一表人才 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 呂爵安, 邱鋒澤

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the nuances of Cantonese through “一表人才”, a song about heartbreak and resilience. Sung by Edan Lui and Qiu Feng Ze, this track offers a poignant exploration of emotions and societal pressures, making it a compelling introduction to the language and culture.

[English]

Could it be that one heartbreak makes me dig my own grave

Or is it that I’ve given my life to a fate I've been cursed with

Better to repent early and find salvation

There’s no anger in my heart

Had I known effort was useless, there’d be no way forward

Why not just reject myself, turn into a pile of mud—just fine

I’m not living very well, but I will keep on living

Waiting to find a new lover—there will be a cure for me

Right now, I’m trying hard to look like someone talented

Don’t show weakness casually in front of others

Remember there’s still a vow to be a decent person

...

There’s no point calling on relatives and friends to help me heal

Come be a witness to this child’s love story

Still worried about a lifetime of it

Holding on so exhaustedly, but still persisting

Tears welling up, yet I keep smiling

Next year I’ll be stronger, ready to start again

It's never too late to cry

I’m not living very well, but I will keep on living

Waiting to find a new lover—there will be a cure for me

Right now, I’m trying hard to look like someone talented

Don’t show weakness casually in front of others

Remember there’s still a vow to be a decent person

Ho-oh, ho-oh-oh

...

This heartbreak shouldn’t be called—sooner or later, it’ll break apart

From time to time, I count my mistakes, hitting my wounds again and again

I can’t get past it, I want to change so I can move on

Even if I’m down, I’ll endure

I’m not living very well, but I will keep on living

Waiting to find a new lover—there will be a cure for me

Right now, I’m trying hard to look like someone talented

Don’t show weakness casually in front of others

Even the deepest wounds won’t leave the stage, only then can I finally smile

I may take some pain, but I will keep living

I must love myself well, as a remedy for self-rescue

Trust that someone like me is worth believing in

The previous love is like a chess move—one wrong step

Have confidence in facing future vows

...

[Chinese]

難道我 失戀一次 就去掘墳墓

還是我 餘生給批過命

提早些 皈依更好

我心入面 沒有憤怒

早知努力 前無去路

何妨 自我嫌棄 變一堆泥濘 就好

我過得並不好 但是我會活著

等找到新愛侶 會有治我的藥

此刻 努力扮作一表人才

別在人前 隨便展覽虛弱

要記得 還有做人合約

無謂叫 親戚好友 伴我未痊癒

來為這 孩子的戀愛事

還擔心 足一輩子

撐得極累 亦要撐住

一眶眼淚 仍然笑住

明年又變強壯 再捲土重來

才哭泣也未遲

我過得並不好 但是我會活著

等找到新愛侶 會有治我的藥

此刻 努力扮作一表人才

別在人前 隨便展覽虛弱

要記得還有 做人合約

Ho-oh, ho-oh-oh

不應叫 這心碎 早晚碎一碎

時時 點算錯誤 給傷口再 重撃幾搥

過不去 想變 過得去

難過 也忍下去

我過得並不好 但是我會活著

等找到新愛侶 會有治我的藥

此刻 努力扮作一表人才

別在人前 隨便展覽虛弱

最重傷時間 都不離場 才會最終笑著

我最多受點苦 但是我要活著

必須好好愛我 當作自救的藥

應該 信任像我一表人才

上段情緣 棋差不過一著

有信心迎接 未來的誓約

Key Grammar Structures

• 我過得並不好 但是我會活著

  ➔ Using '但是' (dànshì) as a conjunction meaning 'but' to connect two clauses.

  ➔ '但是' introduces a contrast between the first and second clause, emphasizing despite difficulties, the speaker continues to live.

• 還有做人合約

  ➔ Using '還有' (háiyǒu) to indicate 'still have' or 'also have', expressing addition or continuation.

  ➔ '還有' emphasizes that there is an ongoing or additional aspect, in this case, the 'contract of being a person'.

• 等找到新愛侶 會有治我的藥

  ➔ Using '等' (děng) as a conjunction meaning 'wait until' or 'until', expressing a future expectation.

  ➔ '等' introduces a clause indicating waiting for a future event, in this case, finding a new partner who will heal the speaker.

• 別在人前 隨便展覽虛弱

  ➔ Using '別' (bié) as a prohibitive imperative meaning 'do not', and combining with '在人前' (in front of others) to advise against exposing weakness.

  ➔ '別' is used as a command not to do something, here advising not to casually show weakness in front of others.

• 最重傷時間 都不離場 才會最終笑著

  ➔ Using '都' (dōu) to indicate 'even' or 'all' in clauses showing inclusive emphasis, combined with '才會' (cáihuì) meaning 'only then' to express sequence or consequence.

  ➔ '都' emphasizes inclusiveness or extent, and '才会' indicates that only after certain conditions are met does the final outcome occur.