又十年 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 張學友
• Album: 又十年

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the soul-stirring melody of Jacky Cheung's "又十年" (Another Ten Years)! This Mandopop ballad offers a beautiful and reflective look at life's journey and the passage of time. Learning the lyrics in Mandarin will not only deepen your appreciation for the song's profound message about cherishing the present but also provide an authentic listening experience to understand how Chinese culture views time, relationships, and personal growth. Its clear and emotional delivery makes it an excellent song for language learners to grasp nuances of expression and vocabulary related to life experiences and reflections.

[English]

I heard you quit smoking last year for your health.

I still have a little drink every weekend.

It's not as easy to meet up with friends as it used to be.

Those days are, you could say, over.

Some nights I'll drive around the city.

That's when I understood what they mean by 'memories like smoke'.

In the blink of an eye, another decade has passed.

Those entanglements and conflicts suddenly resolved themselves one day.

In the blink of an eye, another decade has passed.

I have a limited understanding of the ups and downs of life.

But I've already learned how to adapt.

How many ideals in a lifetime can withstand the passage of time?

Might as well live the increasingly fewer tomorrows well.

We can't refuse what life gives us.

I didn't understand this saying back then.

Time can be cruel without any reason.

I also can't bear to tell you that passion always cools down.

In the blink of an eye, another decade has passed.

Those entanglements and conflicts suddenly resolved themselves one day.

In the blink of an eye, another decade has passed.

Those passionate and intense times are nostalgic.

They have no connection with me anymore.

Those passionate and intense times are nostalgic.

They have no connection with me anymore.

How many more can there be?

Decades

[Chinese]

聽說你在去年為了健康已戒了菸

我在每個週末還是會小小喝一點

朋友不太容易約到不再像從前

那些日子可說已完結

有些夜裡我會開車到城裡兜圈

我才領會到什麼叫做往事如煙

一眨眼 又是一個十年

那些瓜葛糾結 在某一天 突然迎刃而解

一眨眼 又是一個十年

對於人生起跌 一知半解

我卻已經懂得 應變

一生有幾個理想能夠扛得住歲月

還不如好好地過越來越少的明天

生命給我們什麼都不可能拒絕

這句話我當年不了解

時間它殘忍起來毫無道理可言

我也不忍對你說熱情總會冷卻

一眨眼 又是一個十年

那些瓜葛糾結 在某一天突然迎刃而解

一眨眼 又是一個十年

那些轟轟烈烈 讓人懷念

已經跟我沒有 關聯

那些轟轟烈烈 讓人懷念

已經跟我沒有 關聯

還能 有多少個

十年

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
聽說 (tīngshuō) /tʰɪŋ ʂwo/ B1	verb - to hear of, to be told
戒 (jiè) /t͡ɕjɛ/ B2	verb - to abstain from, to give up
健康 (jiànkāng) /t͡ɕjɛnkʰɑŋ/ A2	noun - health
朋友 (péngyou) /pʰəŋ˧˥jou/ A1	noun - friend
完結 (wánjié) /wan t͡ɕjɛ/ B2	verb - to end, to conclude
夜 (yè) /je/ A1	noun - night
開車 (kāichē) /kʰaɪ t͡ʃʰɤ/ A2	verb - to drive a car
往事 (wǎngshì) /wɑŋ ʂɨ/ B2	noun - past events, bygone days
如煙 (rúyān) /ɻu jaɪn/ C1	adjective - like smoke, transient
瓜葛 (guāgé) /kwa kɤ/ C1	noun - connection, entanglement
糾結 (jiūjié) /t͡ɕiou t͡ɕjɛ/ C1	verb - to be entangled, to be intertwined
迎刃而解 (yíngrèn'érjiě) /iŋ ɻən əɻ t͡ɕjɛ/ C2	verb - to be readily solved (like splitting bamboo with a sharp knife)
人生 (rénshēng) /ʐən ʂɤŋ/ A2	noun - life
懂得 (dǒngdé) /tʊŋ tɤ/ A2	verb - to understand, to know
應變 (yìngbiàn) /iŋ piɛn/ B2	verb - to adapt to circumstances, to meet a contingency
理想 (lǐxiǎng) /li ɕjɑŋ/ B1	noun - ideal
歲月 (suìyuè) /sweɪ jɥɛ/ B2	noun - years, time
生命 (shēngmìng) /ʂɤŋ miŋ/ A2	noun - life
殘忍 (cánrěn) /tsʰan ɻən/ B2	adjective - cruel
熱情 (rèqíng) /ʐə t͡ɕʰiŋ/ B1	noun - enthusiasm, passion
冷卻 (lěngquè) /lɤŋ t͡ɕʰɥɛ/ B2	verb - to cool down, to dampen
懷念 (huáiniàn) /hwaɪ niɛn/ B2	verb - to cherish the memory of, to think of

Key Grammar Structures

• 聽說你在去年為了健康已"戒了"菸

  ➔ Resultative verb compound (了)

  ➔ “戒了” indicates that the action of quitting smoking (戒) has been completed and a result has been achieved. It shows a successful outcome of the action.

• 我在每個週末還是會"小小喝"一點

  ➔ Reduplication of adjectives (小小)

  ➔ “小小” is the reduplication of the adjective “小” (small), which softens the tone and indicates a small amount or degree. It suggests 'drinking a little bit'.

• 朋友不太容易約到不再像"從前"

  ➔ Noun as adverbial modifier (從前)

  ➔ "從前" (cóngqián) usually means “before; formerly; in the past”. It acts as an adverb here, modifying the verb phrase that follows.

• 我才領會到什麼"叫做"往事如煙

  ➔ "叫做" (jiàozuò) - 'called/named'

  ➔ "叫做" connects the noun (or phrase) to the name or characteristic being described. In this sentence, it is used to define what the concept of 'past events like smoke' entails.

• 那些瓜葛糾結 在某一天 "突然迎刃而解"

  ➔ Idiomatic expression: "迎刃而解"

  ➔ "迎刃而解" (yíngrèn'érjiě) is an idiom that means 'to be readily solved; to be easily dealt with'. It describes a situation where a problem is resolved quickly and effortlessly.

• 對於人生起跌 一知半解 我卻已經懂得 "應變"

  ➔ Standalone Verb (應變)

  ➔ In this context, "應變" functions as a verb meaning 'to adapt' or 'to respond flexibly to changes'. It's used on its own to convey the understanding or ability to adapt to life's ups and downs.

• 一生有幾個理想"能夠"扛得住歲月

  ➔ Potential complement with "能夠"

  ➔ "能夠" indicates potential or ability. In this sentence, it shows the capability of ideals to withstand the passage of time. The verb phrase “扛得住” indicates the capacity to endure.