夜視鏡 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Ian 陳卓賢

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Ian Chan Cheuk-Hin's "夜視鏡" and discover the nuances of the Cantonese language through its evocative title. While the song's full story awaits, exploring its theme of 'night vision' can offer a unique cultural and linguistic experience.

[English]

Tonight I'm gonna stay low, stay low

Observing a street in a tiny snapshot, oh

Tonight I'm gonna stay low, stay low

The emptiness amidst the noise, oh

Calmly strolling under the night sky

Deciphering pixels through night vision

Crowds hide signals, signals

Colorful yet so barren

Who forgets their passion, pushing hard yet untouched

Poison mistaken for medicine

Drinks mask the true essence

Toasting covers genuine feelings

Sharing secrets but pretending, acting tough and competing

Talking about appearances, trends, and shifting rumors, arguing round and round

Like a declaration of loyalty, vying for awards

Between the lights, like shadows in between

When night falls, false glamour fades and the truth reveals itself

Like the full moon stirring the world, real yet magical

Tonight I'm gonna stay low, stay low

Observing a street in a tiny snapshot, oh

Tonight I'm gonna stay low, stay low

The emptiness amidst the noise, oh

Calmly strolling under the night sky

Deciphering pixels through night vision

Crowds hide signals, signals

Colorful yet so barren

Yeah, how many claim to be genuine, how many just act tough

Fingertips like eyes and high hats like sweet treats

Masters discuss mysterious philosophies

But beneath the table, there are hidden stages

Celebrities and sports cars attract attention

Ordinary people work overnight without rest

Designer brands just for the show's coverage

After the event, fame and names fade away

In the shadows, staring at the lights

Thinking deep as illusions of grandeur slowly disperse

Living in this muddled world is both real and surreal

Tonight I'm gonna stay low, stay low

I see clearly in the midnight, this city's strange aspect

Your beauty covers inner contradictions

Like taking poison to stop itchy thoughts

Lacking love, yet causing wounds and healing them again

Tonight I'm gonna stay low, stay low

Observing a street in a tiny snapshot, oh

Tonight I'm gonna stay low, stay low

The emptiness amidst the noise, oh

Casually observing the lively world

Outsiders watching the bustling country

Crowds hide signals, signals

Colorful yet so barren

[Chinese]

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

觀摩一街縮圖 oh

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

喧囂中的虛無 oh

夜幕下低調踱步

夜視下解讀像素

人潮埋藏記號 記號

繽紛多麼荒蕪

誰忘命賣力後努力無恙

毒藥當做良藥

酒杯底蓋過真章

交心卻作勢裝腔較量

談賣相 談動向 輪著唱是非多禮讓

猶如投名狀爭取獲獎

在燈光之間 就像陰影之間

當天一黑 浮華幕後漸亮眼

像月滿撥動世間 是真亦奇幻

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

觀摩一街縮圖 oh

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

喧囂中的虛無 oh

夜幕下低調踱步

夜視下解讀像素

人潮埋藏記號 記號

繽紛多麼荒蕪

Yeah 幾多標榜率真 幾多講得作狀

髮角當眼角對高帽當派糖

大師在玄談道學

桌下卻 有太多秘幕

名人和跑車吸引到目光

凡人忙通宵得不到看望

名牌來包裝只求全場掃蕩

完場名和姓已淡忘

在陰影之間 望著燈光之間

深思一刻 浮華幻象逐漸散

活在這混濁世間 是真亦奇幻

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

我半夜看清晰 這都市異相

你漂亮作掩飾 內在矛盾著

猶如服砒霜止心癢

缺乏愛 卻又再 製造創傷 醫創傷

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

觀摩一街縮圖 oh

Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

喧囂中的虛無 oh

夜幕下低調踱步

局外望熱鬧國度

人潮埋藏記號 記號

繽紛多麼荒蕪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
夜視 (yèshì) /jɛ̂ ʂɻ/ B2	noun - night vision
觀摩 (guānmó) /ɡu̯änmu̯ɔ/ C1	verb - to observe and emulate; to learn by observation
喧囂 (xuānxiāo) /ɕɥɛnɕi̯ɑʊ̯/ B2	adjective - noisy; clamorous
虛無 (xūwú) /ɕɥy̌u̯u̯/ C1	noun - nihility; nothingness; emptiness
低調 (dīdiào) /títi̯ɑʊ̯/ B1	adjective - low-key; discreet; understated
踱步 (duóbù) /tu̯ɔ̌pû/ B2	verb - to pace; to walk to and fro
解讀 (jiědú) /t͡ɕjɛ̌tǔ/ B2	verb - to interpret; to decode
像素 (xiàngsù) /ɕi̯ɑŋsû/ B1	noun - pixel
人潮 (réncháo) /ʐə̌nt͡ʂʰɑʊ̯/ A2	noun - crowd; throng
埋藏 (máicáng) /mɑit͡sʰɑŋ/ B2	verb - to bury; to conceal
記號 (jìhào) /t͡ɕîxɑʊ/ A2	noun - mark; symbol
繽紛 (bīnfēn) /pínfén/ B2	adjective - colorful; varied; diverse
荒蕪 (huāngwú) /xu̯ɑŋu̯u/ B2	adjective - desolate; barren; bleak
毒藥 (dúyào) /tǔjɑʊ/ B1	noun - poison
良藥 (liángyào) /li̯ɑŋjɑʊ/ B1	noun - good medicine
真章 (zhēnzhāng) /ʈ͡ʂənʈ͡ʂɑŋ/ C1	noun - The real thing; the truth
裝腔 (zhuāngqiāng) /ʈ͡ʂwɑŋt͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ/ C1	verb - to put on airs; to posture
較量 (jiàoliàng) /t͡ɕi̯ɑʊli̯ɑŋ/ B2	verb - to compete; to measure up against

Key Grammar Structures

• Tonight I’mma stay low stay low

  ➔ Use of 'be going to' (informal 'gonna') for future intentions

  ➔ 'Stay low' indicates an intention to remain discreet or unnoticed.

• 觀摩一街縮圖 oh

  ➔ Use of verb '觀摩' (observe or view) in imperative form for command or suggestion

  ➔ '觀摩' means to observe or study carefully.

• 人潮埋藏記號 記號

  ➔ Use of noun phrase '人潮埋藏' (crowd hides) with verb '埋藏' (to hide/bury)

  ➔ '埋藏' means to hide or bury something, here metaphorically referring to hidden signs within the crowd.

• 繽紛多麼荒蕪

  ➔ Use of '多麼 + adjective' to emphasize degree (exclamation structure)

  ➔ '多麼' is used to express a strong emotional emphasis on the adjective.

• 當天一黑 浮華幕後漸亮眼

  ➔ Use of temporal phrase '當天一黑' (as soon as it gets dark) and descriptive phrase '漸亮眼' (gradually brighten)

  ➔ '當天一黑' indicates the moment it becomes dark, and '漸亮眼' describes the gradual brightening.

• 我半夜看清晰 這都市異相

  ➔ Use of '看清晰' (to see clearly) with adverbial phrase '半夜' (midnight) for time setting

  ➔ '看清晰' emphasizes seeing with clarity, and '半夜' sets the time at midnight.