早點回家 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 蘇打綠
• Album: 春‧日光

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a heartfelt journey into Mandarin Chinese with Sodagreen's '早點回家' (Come Home Early). This touching song offers a beautiful insight into Taiwanese culture's emphasis on family and the emotions tied to 'home.' You'll learn essential vocabulary related to family and warmth, and experience the nuanced expressions of affection through its gentle lyrics and comforting melody. Its clear, emotive vocals and poetic lines make it an excellent choice for improving listening comprehension and appreciating the lyrical beauty of Chinese.

[English]

It's in a place where people feel abandoned

On the wide street, the low houses, yellow plum blossoms bustling

Life is short, fruit trees in the mountains bloom into old branches

Days are long, as long as you're standing by the window waiting for your child

We all look like one person plus another person's face

The wall of time, from their palms to our shoulders

Straying starlight, replacing so many gazes talking to me

Come home early, come home early

Bare and sticky, childhood time is forgiven

Bound and staggering, white hair is cherished by us

Life is long, whether good or sad, countless to count

Days are short, as long as we stay beside our children

We all look like one person plus another person's face

The wall of time, from their palms to our shoulders

Straying starlight, replacing so many gazes talking to me

Come home early, come home early

...

We all look like one person plus another person's face

The wall of time, from their palms to our shoulders

Straying starlight, replacing so many gazes talking to me

Come home early, come home early

...

Hearts gentle and tender, shadows faint, walking hand in hand in pairs

The sky vast, the moon blue, echoing through your streams

Smiling gently, voices slow, the road ahead warmly awaiting

In the center of the soil, on the rooftops

Rises the sun

...

[Chinese]

那是在 被人們 感覺遺棄的地方

大馬路 矮平房 黃梅佈滿鬧嚷嚷

生命很短 山中開滿的果鋪成養老枝椏

日子很長 只要是站在等孩子的窗

我們都是 一個人加上另一個人的長相

時間的牆 從他們的手掌到我們的肩膀

流浪星光 代替著那麼多眼神對我說話

早點回家 早點回家

光溜溜 黏答答 孩提時光被原諒

牽絆絆 踉蹌蹌 白髮靠我們欣賞

生命很長 美好或者悲傷細數也數不完

日子很短 只要是陪在孩子的身旁

我們都是 一個人加上另一個人的長相

時間的牆 從他們的手掌到我們的肩膀

流浪星光 代替著那麼多眼神對我說話

早點回家 早點回家

我們都是 一個人加上另一個人的長相

時間的牆 從他們的手掌到我們的肩膀

流浪星光 代替著那麼多眼神對我說話

早點回家 早點回家

心款款 影恍恍 牽手的步履成雙

天茫茫 月蒼蒼 你們的流域迴盪

笑吟吟 聲緩緩 盡頭前的路暖暖

泥土中央 屋瓦頂上

升起太陽

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
感覺 (gǎnjué) /ɡan˨˩ tɕy̯ɛ/ B1	verb - to feel, to perceive noun - feeling, sense, perception
遺棄 (yíqì) /i˧˥ t͡ɕʰi˥˩/ B2	verb - to abandon, to desert
矮 (ǎi) /aɪ˨˩/ A2	adjective - short, low
鬧嚷嚷 (nào rāngrāng) /nau˥˩ ʐɑŋ˥ ʐɑŋ/ C1	adjective - noisy, boisterous
生命 (shēngmìng) /ʂɤŋ˥ mɪŋ/ A2	noun - life
開 (kāi) /kʰaɪ/ A1	verb - to open, to bloom
果 (guǒ) /ku̯ɔ/ A1	noun - fruit
長 (cháng) /t͡ʃʰɑŋ/ A1	adjective - long
孩子 (háizi) /xai tsɯ/ A1	noun - child
牆 (qiáng) /t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ/ A2	noun - wall
流浪 (liúlàng) /ljoʊ lɑŋ/ B2	verb - to wander, to roam
星光 (xīngguāng) /ɕɪŋ⁻ ku̯ɑŋ/ B1	noun - starlight
眼神 (yǎnshén) /jɛn ʃən/ B1	noun - expression in one's eyes
原諒 (yuánliàng) /yɛn˥ ljɑŋ/ B1	verb - to forgive
美好 (měihǎo) /meɪ hɑʊ/ B1	adjective - fine, beautiful
悲傷 (bēishāng) /peɪ ʃɑŋ/ B2	adjective - sad, sorrowful
流域 (yùliú) /y lyoʊ/ C1	noun - river basin, valley
迴盪 (huídàng) /xuei tɑŋ/ C1	verb - to echo, to reverberate
太陽 (tàiyáng) /tʰai jɑŋ/ A1	noun - sun

Key Grammar Structures

• 我們都是 一個人加上另一個人的長相

  ➔ The use of '都是' indicates emphasis on the entire group sharing a common characteristic, emphasizing inclusivity or collective identity.

  ➔ It emphasizes that every individual within the subject shares the same trait or characteristic.

• 時間的牆 從他們的手掌到我們的肩膀

  ➔ Using '從...到...' indicates the range or span from one point to another in space or time.

  ➔ It illustrates the span or connection between two points, often metaphorically showing a passage of time or a boundary.

• 早點回家

  ➔ The adverb + verb structure '早點回家' indicates the action of returning home earlier than usual, emphasizing urgency or preference.

  ➔ It expresses the desire or instruction to return to home earlier, often conveying care or urgency.

• 升起太陽

  ➔ The verb '升起' (rise) combined with '太陽' creates a literal or metaphorical image of the sun rising, indicating new beginnings or hope.

  ➔ It symbolizes renewal, hope, or a new beginning, often used metaphorically in literature and music.