You First – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 李駿傑

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Jeremy Lee's 'You First' offers a great opportunity for learners of Cantonese. The song's clear emotional narrative, centered around love and conflict, allows you to connect with the vocabulary of feelings and relationships in a profound way. Its slower tempo and heartfelt delivery make it easier to follow the lyrics and appreciate the beauty of the Cantonese language in a modern pop context.

[English]

When bubbles burst, it's so intense

Remember how tenderly we brewed, so gentle

How many layers are in each love story

How many times have I recited the poems, only to argue

In the end, I decided to pause, never easily

But didn't expect to turn back, so difficult

Shouting you're mine, who truly knows

I feel depressed, with sorrow, reminiscing again

Does it mean we have to wait a thousand years before we meet again

And accepting fate, how much I wish to see you again

If only we could be more peaceful, if only we matured once

Still, we end up fighting to see who’s more childish

The hardest part is holding on too tightly, leaving scars afterwards

And chaos becomes amusingly ironic in many ways

Built with a lifetime, destroyed in a moment

Who will speak first, wishing to see each other more

Accepting eyes and tongues, turns out they can be separate

Surprised that bloodline and soul are so connected

Holding onto every memory, afraid that from now on

Feeling so depressed, so sad, missing you too much

Does it mean we have to wait a thousand years before we meet again

And accepting fate, how much I wish to see you again

If only we could be more peaceful, if only we matured once

Still, we end up fighting to see who’s more childish

The hardest part is holding on too tightly, leaving scars afterwards

And chaos becomes amusingly ironic in many ways

Built with a lifetime, destroyed in a moment

Who will speak first, wishing to see each other more

Born for love

Died for love

Believing in love, through love’s test

Hoping for snow and flowers

Wishing for evening breezes

Hoping me and you can meet more often

Does it mean we have to wait a thousand years before we meet again

And accepting fate, how much I wish to see you again

If only we could be less ruthless, yet cherish everything

Foolish to witness love, as it means so much

The hardest part is holding on too tightly, leaving scars afterwards

And chaos becomes amusingly ironic in many ways

Regret can last a lifetime, yet missing just a little

What’s strange is that both want to say, wishing to see each other more

[Chinese]

泡沫破滅時   如此激烈

記住醖釀時   如此溫柔

每段愛戀    幾多層次

唸過幾遍詩    能罵戰

最後決定要暫停   從來不輕易

卻未意料要回頭   如此艱難

喊著你是我的   有誰知

我抑鬱   跟哀傷   再懷念

難道要千年    過後才再見

而認就認命是我多麼想再見

要是平和一些   要是成熟一次

還是要鬥哪個更加幼稚

難在太堅持    過後還有刺

而亂就亂到很多想得很諷刺

建立用一生    破壞在一剎

還待哪個會先說    想多見一面

接受耳目與舌頭   原來可分別

詫異血脈與靈魂   如此相連

抱著每段記憶   怕從此

很抑鬱   很哀傷   太懷念

難道要千年    過後才再見

而認就認命是我多麼想再見

要是平和一些   要是成熟一次

還是要鬥哪個更加幼稚

難在太堅持    過後還有刺

而亂就亂到很多想得很諷刺

建立用一生    破壞在一剎

還待哪個會先說    想多見一面

為愛而生

為愛而死

為愛而信    愛的試煉

願雪和花

願晚和風

願我和你    見多一面

難道要千年    過後才再見

而認就認命是我多麼想再見

要是無情一些   偏偏珍惜一切

傻在見證愛有太多意思

難在太堅持    過後還有刺

而亂就亂到很多想得很諷刺

抱憾能一生    偏偏差一句

奇在兩個也想說    想多見一面

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
泡沫 /ˈpʰaʊ moʊ/ B2	noun - foam, bubble
激烈 /t͡ɕi li̯ɛ/ B2	adjective - intense, fierce
記住 /t͡ɕi t͡ʂu/ A2	verb - to remember
醞釀 /ʏn ni̯ɑŋ/ C1	verb - to brew, to ferment, to gestate
溫柔 /wə̯n ʐoʊ/ B1	adjective - gentle, tender
愛戀 /aɪ li̯ɛn/ B2	noun - love, romance
決定 /ɕɥɛ dɪŋ/ B1	verb - decide noun - decision
暫停 /tsʰɐn tʰiŋ/ B2	verb - to suspend, to pause
意料 /i li̯ɑʊ/ B2	verb - to anticipate, to expect
艱難 /t͡ɕi̯ɛn nɐn/ C1	adjective - difficult, hard
抑鬱 /i pʰu/ B2	adjective - depressed
哀傷 /aɪ ʂɑŋ/ B2	noun - sorrow, grief
懷念 /xwɐi̯ ni̯ɛn/ B2	verb - to cherish the memory of; to think of
認命 /ʐən mɪŋ/ C1	verb - to accept one's fate
幼稚 /joʊ ʈ͡ʂɨ/ B1	adjective - childish, juvenile
堅持 /t͡ʃʰən t͡sz/ B2	verb - persist
諷刺 /fəŋ t͡sʰɨ/ C1	adjective - satirical, ironic
破壞 /pʰwo χwaɪ/ B1	verb - to destroy noun - destruction
耳目 /ɚ mu/ B2	noun - ears and eyes; one's senses
舌頭 /ʂə tʰoʊ/ A1	noun - tongue
靈魂 /lɪŋ xwən/ B2	noun - soul, spirit
血脈 /ɕɥɛ mɐɪ/ C1	noun - bloodline; kinship
試煉 /ʂɨ li̯ɛn/ B2	noun - trial, test
珍惜 /ʈ͡ʂən ɕi/ B2	verb - cherish
抱憾 /pʰɑʊ χɐn/ C1	verb - to regret

Key Grammar Structures

• 如同相連

  ➔ Like / as if connected

  ➔ The phrase "如同" (rú tóng) is used to make a simile, comparing two things as if they are connected or similar.

• 建立用一生

  ➔ Using "用" to indicate the means or purpose (to build using a lifetime)

  ➔ The character "用" (yòng) indicates the means or purpose of an action, in this case, building or creating something over a lifetime.

• 想多見一面

  ➔ Using "想” + object + "一面" to express desire to see or meet again

  ➔ The construction "想 + verb + 一面" expresses the desire or wish to see or experience something again.

• 難在太堅持

  ➔ Using "難在" to express difficulty in doing something due to a particular aspect

  ➔ The phrase "難在" (nán zài) is used to indicate that a task or situation is difficult primarily because of a specific aspect or factor.

• 再懷念

  ➔ Using "再" + verb to indicate doing something again or further

  ➔ The character "再" (zài) expresses repetition or doing something again after a prior action.

• 願雪和花

  ➔ Using "願" to express a wish or desire

  ➔ The character "願" (yuàn) is used to express a wish, hope, or desire for something to happen.