像我這樣的人 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 毛不易

Lyrics & Translation

This poignant song by Mao Buyi offers a profound glimpse into the inner world of a young individual grappling with life's uncertainties. Its simple yet deeply resonant lyrics provide an excellent opportunity to explore nuanced Chinese expressions of emotion, self-reflection, and the universal feeling of being ordinary yet unwilling to conform. By engaging with its relatable themes and direct language, learners can gain valuable insight into authentic contemporary Chinese sentiment and everyday language use.

[English]

Someone as outstanding as me

Should have lived a brilliant life

How is it that after more than twenty years

I'm still drifting in the crowd?

Someone as smart as me

Long ago said goodbye to innocence

How is it I still traded a love affair

Only to end up with a body full of scars?

Someone as lost as me

Someone who is searching

Someone as unremarkable as me

How many more people like this have you seen?

...

Someone as unrefined as me

Never liked to act profound

How is it that when I occasionally hear an old song

Suddenly my mind also drifts?

Someone as cowardly as me

Always holding back a little in everything

How is it that I once, for someone

Thought about risking everything?

Someone as lost as me

Someone who is searching

Someone as unremarkable as me

How many more people like this have you seen?

Someone as lonely as me

Someone as foolish as me

Someone unwilling to be ordinary

How many people like this are there in the world?

...

Someone as lost as me

Someone who is searching

Someone as unremarkable as me

How many more people like this have you seen?

Someone as lonely as me

Someone as foolish as me

Someone unwilling to be ordinary

How many people like this are there in the world?

Someone as inexplicable as me

Will there be anyone

...

Who will take pity?

...

[Chinese]

像我這樣優秀的人

本該燦爛過一生

怎麼二十多年到頭來

還在人海裡浮沉

像我這樣聰明的人

早就告別了單純

怎麼還是用了一段情

去換一身傷痕

像我這樣迷茫的人

像我這樣尋找的人

像我這樣碌碌無為的人

你還見過多少人

像我這樣庸俗的人

從不喜歡裝深沉

怎麼偶爾聽到老歌時

忽然也晃了神

像我這樣懦弱的人

凡事都要留幾分

怎麼曾經也會為了誰

想過奮不顧身

像我這樣迷茫的人

像我這樣尋找的人

像我這樣碌碌無為的人

你還見過多少人

像我這樣孤單的人

像我這樣傻的人

像我這樣不甘平凡的人

世界上有多少人

像我這樣迷茫的人

像我這樣尋找的人

像我這樣碌碌無為的人

你還見過多少人

像我這樣孤單的人

像我這樣傻的人

像我這樣不甘平凡的人

世界上有多少人

像我這樣莫名其妙的人

會不會有人

心疼

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
優秀 (yōuxiù) /joʊˈʃjoʊ/ B2	adjective - outstanding, excellent
燦爛 (cànlàn) /ˈtsʰanˌlan/ B2	adjective - bright, brilliant, splendid
聰明 (cōngmíng) /tsʰʊ́ŋmɪŋ/ A2	adjective - intelligent, clever
告別 (gàobié) /kɑʊ̯bje/ B1	verb - to say goodbye, to leave, to bid farewell to
單純 (dānchún) /d̥ant͡ʃʰwən/ B1	adjective - simple, pure, naive
傷痕 (shānghén) /ʂaŋ.xən/ B2	noun - scar, wound
迷茫 (mímáng) /mǐmɑŋ/ B2	adjective - confused, perplexed, at a loss
尋找 (xúnzhǎo) /ɕy̌nt͡ʂɑʊ/ B1	verb - to seek, to look for
碌碌無為 (lùlùwúwéi) /lûlûwúwéi/ C1	adjective - mediocre and accomplishing nothing
庸俗 (yōngsú) /jʊŋsʊ/ B2	adjective - vulgar, philistine, banal
深沉 (shēnchén) /ʃəntʃʰən/ B2	adjective - deep, profound, reserved
懦弱 (nuòruò) /nwɔ̂ɻwɔ̂/ B2	adjective - cowardly, weak
奮不顧身 (fènbùgùshēn) /fə̀npúkûʂə́n/ C1	verb - to dash ahead regardless of one's safety
孤單 (gūdān) /kúdan/ A2	adjective - lonely, alone
不甘平凡 (bùgān píngfán) /pûkan.pʰǐŋfan/ B2	adjective - unwilling to be ordinary, not reconciled to mediocrity
心疼 (xīnténg) /ɕíntəŋ/ B1	verb - to feel sorry for, to love dearly

Key Grammar Structures

• 像我這樣優秀的人

  ➔ 像...這樣 + adjective + 的 + noun (Similar to... such an adjective)

  ➔ The structure "像...這樣 + adjective + 的 + noun" is used to describe a noun with a certain quality, emphasizing the similarity. In this case, it means "a person like me who is so 'excellent'" .

• 本該燦爛過一生

  ➔ 本該 (běngāi): Should have; ought to have

  ➔ "本該" indicates an expectation or what should have happened. "本該燦爛過一生" translates to "should have lived a brilliant life".

• 怎麼二十多年到頭來

  ➔ 到頭來 (dàotóulái): In the end; after all

  ➔ "到頭來" signifies what ultimately happens after a period of time or effort. It's used to express a result that may be contrary to expectations. Here, it means "in the end, after more than twenty years...".

• 還在人海裡浮沉

  ➔ 還在 (háizài): Still; yet

  ➔ "還在" indicates a continuing state or action. "還在人海裡浮沉" means "still drifting in the sea of people".

• 早就告別了單純

  ➔ 早就 (zǎojiù): Long ago; already

  ➔ "早就" emphasizes that something happened a long time ago or has already happened. "早就告別了單純" means "(I) already said goodbye to naivety a long time ago".

• 怎麼還是用了一段情

  ➔ 還是 (háishì): Still; yet

  ➔ "還是" indicates that something is still happening despite expectations or attempts to the contrary. "怎麼還是用了一段情" conveys a sense of disappointment or self-reproach. "How is it that I still used a relationship..."

• 凡事都要留幾分

  ➔ 凡事 (fánshì): Everything; all things

  ➔ "凡事" means "everything" or "in everything". "凡事都要留幾分" indicates a cautious approach to all matters. "In everything, one must leave some room (for oneself)".

• 怎麼曾經也會為了誰

  ➔ 曾經 (céngjīng) + 也 (yě) + 會 (huì) (Once + also + would)

  ➔ "曾經" (céngjīng) indicates something that happened in the past. "也 (yě)" means "also" or "too," adding emphasis. "會 (huì)" indicates possibility or willingness to do something. So, the combination suggests a past action that might seem surprising in retrospect. The speaker is surprised that they *once* would have done something.