主旋律 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 陳奕迅 Eason Chan
• Album: The Key

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language is about more than just words; it's about understanding culture and context. Eason Chan's '主旋律' offers a unique opportunity to delve into the nuances of Cantonese and the complex social commentary it can convey. Through its powerful metaphors and layered meanings, you can explore how music becomes a vehicle for expressing dissent and grappling with identity. This song is special because it demonstrates the power of subtext in language and art, making it a compelling piece for any advanced language learner.

[English]

The melody pulls the strings

Emotions always have their depths and shallows

Who carves promises on the staff?

Who replicates false happiness in the beat?

Crying over the most important words

A small interlude in a grand era

Too many records of our ten years of acquaintance

Exploring within the notes

In the past, you had your steps, I had mine

If love is a blueprint, it should never set traps

You want me to give in, I want you to give in

Melodies and scales embellish the anger

You have your path, I have mine

If love is in vain, no need to remember the troubles

Every comma of yours, every question mark of mine

The melody carefully guides at this moment

A touching score, seeking a new path to love

...

How is the melody measured?

The human heart is always treacherous and straightforward

Whose romance is merely entertainment?

Whose struggle paints a false philosophy?

Backing down at the most crucial moment

In a grand era, the fireworks end

Too many scenes excerpted, two people chasing shadows

Drifting within the notes

Now you have your steps, then I have mine

When we meet again, the time is not yet right

Now you want me to give in, then I want you to give in

Arguing again, hard to embrace

Yesterday you had your path, tomorrow I have mine

Parting again, a reunion is foretold

Yesterday every comma of yours, tomorrow every question mark of mine

Difficult to compose, like fireflies dancing chaotically

When will we find it?

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, a new system of love

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, let the melody silently accuse

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, a new season of love

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, let the melody be heavy

Now you have grand ambitions, then I am lost in joy

Meeting again, why do feelings and grudges reciprocate?

Now you assign tasks, then I obey like a servant

Arguing again, harmony has no way to express

Yesterday you had your old path, tomorrow I have my way back

Parting again, clouds of sorrow gather

Yesterday each had their jealousy, tomorrow each has their pride

Only then can we compose, entering the mind with the melody

Words are not stammered

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, a new angle of love

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, let the melody release its weight

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, a new kingdom of love

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa, let the melody settle before brainwashing

...

[Chinese]

旋律牽引著弦樂

情感總有深淺厚薄

誰於五線譜雕刻上承諾?

誰於拍子機複製出假快樂?

在最重要的一句哭

大時代的小插曲

記錄太多筆跡 十年廿載相識

音符內摸索

舊日你有你邁步 我有我邁步

愛若是藍圖 永不用設起圈套

你要我讓步 我要你讓步

旋律與音階粉飾了憤怒

你有你道路 我有我道路

愛若是徒勞 再不用記起苦惱

你每個逗號 我每個問號

旋律此刻仔細誘導

動人樂譜 為求定好 相愛的新去路

旋律怎制定量度?

人心總有陰險磊落

誰的羅曼史只不過娛樂?

誰的奮鬥史渲染出假哲學?

在最重要一刻退縮

大時代 煙花結束

節錄太多光景 二人捕風捉影

音符內漂泊

現在你有你邁步 然後我有我邁步

再相遇 奈何時辰未到

現在你要我讓步 然後我要你讓步

再爭辯 難投懷合抱

昨日你有你道路 明日我有我道路

再分別 又來重逢預告

昨日你每個逗號 明日我每個問號

難合譜 如流螢亂舞

何時方找到?

