最好的債 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 楊千嬅

Lyrics & Translation

“最好的債” (The Best Debt) is a perfect song to learn Cantonese through as its rich, narrative-driven lyrics tell a famous real-life story of friendship and forgiveness. The song's sophisticated vocabulary and emotional depth offer a unique window into how Cantopop uses metaphor and storytelling to convey complex feelings, making the language learning process both challenging and deeply rewarding.

[English]

Since the day we parted

There were indeed many chances to meet

It's a pity we were both too absolute

Without softening

Thinking back to the past

Even with snow, there would still be some warmth

But you and I are naturally good at cold wars

If stubbornness can change, when will it change?

Such a pair of wild characters

Who will tame the other first? I've asked thousands of times before

But no one ever yielded an inch

Could it be that in this fight, everyone loses? Everyone loses to time

Whoever is so strong

Still can't match the speed of time

Arrogance is broken down, anger turns to stillness

The playful child is taught to be good

Why bother arguing about success or failure?

Too lazy to settle the debts we owe each other

Even if the warm years only have a matchstick

It's still considered meeting you at the ends of the earth

Who cares about that bit of losing composure?

...

But growing up still has its advantages

That is, you no longer dwell on small mistakes

If there's time to mind, actually only mind

How we ended up here

Once accompanied like angels, once had good intentions

Who should forgive whom? Don't pay too much attention

Actually, there's no winning or losing between lovers and close friends

Being able to understand in the end is still not too late

Whoever is so strong

Still can't match the speed of time

Arrogance is broken down, anger turns to stillness

The playful child is taught to be good

Why bother arguing about success or failure?

Too lazy to settle the debts we owe each other

Even if the warm years only have a matchstick

It's still considered crossing some boundaries with you

I hate you more than the universe

Compressed by the years to the smallest piece of paper

Scattered in the wind, in the city

Spread on the streets that pass by

I decided not to take it with me

Whoever is so strong

Suddenly goes out, leaving so quickly

Learning to cherish every debt in life

The most competitive child is also embraced by me

Who is good or who is bad?

Ten thousand years later, there's no need to break it down anymore

I only hope to be relieved in this life

Missing the ends of the earth shared with you

And the factions we formed together

You are the best debt

...

[Chinese]

自上次離去那一天

確實有太多機會可碰見

很可惜彼此也是太絕

沒有心軟

一想到以前

下著雪 還會 有些暖

但共你也天生擅於冷戰

如固執會變 何日先會變

好一對狂野角色

誰馴服對方先 從前問過千遍

然而從沒誰 讓過一線

難道這惡鬥 最尾 人人都輸 人人敗給鐘點

誰這樣強大

一樣難匹敵 光陰那樣快

傲慢被分解 怒火變靜態

愛撒野的小孩 被教得很乖

何必論成敗

懶去再結算 彼此欠的債

就算溫馨歲月 得一枝火柴

也算與你 相識於天涯

誰要計較 那點失態

但大了 仍有這好處

就是你 再不執著 小錯處

如有空介意 其實只介意

怎麽我們會到此

曾陪伴似天使 曾懷著過好意

誰來原諒誰 別太關注

其實愛侶與摯友 無贏跟輸

能明白 最後 仍不算是遲

誰這樣強大

一樣難匹敵 光陰那樣快

傲慢被分解 怒火變靜態

愛撒野的小孩 被教得很乖

何必論成敗

懶去再結算 彼此欠的債

就算溫馨歲月 得一枝火柴

也算與你 一起越過些界

我 恨你恨到 比宇宙更大

被年月 壓縮到最小 紙碎一塊

隨風散落 鬧市中

鋪滿在 路過的街

我決定不帶

誰這樣強大

都突然熄滅 走得那樣快

學習著珍惜 命中每段債

最好勝的小孩 也被我 擁入懷

誰好或誰壞

一萬年以後 已不需要分解

我只盼 今生可釋懷

記掛與你 分享的天涯

和你結過 那些黨派

你是最好那段債

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
離去 (líqù) /li2 qu4/ B2	verb - to leave, to depart
機會 (jīhuì) /dʒiːˈhweɪ/ A2	noun - opportunity, chance
心軟 (xīnruǎn) /ɕin˥ ru̯an˨˩˦/ B2	adjective - soft-hearted, tender-hearted
雪 (xuě) /ɕɥœ˨˩˦/ A1	noun - snow
暖 (nuǎn) /nwan˨˩˦/ A2	adjective - warm
冷戰 (lěngzhàn) /ləŋ˨˩˦ ʈ͡ʂan˥˩/ B2	noun - cold war
固執 (gùzhí) /ku˥˩ ʈʂʅ˧˥/ B2	adjective - stubborn, obstinate
狂野 (kuángyě) /kʰwaŋ˧˥ jɛ˨˩˦/ C1	adjective - wild, untamed
馴服 (xúnfú) /ɕɥn˧˥ fu˧˥/ C1	verb - to tame, to domesticate
惡鬥 (èdòu) /ɤ˥˩ toʊ̯˥˩/ C1	noun - fierce fight, bitter struggle
強大 (qiángdà) /t͡ɕʰjɑŋ˧˥ ta˥˩/ B2	adjective - powerful, strong
光陰 (guāngyīn) /kwaŋ˥˥ in/ B2	noun - time, lapse of time
傲慢 (àomàn) /aʊ̯˥˩ man˥˩/ C1	adjective - arrogant, haughty
怒火 (nùhuǒ) /nu˥˩ xwo˨˩˦/ B2	noun - rage, fury
靜態 (jìngtài) /t͡ɕiŋ˥˩ tʰaɪ̯˥˩/ B2	adjective - static
撒野 (sāyě) /sa˥ jɛ˨˩˦/ C1	verb - to run wild, to act willfully
歲月 (suìyuè) /sweɪ̯˥˩ y̯ɛ˥˩/ B1	noun - years, time, days
溫馨 (wēnxīn) /wən˥ ɕɪn/ B1	adjective - warm, heartwarming
結算 (jiésuàn) /t͡ɕjɛ˧˥ swɑn˥˩/ B2	verb - to settle accounts, to calculate
釋懷 (shìhuái) /ʂɻ̩˥˩ xwaɪ̯˧˥/ C1	verb - to let go, to reconcile oneself (with something)
珍惜 (zhēnxī) /ʈ͡ʂən˥ ɕi/ B1	verb - to cherish, to treasure

Key Grammar Structures

• 誰馴服對方先

  ➔ Using the particle '先' to indicate 'doing something first' or 'prior to' someone else.

  ➔ '先' (xiān) is a Chinese character used to denote 'first' or 'before' in sequence or priority.

• 懶去再結算 彼此欠的債

  ➔ Using '再' before a verb to indicate 'again' or 'repeatedly'.

  ➔ '再' (zài) is a Chinese adverb used to denote repetition or doing something again.

• 誰這樣強大

  ➔ Using '這樣' to mean 'such a way' or 'like that'.

  ➔ '這樣' (zhèyàng) is a Chinese phrase meaning 'in this way' or 'like this'.

• 就算溫馨歲月 得一枝火柴

  ➔ Using '就算' to mean 'even if' or 'even when', expressing concession.

  ➔ '就算' (jiùsuàn) is a Chinese conjunction used to introduce a concessive clause meaning 'even if' or 'even when'.

• 曾懷著過好意

  ➔ Using '曾' to express 'once' or 'former' in past tense or experience.

  ➔ '曾' (céng) is a Chinese adverb used before a verb to indicate an event or state that occurred in the past.