演員 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 薛之謙

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the heartfelt world of Mandopop with Joker Xue's immensely popular song "演員" (Actor). This powerful ballad, known for its poetic lyrics and emotional delivery, offers a unique window into Chinese language and culture through the universal theme of love and heartbreak. You'll not only enhance your listening comprehension but also gain insights into nuanced emotional expressions in Mandarin, making language learning a truly engaging experience.

[English]

Keep it simple

Just speak plainly

Skip the dramatic escalation

You're not some actor

Stop scripting these scenarios

No objections

I just want to see how you'll spin this

Your sadness feels too rehearsed

Like a talentless actor

The audience sees right through

I should play along with your act

Pretending not to see

Forcing someone who loves you most

To improvise an act

When did we start

Abandoning our principles

Adapting to changing times

Watching these clumsy performances

But you used to love me so deeply

Why perform the details?

What must I become

To delay this weariness?

Only when love drops its defenses

Do all these things

Become the real test

No objections

I'll comply however you want

Your acting skills are limited anyway

No need for acceptance speeches

Let's make this separation ordinary

I should play along with your act

Pretending not to see

Don't force someone who loves you most

To improvise an act

When did we start

Losing all boundaries

Following others' deceptions

Passivity won't make you look pitiful

But you used to love me so deeply

Why perform the details?

What must I become

To play my role properly

Only when love drops its defenses

Do all these things

Come with expiration dates

Truth is, the audience is just me

Truth is, I see your reluctance too

We've grown used to this emotional tug-of-war

Why still keep score?

Those who say they can't separate might not mean it

Love's true enemy is drawn-out hesitation

The more intense the scene gets, the fewer tears fall

Is this still worth it?

I should play along with your act

Doing my best performance

Like guests on dating shows

Being judged by all

If you can still see any trace

Of my love for you

Cut those scenes out

Let me keep some dignity

But you used to love me so deeply

Why perform the details?

This indifferent facade

Is my final act

It's because I love you that I choose to perform

This kind of sacrifice

[Chinese]

簡單點

說話的方式簡單點

遞進的情緒請省略

你又不是個演員

別設計那些情節

沒意見

我只想看看你怎麼圓

你難過的太表面

像沒天賦的演員

觀眾一眼能看見

該配合你演出的我

演視而不見

在逼一個最愛你的人

即興表演

什麼時候我們開始

收起了底線

順應時代的改變

看那些拙劣的表演

可你曾經那麼愛我

幹嘛演出細節

我該變成什麼樣子

才能延緩厭倦

原來當愛放下防備後的

這些那些

才是考驗

沒意見

你想怎樣我都隨便

你演技也有限

又不用說感言

分開就平淡些

該配合你演出的我

演視而不見

別逼一個最愛你的人

即興表演

什麼時候我們開始

沒有了底線

順著別人的謊言

被動就不顯得可憐

可你曾經那麼愛我

幹嘛演出細節

我該變成什麼樣子

才能配合出演

原來當愛放下防備後的

這些那些

都有個期限

其實台下的觀眾就我一個

其實我也看出你有點不捨

場景也習慣我們來回拉扯

還計較著什麼

其實說分不開的也不見得

其實感情最怕的就是拖著

越演到重場戲越哭不出了

是否還值得

該配合你演出的我

盡力在表演

像情感節目裡的嘉賓

任人挑選

如果還能看出我有

愛你的那面

請剪掉那些情節

讓我看上去體面

可你曾經那麼愛我

幹嘛演出細節

不在意的樣子

是我最後的表演

是因為愛你我才選擇表演

這種成全

Key Grammar Structures

• 簡單點，說話的方式簡單點

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative mood to give a direct command or request, emphasizing simplicity in speech.

• 你又不是個演員，別設計那些情節

  ➔ Adverbial clause of contrast

  ➔ The sentence uses an adverbial clause of contrast ('你又不是個演員') to highlight the contradiction between the subject's actions and their true nature.

• 該配合你演出的我，演視而不見

  ➔ Attributive clause

  ➔ The attributive clause ('該配合你演出的我') modifies the subject, describing the role the speaker is forced to play.

• 可你曾經那麼愛我，幹嘛演出細節

  ➔ Contrastive conjunction

  ➔ The contrastive conjunction ('可') is used to express a contrast between the past love and the current performance.

• 我該變成什麼樣子，才能延緩厭倦

  ➔ Conditional sentence (hypothetical)

  ➔ This is a hypothetical conditional sentence, expressing a condition ('我該變成什麼樣子') and its potential outcome ('才能延緩厭倦').

• 其實台下的觀眾就我一個

  ➔ Emphatic structure

  ➔ The sentence uses an emphatic structure ('其實') to highlight the solitary nature of the speaker as the only audience.

• 如果還能看出我有愛你的那面，請剪掉那些情節

  ➔ Conditional sentence (Type II)

  ➔ This is a Type II conditional sentence, expressing an unreal or hypothetical condition ('如果還能看出我有愛你的那面') and its result ('請剪掉那些情節').

• 不在意的樣子，是我最後的表演

  ➔ Attributive adjective

  ➔ The attributive adjective ('不在意的') describes the noun ('樣子'), indicating the appearance of not caring.