遠在咫尺 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳奕迅,Eason Chan
• Album: The Key

Lyrics & Translation

“遠在咫尺” by Eason Chan is a deeply contemplative Cantonese ballad that offers a unique window into the nuanced expressions of love, regret, and emotional distance in Chinese culture. Its rich lyrical depth and Eason Chan's emotive delivery make it an excellent choice for learners looking to grasp the intricacies of Cantonese vocabulary and the poetic nature of its songcraft, while also appreciating a poignant narrative about human relationships.

[English]

Feeling drowsy with her, is the constant compromise exhausting?

Craving her after she abandoned you, was my initial thought wrong?

Comforting her in her loneliness, does that mean you bring happiness?

Or whoever I ultimately choose, will bear this anxiety with me?

Who will I grow old with?

This decision, both heartless and regretful.

A brief burst of passion, leaving behind only a cup of cold water.

Believing we're a pair worthy of songs and tears.

After a long period of eating, drinking, and playing, the novelty fades.

Sympathize and laugh, simultaneously making mistakes, conforming to this rule.

If you are lovers, if you live together.

You'll still miss her, so close yet so far, the feeling uncontrollable like a tide.

Thinking about who I'm spending my life with until death, finding pleasure in guilt.

...

Rumor has it, I saw you with someone.

Living a blissful, happily-ever-after new life.

Photos of you and your precious daughter having fun at the amusement park.

If the calendar pages could really be turned back.

Starting over, putting myself in her shoes.

Who will be rejected? Who will be the partner? Is there a rule?

If you are lovers, if you live together.

You'll still miss her, so close yet so far, the feeling uncontrollable like a tide.

Thinking about who I'm spending my life with until death, finding pleasure in guilt.

What you can't get is so good, once you get it, you don't know what to do.

An extravagant promise of forever, how can you resist the temptation? Who is better?

Together we argue, apart, why do we lean on each other in life?

Who is my true love? Should it be one? Should it be three? Should I count them like flowing water?

Counting to the end of this life's journey, how many new companions are there?

This art of being together, if it's just a long endurance, we should be grateful for our loyal partners.

...

[Chinese]

跟她昏昏欲睡 是否忍讓令人很累

貪戀她拋棄你 是否當初想法不對

安撫她都寂寞 是否你便令人快樂

還是我最尾選擇誰 同樣背上這焦慮

同偕白首會是誰

這決定一邊狠心一邊又後悔

很短暫狂熱留下得一杯冷水

認定是可歌可泣的一雙一對

長時期吃喝玩樂新鮮感減退

同情笑下去 同時錯下去 符合這規矩

假使你是情侶 假使你共同一起生活裡

同樣會記掛她身於咫尺 心於千里不可抑壓像潮水

想想我為誰廝守終生死去 罪惡感中找樂趣

傳聞目睹你共誰

美滿地雙宿雙棲新生活萬歲

相簿內遊樂場上親親寶貝女

若日曆一篇一篇真的可倒退

重頭來與你代入她的軌跡裡

誰人會被拒 誰人作伴侶 難道有規矩

假使你是情侶 假使你共同一起生活裡

同樣會記掛她身於咫尺 心於千里不可抑壓像潮水

想想我為誰廝守終生死去 罪惡感中找樂趣

得不到 多麼好 當得到 不知怎算好

奢侈的一聲天荒地老 如何能抵擋當中誘惑 誰更好

一起會鬧情緒 分開了為何依偎生命裡

誰是我最愛的 應該一個 應該三個 應該數到像流水

數數到盡頭終此一生之旅 尚有幾多新伴侶

一起這種藝術 若果只是漫長忍讓 應感激忠心的伴侶

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
累 (lèi) /leɪ/ A2	adjective - tired, weary
寂寞 (jìmò) /t͡ɕî.mwô/ B1	adjective - lonely, solitary
焦慮 (jiāolǜ) /t͡ɕjáʊ.lŷ/ B2	noun - anxiety
狠心 (hěnxīn) /xən˨˩ ɕin˥/ B2	adjective - ruthless, cruel
後悔 (hòuhuǐ) /xôʊ.xweɪ/ B1	verb - to regret, repent
狂熱 (kuángrè) /kʰwǎŋ.ʐɤ̂/ B2	adjective - fervent, fanatical
認定 (rèndìng) /ʐə̂n.tîŋ/ B2	verb - to determine, to identify, to maintain (that sth is the case)
可歌可泣 (kěgēkěqì) /kʰɤ̌.kɤ́.kʰɤ̌.t͡ɕʰî/ C1	adjective - praiseworthy and moving (idiom); heroic and tragic
新鮮 (xīnxiān) /ɕín.ɕjɛ́n/ A2	adjective - fresh
減退 (jiǎntuì) /t͡ɕjɛ̀n.tʰweɪ/ B2	verb - to decline, to fade
規矩 (guījǔ) /kuei̯.t͡ɕy/ B1	noun - rules, customs
記掛 (jìguà) /t͡ɕî.kwâ/ B2	verb - to remember with concern, to keep thinking about
抑壓 (yìyā) /î.já/ B2	verb - to suppress, to repress
潮水 (cháoshuǐ) /t͡ʂʰǎʊ.ʂweɪ/ B1	noun - tide
罪惡感 (zuì'ègǎn) /tsweɪ̯.ɤ̂.kàn/ B2	noun - guilt, sense of guilt
奢侈 (shēchǐ) /ʂɤ́.t͡ʂʰì/ B2	adjective - luxurious, extravagant
誘惑 (yòuhuò) /jôʊ.xwô/ B2	noun - temptation, seduction verb - to tempt, to seduce

Key Grammar Structures

• 是否忍讓令人很累

  ➔ Use of 是否 (whether/or) to form yes-no questions or to express doubt.

  ➔ The word **是否** is used to form a **yes/no question** or to **express doubt** about a statement.

• 同樣背上這焦慮

  ➔ Use of 同樣 to mean 'the same' or 'similarly', combined with 背上 to indicate 'carrying' or 'bearing' emotions.

  ➔ The phrase **同樣背上這焦慮** conveys **carrying the same anxiety** or **bearing similar worries**.

• 假使你是情侶

  ➔ Use of 假使 as a conditional conjunction meaning 'if' or 'assuming that'.

  ➔ The word **假使** introduces a **conditional clause** expressing 'if' or 'assuming that'.

• 長時期吃喝玩樂新鮮感減退

  ➔ Using 長時期 (long-term period) combined with 吃喝玩樂 (eating, drinking, playing, having fun) indicating the duration of diminishing freshness or novelty.

  ➔ The phrase **長時期吃喝玩樂新鮮感減退** describes the **decline of freshness or novelty** after a **long period** of eating, drinking, playing, and having fun.

• 誰人會被拒

  ➔ Use of 誰人 (who) as an interrogative pronoun to inquire about the subject performing an action (being rejected).

  ➔ The word **誰人** asks **who** is the **subject** that might be **rejected**.

• 一起會鬧情緒

  ➔ Use of 一起 (together) with 會 (will) and 鬧情緒 (quarrel or have emotional turmoil) to express future tendency of conflict.

  ➔ The phrase **一起會鬧情緒** indicates **they will have emotional fights or conflicts together in the future**.