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 相愛的新制度

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 讓旋律沉默控訴

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 相愛的新季度

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 讓旋律沉悶到

現在你大業鴻圖 然後我樂極迷途

再相遇 為何情仇互報

現在你賜予任務 然後我受命如奴

再爭辯 和諧無路訴

昨日你有你舊路 明日我有我後路

再分別 又來愁雲密佈

昨日各有各嫉妒 明日各有各自傲

才合譜 隨旋律入腦

言詞不吞吐

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 相愛的新角度

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 讓旋律沉重發佈

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 相愛的新國度

Whoo-whoa, whoo-whoa 讓旋律沉澱了再洗腦

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
旋律 (xuánlǜ) /ɕy̯ɛn˧˥ lyː˩/ B1	noun - melody
情感 (qínggǎn) /t͡ɕʰiŋ˧˥ ɡan˨˩/ B2	noun - emotion, feeling
承諾 (chéngnuò) /ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ˧˥ nu̯ɔʔ↘/ B2	noun - promise, commitment verb - to promise, to commit
快樂 (kuàilè) /kʰu̯aɪ̯˥ lɤ˥/ A1	adjective - happy, joyful
時代 (shídài) /ʂʅ˧˥ taɪ̯˥/ A2	noun - era, age, epoch
相識 (xiāngshí) /ɕi̯ɑŋ˥ ʂʅ˧/ B1	verb - to know each other, to be acquainted
摸索 (mōsuǒ) /mwo˥ su̯ɔʔ↘/ B2	verb - to grope, to feel about, to explore
藍圖 (lántú) /lan˧˥ tʰu/ B2	noun - blueprint, plan
憤怒 (fènnù) /fən˥nu̯ɔʔ↘/ B2	noun - anger, rage
道路 (dàolù) /taʊ̯˥ luʔ↘/ A2	noun - road, path, way
徒勞 (túláo) /tʰu˧˥ laʊ̯˧˥/ C1	adjective - futile, in vain
苦惱 (kǔnǎo) /kʰu˩ nao/ B1	adjective - worried, distressed
誘導 (yòudǎo) /joʊ̯˥ taʊ̯/ B2	verb - to guide, to lead
相愛 (xiāng'ài) /ɕi̯ɑŋ˥ aɪ̯˥/ B1	verb - to love each other
陰險 (yīnxiǎn) /in˥ ɕi̯ɛn˩/ C1	adjective - treacherous, insidious
羅曼史 (luómànshǐ) /lwɔ˧˥ man˥ ʂʅ/ C1	noun - romance

Key Grammar Structures

• 誰於五線譜雕刻上承諾?

  ➔ The use of '誰於...' indicates a question about 'who' doing an action at a specific time or place, using a classical or literary form with '於' acting as 'at' or 'in'.

  ➔ The word '於' acts as a formal or literary particle meaning 'at' or 'in', used here to frame the question about who is performing the action in a poetic or classical style.

• 愛若是藍圖 永不用設起圈套

  ➔ The phrase '若是' means 'if' or 'assuming that', used here to introduce a hypothetical condition.

  ➔ The conjunction '若是' introduces a hypothetical or conditional clause, similar to 'if' in English, expressing a condition under which the rest of the statement applies.

• 再相遇 奈何時辰未到

  ➔ The word '再' functions as an adverb meaning 'again' or 'once more', emphasizing the repetition or recurrence of an event.

  ➔ The adverb '再' emphasizes the recurrence or happening again of an event, often used to signify a repeated action or subsequent occurrence.

• 旋律牽引著弦樂

  ➔ The verb '牽引' means 'to lead,' 'to draw,' or 'to tug,' used here as a complex verb to describe the melody guiding the string music.

  ➔ The verb '牽引' describes the action of pulling or leading, metaphorically representing how the melody guides or influences the string instruments in the music.

• 誰的羅曼史只不過娛樂?

  ➔ The phrase '只不過' means 'merely' or 'nothing more than,' used here to emphasize the triviality or superficiality of the romance.

  ➔ The phrase '只不過' emphasizes that something is insignificant or superficial, suggesting that the romantic story is trivial or just entertainment.

• 旋律與音階粉飾了憤怒

  ➔ The verb '粉飾' means 'to conceal' or 'to embellish,' used here metaphorically to suggest that the melody and scales hide or mask anger.

  ➔ The verb '粉飾' metaphorically indicates concealing or beautifying something undesirable—in this case, anger—through melody and scales.

• 動人樂譜 為求定好 相愛的新去路

  ➔ The phrase '為求' is a compound meaning 'in order to' or 'for the purpose of,' indicating intention behind an action.

  ➔ The phrase '為求' shows the purpose or goal of an action, emphasizing that the music aims to establish or confirm a new way for love.