追風箏的孩子 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 張敬軒

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of Cantonese through 張敬軒's poignant song, “追風箏的孩子”. This touching ballad explores themes of first love and lost connections, offering a window into the rich emotional landscape of Cantonese music and culture. Learn how to express wistful longing and appreciation for past joys as you explore the heartfelt lyrics of this classic song .

[English]

Kites of fools flying side by side

Believing in love like a fairy tale

Thinking about settling down on first love day

Could it be a little absurd?

Love turns into clouds of sorrow and scars

Realizing our faith has a twist

That first love feels like quicksand

Blowing away, leaving no trace behind

Your kite drifts over the fence

Chasing after the brief, beautiful sunset

You’ve become an illustrator

I’ve become a songwriter of yesterday

Our paths diverge, each heading different ways

The kite can’t cross the bridge of sighs

Even if we part, there’s no need to cry out loud

After all, we shared your laughter back then

Burning the memories away

There were many scenes from that first love

We met on the bridge of sighs

Happily, capturing love’s portrait

Even if our tickets are separate now

Lost amid the noise

That first kiss in the gray wind, at least a moment touches the heart

The kite, cut loose from its string

Where will it land and take root?

Loving you was still a blessing

The kite can’t cross the bridge of sighs

Even if we part, there’s no need to cry out loud

After all, we shared your laughter back then

Burning the memories away

There were many scenes from that first love

We met on the bridge of sighs

Happily, capturing love’s portrait

Even if our tickets are separate now

Lost amid the noise

That first kiss in the gray wind, at least a moment touches the heart

The clouds in the sky

Is there one that can kiss me back?

Passersby weaving through

Each one fits with me perfectly

The imprint of that first love

Triggered an earthquake that day

Always forcing me to be brave

We separated at the bridge of sighs

Having more heartbreaks, I should be wiser now

Even if the heart’s dead, the heartbeat must remain

It can’t be missed just once

A resolute heart still needs to waver

The kite disappears beyond the bridge of sighs

Happily, capturing love’s portrait

Many things are beyond control after all

Lost amid the noise

Remember how you once smiled with me

Even if the heart stops beating

...

[Chinese]

