to explain that I can't have you, the more I long for you.

But I’ll forever walk this path, woah...

Your hurried encounter reminds me of warm embraces.

You give me fleeting external love, making me happy and miserable at the same time.

Every time I think of it, it's good, even if the ending is not promising.

He’s not you, she’s not me, only with new love, I go toward you to say hello.

...

[Chinese]

小小走廊沒法轉身 被迫招呼一遍

你我都有另一位聲音顯得靦腆

忐忐忑忑用笑掩飾 內心一番交戰

尷尬的笑容彰顯雙方當初有染

前嫌未曾講清楚 前緣尚能擄劫我

前塵突然叫喚我 赴過湯再蹈過火 懷念過多

回復舊時手拖手卻認錯身份情人非我

前行時候遇上你下個 回頭無路被過去隔阻

你一句簡單的問好 我掀起反覆的煩惱

你這個普通的路人 見面有另一番味道

見識過彼此的後補 這身份怎麼好投訴

她拖著你 他拖著我 何以我鬆開他的手怕你望到

餘情尚能點起火 餘情又來佔領我

為何突然邂逅你 在窄巷裡沒法躲 還著了魔

其實現時這一位 也令我安好為人不錯

眉頭如舊為你震動過 為何情願為你吃惡果

你一句簡單的問好 我掀起反覆的煩惱

你這個普通的路人 見面有另一番味道

見識過彼此的後補 縱使分手也過得好

她拖著你 他拖著我 情況有多麼好

怎麼解釋得不到你越會去傾慕

我卻永遠行入這條路 woah...

你一次匆匆的遇到 我憶起溫馨的懷抱

你給我短促身外情 也令我愉快也糟糕

每一次想起都是好 縱使一起晚節不保

他不是你 她不是我 唯有與新歡一起走向你問好

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
走廊 (zǒuláng) /tsou̯ lɑŋ/ B1	noun - corridor, hallway
聲音 (shēngyīn) /ʂɤŋ jin/ A2	noun - sound, voice
笑 (xiào) /ɕi̯ɑʊ̯/ A1	verb - to smile, to laugh noun - laugh, smile
內心 (nèixīn) /neɪ̯ ɕin/ B1	noun - heart, inner being
笑容 (xiàoróng) /ɕi̯ɑʊ̯ ɻʊŋ/ B1	noun - smile
手 (shǒu) /ʂɤʊ̯/ A1	noun - hand
情人 (qíngrén) /t͡ɕʰiŋ ɻən/ B1	noun - lover, sweetheart
路 (lù) /lu/ A1	noun - road, path, way
煩惱 (fánnǎo) /fǎn nɑʊ̯/ B2	noun - worries, vexation verb - to be worried, to be vexed
味道 (wèidào) /weɪ̯ taʊ̯/ B1	noun - taste, flavour
身份 (shēnfen) /ʂən fən/ B1	noun - identity, status
手 (shǒu) /ʂəʊ̯/ A1	noun - hand
火 (huǒ) /xu̯ɔ/ A1	noun - fire
巷 (xiàng) /ɕi̯ɑŋ/ B1	noun - alley, lane
溫馨 (wēnxīn) /wənxin/ B2	adjective - warm and pleasant

Key Grammar Structures

• 被迫招呼一遍

  ➔ Passive voice using 被 + verb

  ➔ The phrase indicates an action being performed on the subject by someone or something else.

• 用笑掩飾

  ➔ Using 用 + verb to indicate method or manner

  ➔ The structure shows the means or manner by which the action is performed.

• 內心一番交戰

  ➔ Noun phrase describing internal conflict

  ➔ A noun phrase that depicts the internal emotional struggle or conflict.

• 下個 回頭無路

  ➔ Future intention + 其他成分, with 沒有路 indicating no way back

  ➔ Expresses a future state where turning back is impossible or no way out.

• 我掀起反覆的煩惱

  ➔ Verb + 反覆的 + noun, indicating repeated or recurring action

  ➔ A structure combining a verb with an adjective or phrase that indicates repetition.

• 見面有另一番味道

  ➔ Verb + 有 + noun phrase indicating a different experience or feeling

  ➔ The structure shows possession or experience of a different sensation or perspective.

• 她拖著你

  ➔ Verb + 著 + pronoun, indicating continuity or ongoing action

  ➔ The marker 著 indicates ongoing action or state connected to the verb.