喜帖街 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 谢安琪

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the rich cultural landscape of Hong Kong through Kay Tse's “喜帖街”. This song offers a glimpse into Cantonese language and culture, reflecting on themes of urban change and personal memories. Discover how the song uses vivid imagery and heartfelt lyrics to convey a sense of nostalgia and resilience, offering a unique perspective on Hong Kong's evolving identity.

[English]

Forget the flowers we once planted

Start anew, give up on your dreams

Don't look at that sealed wedding invitation anymore

You're about to move out

Build it up

Everyone has to accept that some days will fall

Honestly, there's no such thing as perfect happiness

It's never really that different

Just like this neighborhood

Once considered the most perfect in the world

But in a flash

The whole block is almost filled with crows

Good times don't last forever

You can't just keep climbing higher on the ladder

Does the one you love last a lifetime?

Probably, there's no need to be afraid

Forget the one you loved

That golden invitation once engraved with his name

Frame the wedding photos on that wall

And all those beautiful old days

Tomorrow they'll all be taken down

Forget the home we had

The little dining table, sofa, fridge, and two cups of tea

Warm memories only borrowed, to be returned eventually

Can't wait for the next generation, right?

Forget the sand we built with

Remnants of memories, gone in an instant

Facing this piece of barren land

You are destined to learn to let go

The steps won't resist wear and tear

Window decorations can't imprison the setting sun

Does love last a lifetime?

And is regret useful anymore?

Forget the one you loved

That golden wedding invitation with his name

Frame the wedding photos on that wall

And all those beautiful old days

Tomorrow they'll all be taken down

Forget the home we had

The little dining table, sofa, fridge, and two cups of tea

Warm memories only borrowed, to be returned eventually

Will they be taken back when they're due?

The moment will come, so don't be afraid

Please let go of that key in your hand, okay?

...

[Chinese]

忘掉種過的花

重新的出發 放棄理想吧

別再看塵封的囍帖

你正在要搬家

築得起

人應該接受都有日倒下

其實沒有一種安穩快樂

永遠也不差

就似這一區

曾經稱得上美滿甲天下

但霎眼

全街的單位快要住滿烏鴉

好景不會每日常在

天梯不可只往上爬

愛的人沒有一生一世嗎?

大概不需要害怕

忘掉愛過的他

當初的囍帖金箔印着那位他

裱起婚紗照那道牆

及一切美麗舊年華

明日同步拆下

忘掉有過的家

小餐枱 沙發 雪櫃及兩份紅茶

温馨的光境不過借出到期拿回嗎?

等不到下一代是嗎?

忘掉砌過的沙

回憶的堡壘 刹那已倒下

面對這墳起的荒土

你註定學會瀟灑

階磚不會拒絕磨蝕

窗花不可幽禁落霞

有感情就會一生一世嗎?

又再惋惜有用嗎?

忘掉愛過的他

當初的囍帖金箔印着那位他

裱起婚紗照那道牆

及一切美麗舊年華

明日同步拆下

忘掉有過的家

小餐枱 沙發 雪櫃及兩份紅茶

温馨的光境不過借出

到期拿回嗎?

終須會時辰到別怕

請放下手裏那鎖匙好嗎?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
花 (huā) /xwā/ A1	noun - flower
家 (jiā) /tɕjá/ A1	noun - home, family
愛 (ài) /aɪ/ A1	verb - to love noun - love
忘 (wàng) /wɑŋ/ A2	verb - to forget
理想 (lǐxiǎng) /lìɕi̯ɑŋ/ B1	noun - ideal
搬家 (bānjiā) /bán t͡ɕjá/ B1	verb - to move house
快樂 (kuàilè) /kʰu̯aɪ̯.lə/ A1	adjective - happy
美滿 (měimǎn) /méɪmǎn/ B2	adjective - happy and satisfying
單位 (dānwèi) /dánwèi/ B1	noun - unit
烏鴉 (wūyā) /újá/ B2	noun - crow
天梯 (tiāntī) /tʰjɛ́nti/ C1	noun - ladder to heaven
害怕 (hàipà) /xaɪpʰa/ A2	verb - to be afraid
婚紗 (hūnshā) /xwúnʃá/ B1	noun - wedding dress
美麗 (měilì) /méɪlì/ A2	adjective - beautiful
溫馨 (wēnxīn) /wə́nʃín/ B1	adjective - warm and pleasant
回憶 (huíyì) /xwěɪ.î/ B1	noun - memory
墳 (fén) /fɤn/ C1	noun - grave, tomb
瀟灑 (xiāosǎ) /ɕjɑ́ʊ̯sɑ/ B2	adjective - natural and unrestrained; elegant and unconventional

Key Grammar Structures

• 你正在要搬家

  ➔ Progressive aspect with 要 (yào) indicating an imminent future action

  ➔ The structure '正在要' indicates an ongoing process that is about to happen soon.

• 就似這一區

  ➔ Use of 就 (jiù) for emphasis or immediacy; comparison with 比較 (bǐjiào)

  ➔ 就 (jiù) emphasizes immediacy or a direct comparison, highlighting the situation directly.

• 面對這墳起的荒土

  ➔ 面对 (miànduì) as a preposition meaning 'facing' or 'confronting'

  ➔ 面对 (miànduì) introduces the idea of confronting or dealing with a situation directly.

• 請放下手裏那鎖匙好嗎?

  ➔ 請 (qǐng) as a polite request; 放下 (fàngxià) as a verb phrase meaning 'put down'

  ➔ 請 (qǐng) is used to politely ask or invite; 放下 (fàngxià) means to put down or release something.

• 請放下手裏那鎖匙好嗎?

  ➔ Using 请 (qǐng) for polite requests and using 那 (nà) to specify 'that' (the particular keys)

  ➔ 請 (qǐng) politely asks; 那 (nà) specifies 'that' particular keys in context.