追风筝一对傻瓜

相信爱情童话

当天初恋想过成家

会有一点荒谬吗

爱到愁云伤疤

发觉信仰有偏差

那初恋彷似流沙

吹散無從留下

你的风筝飘过篱笆

扑向短促艳美落霞

你变了个插画家

我变了个昨曲家

各有各路线分岔

风筝飞不出叹息桥

即使分开不必仰天长啸

毕竟当初分享过你欢笑

将记忆燃烧

初恋的风景有过不少

彼此相识于叹息桥

开开心心影张爱的遗照

彼此之间即使各有車票

失散於繁嚣

灰风的初吻至少感动一两秒

断了线那隻风筝

到哪里落地生根

爱过你仍然是福份

风筝飞不出叹息桥

即使分开不必仰天长啸

毕竟当初分享过你欢笑

将记忆燃烧

初恋的风景有过不少

彼此相识于叹息桥

开开心心影张爱的遗照

彼此之间即使各有车票

失散于繁嚣

灰风的初吻至少感动一两秒

天空的白云

有哪朵可以与我互吻

穿梭的路人

每个都可与我合衬

初恋那个烙印

掀起那次地震

总可迫使我锻炼勇敢

彼此分开于叹息桥

失恋得多 应该更聪明了

即使心一死都要有心跳

一下不能少

坚贞的心境还是要动摇

风筝消失于叹息桥

开开心心影张爱的遗照

很多东西毕竟控制不了

失散于繁嚣

都多得一个你当日跟我笑

心 纵使不跳了

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
风筝 (fēngzheng) /fəŋ t͡ʂəŋ/ A2	noun - kite
傻瓜 (shǎguā) /ʂa˨˩ kua̯˥/ B1	noun - fool, idiot
爱情 (àiqíng) /aɪ̯˥ t͡ɕʰiŋ˧˥/ A2	noun - love
童话 (tónghuà) /tʰʊŋ˧˥ xu̯a˥˩/ B1	noun - fairy tale
初恋 (chūliàn) /t͡ʃʰu˥ lʲɛn˥˩/ B1	noun - first love
成家 (chéngjiā) /t͡ʃʰɤŋ˧˥ t͡ɕia˥/ B1	verb - to get married, to start a family
荒谬 (huāngmiù) /xu̯aŋ˥ mi̯ʊ˥˩/ B2	adjective - absurd, ridiculous
愁云 (chóuyún) /t͡ʃʰɤʊ˧˥ y̯n˧˥/ C1	noun - cloud of sorrow
伤疤 (shāngbā) /ʂaŋ˥ pa˥/ B1	noun - scar
信仰 (xìnyǎng) /ɕin˥˩ iaŋ˨˩/ B2	noun - belief, faith
流沙 (liúshā) /lʲiou˧˥ ʂa˥/ B2	noun - quicksand
吹散 (chuīsàn) /ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ei˥ san˥˩/ B2	verb - to blow away
篱笆 (líba) /li˧˥ pa/ B2	noun - fence
扑向 (pūxiàng) /pʰu˥˩ ɕiaŋ˥˩/ B2	verb - to dash towards
艳美 (yànměi) /jɛn˥˩ mei˨˩/ C1	adjective - gorgeous, beautiful
落霞 (luòxiá) /luɔ˥˩ ɕia˧˥/ C1	noun - sunset clouds
插画家 (chāhuàjiā) /ʈ͡ʂʰa˥ xu̯a˥˩ t͡ɕia˥/ B2	noun - illustrator
昨曲家 (zuòqǔjiā) /tswo˥˩ t͡ɕʰy˨˩ t͡ɕia˥/ C1	noun - composer
分岔 (fēnchà) /fən˥ ʈ͡ʂʰa˥˩/ B2	verb - to diverge, to branch off
叹息桥 (tànxīqiáo) /tʰan˥˩ ɕi˥ t͡ɕʰiao˧˥/ C1	noun - Bridge of Sighs
燃烧 (ránshāo) /ʐan˧˥ ʂaʊ˥/ B2	verb - to burn
风景 (fēngjǐng) /fəŋ˥ t͡ɕiŋ˨˩/ A2	noun - scenery, landscape
遗照 (yízhào) /i˧˥ ʈ͡ʂaʊ˥˩/ C1	noun - posthumous portrait
失散 (shīsàn) /ʃi˥ san˥˩/ B2	verb - to be scattered, to lose contact
繁嚣 (fánxiāo) /fan˧˥ ɕiaʊ˥/ C1	noun - bustle and noise, hubbub
灰风 (huīfēng) /xu̯ei˥ fəŋ/ C1	noun - grey wind
初吻 (chūwěn) /ʈ͡ʂʰu˥ wən˨˩/ B1	noun - first kiss
感动 (gǎndòng) /kan˨˩ tʊŋ˥˩/ B1	verb - to move (emotionally), to touch
福份 (fúfèn) /fu˧˥ fən˥˩/ B2	noun - blessing, good fortune
烙印 (làoyìn) /lau˥˩ in˥˩/ B2	noun - brand, imprint
地震 (dìzhèn) /ti˥˩ ʈ͡ʂən˥˩/ B1	noun - earthquake
锻炼 (duànliàn) /twɑn˥˩ lʲɛn˥˩/ B1	verb - to exercise, to train
勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) /jʊŋ˨˩ kan˨˩/ B1	adjective - brave
心跳 (xīntiào) /ɕin˥ tʰiau˥˩/ B1	noun - heartbeat
坚贞 (jiānzhēn) /t͡ɕiɛn˥ ʈ͡ʂən/ C1	adjective - faithful, loyal
心境 (xīnjìng) /ɕin˥ t͡ɕiŋ˥˩/ B2	noun - state of mind, mood
动摇 (dòngyáo) /tʊŋ˥˩ iaʊ˧˥/ B2	verb - to waver, to falter
消失 (xiāoshī) /ɕiɑʊ˥ ʂʅ/ A2	verb - disappear

Key Grammar Structures

• 相信爱情童话

  ➔ Verb + Noun phrase (相信 + 爱情童话)

  ➔ Using the verb **相信** (to believe) + a noun phrase, expressing trust or faith in something.

• 爱到愁云伤疤

  ➔ Verb + to + noun, indicating the extent or result (爱到 + 愁云伤疤)

  ➔ The pattern **爱到** (love to/until) + noun emphasizes the extent or emotional damage caused by love.

• 风筝飞不出叹息桥

  ➔ Negation + verb + object (飞不出 + 叹息桥)

  ➔ Using **飞不出** (cannot fly out) with the noun phrase to express impossibility or helplessness.

• 将记忆燃烧

  ➔ Verb + object (将 + 记忆 + 燃烧), expressing a future or intentional action (literally 'burning memories').

  ➔ The use of **将** before a verb indicates a future or deliberate action, emphasizing intention.

• 彼此分开于叹息桥

  ➔ Verb + 於 + Location (分开 + 于 + 叹息桥), indicating the action happening at a specific place.

  ➔ Using **于** (formal or literary for 'at' or 'in') after a verb specifies the location where the action occurs.