願 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 方皓玟

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with Charmaine Fong's poignant Cantonese song "願" (Wish). This powerful track offers a unique window into contemporary Hong Kong society and its emotional landscape. Through its deeply resonant lyrics, you can explore expressions of hope, unity, and resilience in Cantonese, a language rich in nuance and cultural depth. The song's clear diction and heartfelt delivery make it an excellent resource for understanding authentic spoken Cantonese and appreciating the beauty of its lyrical poetry, while gaining insight into the social context that inspired its creation.

[English]

May the world cherish faith, hope, and love, and be able to love each other

Offer a lifetime of time to compete

Everyone need not argue or confront

Even if tomorrow falls low, I’d rather keep fighting till the end

May the world set aside quarrels and prejudice

May you listen to your heart and different opinions

Tomorrow, no need for guns, only dialogue

The one blindfolded can't avoid the baptism of war

Ask how many still have awakening souls in this world

May we have ideals, settle disputes, and let go of anger

Impossible to forget that bright, white day of sorrow

Eternity is waiting for you

Tell me, does Heaven want to test you, seek the truth

Tell me, how should we mourn for you

Silence can't solve anything, youth and time

Promises made too early are easily broken, rushing makes it worse

Ask how many more have withered souls in this world

May we have ideals, settle disputes, and let go of anger

Impossible to forget that bright, white day we came here

How far can we walk together, I want to say

Ask how many more open their eyes and go to sleep again

Shedding those happy tears for you

Impossible to forget that day when life hung by a thread, and it was your delicate figure

Be willing to risk everything

Hold tightly to freedom with love; may awakening bring no more internal strife

May you finally come to your senses, is that so?

...

[Chinese]

願世間都珍惜信望愛 能相愛

奉上一生光陰去競賽

誰亦不必爭議 不需對峙

明日縱使跌低 寧願抗爭到底

願世間都擺低 對罵戰和偏見

願你聽取心聲與異見

明日不需槍炮 只需對話

蒙著眼的那位 難避戰火的洗禮

問世上還有幾多人 甦醒一個靈魂

願我們能有理想 息紛爭再放下怒憤

沒法能忘記這天絢麗白色哀傷的日期

萬世正等你

話我知蒼天想試煉您 求真理

話我知應該怎哀悼你

沈默不可解決 青春歲月

承諾太早說穿 隨便轉更加倉促

問世上還有幾多人 枯萎一個靈魂

願我們能有理想 息紛爭再放下怒憤

沒法能忘記這天絢麗白色我們來過此

一起行多遠 想說

問世上還有幾多人 睜得開眼沈睡去

為你而流過那些幸福的眼淚

沒法能忘記這天千鈞一髮是你微細身軀

豁得出去

用愛緊抱自由 願覺醒再無內鬥

願你終於清醒 有沒有

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
珍惜 (zhēnxī) /ʈʂən˥ ɕi˥/ B2	verb - to treasure, to cherish
相愛 (xiāng'ài) /ɕi̯ɑŋ˥ aɪ̯˥/ B1	verb - to love each other
競賽 (jìngsài) /t͡ɕiŋ˪ saɪ̯˪/ B2	noun - race, competition
爭議 (zhēngyì) /ʈ͡ʂɤŋ˥ i˪/ B2	noun - dispute, controversy
對峙 (duìzhì) /tue̯i˪ ʈ͡ʂɨ˪/ C1	verb - to confront, to stand face to face
跌低 (diédī) /tjɛ˧˥ ti˥/ B1	verb - to fall down
抗爭 (kàngzhēng) /kʰɑŋ˪ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ˥/ B2	verb - to resist, to stand up to
對罵 (duìmà) /tweɪ̯ mɐ/ C1	verb - to exchange insults, to trade insults
偏見 (piānjiàn) /pʰjɛn˥ t͡ɕjɛn˪/ B2	noun - prejudice, bias
心聲 (xīnshēng) /ɕin˥ ʂɤŋ˥/ B2	noun - inner thoughts, feelings
異見 (yìjiàn) /i˪ t͡ɕjɛn˪/ B2	noun - different opinion, dissenting view
槍炮 (qiāngpào) /t͡ɕʰjɑŋ˥ pʰɑʊ̯˪/ B1	noun - guns and cannons, weaponry
戰火 (zhànhuǒ) /ʈ͡ʂɑn˪ xu̯ɔ˧/ B2	noun - flames of war, ravages of war
甦醒 (sūxǐng) /su˥ ɕiŋ˧/ C1	verb - to awaken, to come to
靈魂 (línghún) /liŋ˧˥ xu̯ən˧˥/ B2	noun - soul, spirit
理想 (lǐxiǎng) /li˧˥ ɕjɑŋ˧/ B1	noun - ideal, aspiration
紛爭 (fēnzhēng) /fən˥ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ˥/ B2	noun - dispute, conflict
怒憤 (nùfèn) /nu˪ fən˪/ C1	noun - anger and resentment
絢麗 (xuànlì) /ɕɥɛn˪ li˪/ C1	adjective - magnificent, gorgeous
哀傷 (āishāng) /aɪ ʃɑŋ/ C1	adjective - sorrowful, grieved
蒼天 (cāngtiān) /tsʰɑŋ tʰjɛn/ C1	noun - the heavens, God
試煉 (shìliàn) /ʂɨ˪ li̯ɛn˪/ C1	verb - to test, to put to the test
哀悼 (āidào) /ai dɑʊ/ C1	verb - to mourn, to lament
沈默 (chénmò) /ʈ͡ʂʰən˧˥ mɔ˪/ B1	adjective - silent, taciturn
解決 (jiějué) /t͡ɕjɛ˧˥ t͡ɕɥœ˧˥/ B1	verb - to solve, to resolve
青春 (qīngchūn) /t͡ɕʰiŋ˥ ʈ͡ʂʰwən˥/ B1	noun - youth, springtime of life
歲月 (suìyuè) /sweɪ tɥœ/ B2	noun - years, time
承諾 (chéngnuò) /ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ˧˥ nu̯ɔ˪/ B2	noun - promise, commitment
枯萎 (kūwěi) /kʰu wɛɪ/ C1	verb - to wither, to dry up
睜開 (zhēngkāi) /ʈ͡ʂəŋ kʰaɪ/ B1	verb - to open (one's eyes)
沈睡 (chénshuì) /ʈ͡ʂʰən ʂweɪ/ B2	verb - to be fast asleep
幸福 (xìngfú) /ɕiŋ fʉ/ A2	adjective - happy, blessed
千鈞一髮 (qiānjūnyífà) /t͡ɕʰjɛn t͡ɕun i fa/ C2	idiom - hairbreadth escape, extremely dangerous
微細 (wēixì) /weɪ ɕi/ C1	adjective - minute, tiny
身軀 (shēnqū) /ʃən t͡ɕʰy/ B2	noun - body, frame
豁出去 (huōchūqù) /xwɔ ʈʂʰu t͡ɕʰy/ C1	verb - to risk everything, to go all out
緊抱 (jǐnbào) /t͡ɕin pɑʊ/ B2	verb - to hug tightly, to embrace
覺醒 (juéxǐng) /t͡ɕɥœ ɕɪŋ/ C1	verb - to awaken, to realize
內鬥 (nèidòu) /neɪ toʊ/ C1	noun - internal conflict, infighting
清醒 (qīngxǐng) /t͡ɕʰiŋ ʃɪŋ/ B2	adjective - sober, clear-headed