煙火裏的塵埃 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 華晨宇

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a journey of cultural and emotional discovery, and Hua Chenyu's 'Ashes from Fireworks' is a perfect starting point. The song's introspective lyrics, penned by the famous lyricist Lin Xi, offer a glimpse into the nuanced expressions of loneliness and self-identity in Mandarin Chinese. Its powerful and emotive melody makes the language's tones and cadences more memorable. By exploring this song, you can learn to express complex feelings and appreciate the poetic beauty of the Chinese language.

[English]

Watching the dancing dust falling down

No one notices its existence

So free and unrestrained

But the world loves hustle and bustle

Can't tolerate my utter boredom

Shouldn't be spacing out alone

Only I guard the silent desert

Waiting for the flowers to bloom

Only I watch other people's happiness

And surprisingly feel moved

Just let me listen to the grandest of reasons

Unwilling to understand

What should be and shouldn't be?

Inside my heart lives an old child

If the world can't understand, confessing to the shadow

Is it only me still asking

Why tomorrow is more wonderful?

Can't find the remains of innocence in the fireworks

Only I guard the silent desert

Waiting for the flowers to bloom

Only I watch other people's happiness

And surprisingly feel moved

Just let me listen to the grandest of reasons

Unwilling to understand

Only I am me, so strange

Still feeling moved

The wind blows in gusts, why doesn't it return?

Once the wind is gone, it doesn't return, is it sad or not?

Numb so quickly, should it be this way?

...

[Chinese]

看著 飛舞的 塵埃 掉下來

沒人 發現 它 存在

多 自由 自在

可 世界 都 愛 熱熱鬧鬧

容不下 我 百無聊賴

不應該 一個人 發呆

只有我 守著 安靜的 沙漠

等待著 花 開

只有我 看著 別人的 快樂

竟然會 感慨

就讓我 聽著 天大的 道理

不願意明白

有 什麼 是 應該 不應該

我的心裡 住著 一個 蒼老的小孩

如果 世界 聽不明白 對影子 表白

是不是 只有我 還在問

為什麼 明天更 精彩

煙火里 找不到 童真的 殘骸

只有我 守著 安靜的 沙漠

等待著 花 開

只有我 看著 別人的 快樂

竟然會 感慨

就讓我 聽著 天大的 道理

不願意明白

只有我 就是我 好 奇怪

還在感慨

風陣陣 吹過來 為何不 回來

風一去 不回來 悲不悲哀

麻木得 那麼快 應不應該

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
塵埃 (chén'āi) /t͡ʃʰən aɪ/ B2	noun - dust; dirt
飛舞 (fēiwǔ) /feɪ wu/ B2	verb - to fly; to flutter; to dance in the air
存在 (cúnzài) /tsʰǔn tsaɪ/ B2	verb - to exist noun - existence
自由 (zìyóu) /tsɨ̀ joʊ/ A2	adjective - free noun - freedom
世界 (shìjiè) /ʂì t͡ɕjɛ̂/ A1	noun - world
熱鬧 (rènao) /ʐə̂ naʊ/ B1	adjective - lively; bustling; busy
發呆 (fādāi) /fa taɪ/ B2	verb - to stare blankly; to be lost in thought; to daydream
守 (shǒu) /ʂoʊ/ B1	verb - to guard; to defend; to abide by
安静 (ānjìng) /án t͡ɕîŋ/ A2	adjective - quiet; peaceful
沙漠 (shāmò) /ʂá mwô/ B1	noun - desert
等待 (děngdài) /də̌ŋ tâɪ/ B1	verb - to wait for; to await
花 (huā) /hwā/ A1	noun - flower
快樂 (kuàilè) /kʰwài lɤ̂/ A1	adjective - happy
感慨 (gǎnkǎi) /kǎn kʰài/ B2	verb - to sigh with emotion; to lament noun - sigh; lament
明白 (míngbái) /mɪŋ paɪ/ A2	verb - to understand; to realize adjective - clear; obvious
蒼老 (cānglǎo) /tsʰáŋ làʊ/ C1	adjective - old; aged; senile
小孩 (xiǎohái) /ɕjaʊ xaɪ/ A1	noun - child
煙火 (yānhuǒ) /ján hwǒ/ B1	noun - fireworks
童真 (tóngzhēn) /tʰʊŋ ʈ͡ʂən/ C1	noun - childlike innocence; child's natural disposition
殘骸 (cánhái) /t͡sʰan xai/ C1	noun - remains; wreckage; ruins
悲哀 (bēi'āi) /peɪ aɪ/ B2	adjective - sad; sorrowful noun - sorrow; grief
麻木 (mámù) /ma mu/ C1	adjective - numb; apathetic

Key Grammar Structures

• 看著 飛舞的 塵埃 掉下來

  ➔ Verb + 著 + Verb (progressive aspect with emphasis on the action)

  ➔ The structure "看著 飛舞的 塵埃 掉下來" indicates that the subject is "watching" the action of the "dust falling" happen, emphasizing the continuous observation.

• 容不下 我 百無聊賴

  ➔ Verb + 不下 (capacity or tolerance)

  ➔ "容不下" means "cannot tolerate" or "cannot accommodate." Here, it signifies the world cannot tolerate the speaker's boredom.

• 只有我 守著 安靜的 沙漠

  ➔ 只有... (才/就)... (only... then/can)

  ➔ The "只有..." structure emphasizes the exclusivity. "只有我 守著 安靜的 沙漠" means "Only I am guarding the quiet desert."

• 等待著 花 開

  ➔ Verb + 著 + Noun (progressive aspect/state)

  ➔ "等待著 花 開" indicates a continuous state of waiting for the flowers to bloom.

• 竟然會 感慨

  ➔ 竟然 (unexpectedly; to one's surprise)

  ➔ "竟然" expresses surprise. The speaker is surprised that they feel emotional when seeing others' happiness.

• 就讓我 聽著 天大的 道理

  ➔ 就 (then, in that case; emphasizes the permission/acceptance)

  ➔ "就" here emphasizes acceptance. "就讓我 聽著 天大的 道理" can be translated as "Then let me just listen to the great principles."

• 我的心裡 住著 一個 蒼老的小孩

  ➔ 住著 (living; residing)

  ➔ "住著" indicates the state of living or residing. It implies that there's something existing inside the speaker's heart.

• 是不是 只有我 還在問

  ➔ 是不是 (is it...?; could it be that...?)

  ➔ "是不是" is used to form a question, often implying doubt or uncertainty. "是不是 只有我 還在問" questions whether the speaker is the only one still wondering.