摯友 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: A-Lin
• Album: LINK

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the nuances of Mandarin Chinese through A-Lin's touching ballad, 'Best Friend'. This song beautifully illustrates complex relationship dynamics and explores themes of longing and unspoken feelings, offering a window into the emotional depth of Chinese-language music.

[English]

I want to be a star

but I'm like a street lamp

If I love someone

Be careful not to love too deeply

Messages sent after drinking

Don't take them seriously

I always act on my emotions

Forget that it's impossible

And also wrong you

Long-term tolerance

But between us

What should we call it

Do we have to

I love someone else

For you to feel justified

Lay down the responsibility

Our relationship we never discuss

So close, yet not love

Having countless intersections

To discard it feels too wasteful

The hatred I act out

Isn't sincere at all

You know best what kind of person I am

A relationship everyone envies

But it's just a sequel with no ending

Why does familiarity

Instead become distance

An unattainable lover

Turns into a close friend

It's also just an excuse

You know full well I

Won't wait yet you let me wait

You are wholeheartedly

caring for the person

Eventually find me

Tell me not to be hurt any more

Actually I truly don't want to

Ask one by one

From now on stay silent

It's my responsibility

Our relationship we never discuss breaking

Very subtle, yet not love

Allow this kind of maintenance

It's because I'm not strong enough

Keep asking again and again

How foolish

I also know what kind of person you are

It stirs my heart

What else can I do

I shouldn't have

And still cause you to be trapped

Unable to move forward or back

Our relationship we never discuss

So close, yet not love

Having countless intersections

To discard it feels too wasteful

The hatred I act out

Isn't sincere at all

You know best what kind of person I am

A relationship everyone envies

But it's just a sequel with no ending

Why does familiarity

Instead become distance

An unattainable lover

Turns into a close friend

It's also just an excuse

You know full well I

Won't wait yet you let me wait

A-Lin, hello, I'm Jinghua.

These days, thank you for your songs always being with me.

[Chinese]

想當星辰

卻像路燈

若愛一個人

切忌愛得太深

酒後傳的訊息

你別當真

我總感情用事

忘了不可能

也委屈你

長期容忍

但我們之間

該用什麼相稱

難道非要

我愛其他的人

你才心安理得

卸下了責任

我們不討論的關係

很接近卻不是愛情

擁有無數交集

要丟棄太可惜

我演的恨

真不誠懇

你最清楚我是怎樣的人

沒人不羨慕的關係

只是沒結局的續集

為什麼太熟悉

反而變成距離

觸不到的戀人

化身摯友

也像搪塞

你明知道我

不會等到卻放任我等

你正全心

對待的人

輾轉找到我

勸我別再傷神

其實我真不想

一一詢問

從此默不出聲

是我的責任

我們不說破的關係

很微妙卻不是愛情

容許這種維繫

是我不夠爭氣

一再追問

何其愚笨

我也清楚你是怎樣的人

蕩氣迴腸

又能如何

我最不應該

還害你受困

進退不得

我們不討論的關係

很接近卻不是愛情

擁有無數交集

要丟棄太可惜

我演的恨

真不誠懇

你最清楚我是怎樣的人

沒人不羨慕的關係

只是沒結局的續集

為什麼太熟悉

反而變成距離

觸不到的戀人

化身摯友

也像搪塞

你明知道我

不會等到卻放任我等

A-Lin,你好,我是敬華.

這些日子,謝謝你的歌一直陪伴我.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
星辰 /xīng chén/ B2	noun - stars, celestial bodies
愛 /ài/ A2	verb - to love noun - love
訊息 /xìn xī/ B1	noun - message, information
感情 /gǎn qíng/ B2	noun - emotion, feeling, affection
容忍 /róng rěn/ B2	verb - to tolerate, to endure
關係 /guān xì/ B1	noun - relationship
丟棄 /diū qì/ B2	verb - to discard, to abandon
誠懇 /chéng kěn/ B2	adjective - sincere, honest
熟悉 /shú xī/ B2	adjective - familiar, well-acquainted
距離 /jù lí/ A2	noun - distance
戀人 /liàn rén/ B1	noun - lover
摯友 /zhì yǒu/ C1	noun - best friend, close friend
放任 /fàng rèn/ B2	verb - to let go, to allow
全心 /quán xīn/ B2	adverb - wholeheartedly, with all one's heart
傷神 /shāng shén/ B2	verb - to grieve, to sadden
詢問 /xún wèn/ B2	verb - to inquire, to ask
愚笨 /yú bèn/ C1	adjective - stupid, foolish

Key Grammar Structures

• 若愛一個人，切忌愛得太深

  ➔ Conditional Clause + Prohibitive Construction

  ➔ The sentence uses '若' (if) to introduce a conditional clause, followed by a strong prohibition '切忌' (absolutely must not) + '愛得太深' (love too deeply). This highlights a warning about the dangers of intense love.

• 但我們之間，該用什麼相稱

  ➔ Interrogative Pronoun + Modal Verb + Passive Voice Implication

  ➔ The sentence asks 'what' ('什麼') is appropriate to describe their relationship. '該' (should/ought to) is a modal verb indicating obligation or suitability. The question implies a passive construction – what *are we* to be called?

• 我演的恨，真不誠懇

  ➔ Attributive Clause + Adverb of Degree

  ➔ '我演的恨' (the hatred I pretended) functions as an attributive clause modifying the subject. '真' (really/truly) is an adverb of degree intensifying '不誠懇' (insincere).

• 觸不到的戀人，化身摯友

  ➔ Noun as Attribute + Metaphorical Transformation

  ➔ '觸不到的戀人' (an unattainable lover) uses a noun phrase as an attribute to describe the lover. '化身' (become/transform into) signifies a metaphorical transformation from lover to close friend.