座右銘 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 吳雨霏

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful way to connect with its culture, and '座右銘' by Kary Ng offers a beautiful entry point into the emotional depth of Cantopop. This song is special not only for its beautiful melody but also for its relatable lyrics about guarding one's heart. By exploring the language in this song, you can learn to express complex feelings of vulnerability, self-protection, and the bittersweet nature of love, all while appreciating a classic Hong Kong ballad.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
哭 (kū) /kʰuː/ A1	verb - to cry, weep
星星 (xīngxīng) /ɕiŋɕiŋ/ A1	noun - star
孤單 (gūdān) /kuːtán/ B1	adjective - lonely, solitary
愛 (ài) /aɪ/ A1	verb - to love noun - love
冷靜 (lěngjìng) /lɤŋt͡ɕiŋ/ B2	adjective - calm, composed
平凡 (píngfán) /pʰiŋfǎn/ B1	adjective - ordinary, common
貪心 (tānxīn) /tʰántɕʰín/ B2	adjective - greedy, avaricious
戀愛 (liàn'ài) /ljɛ̂n.ài/ B1	verb - to be in love, to have a romance noun - love affair
陷阱 (xiànjǐng) /ɕjɛ̂nt͡ɕiŋ/ B2	noun - trap, pitfall
本領 (běnlǐng) /pɤ̀nliŋ/ B2	noun - skill, ability
未來 (wèilái) /wèi.lǎɪ/ A2	noun - future
眼睛 (yǎnjīng) /jant͡ɕiŋ/ A1	noun - eye
世界 (shìjiè) /ʂɨt͡ɕjɛ/ A1	noun - world
拋棄 (pāoqì) /pʰáʊ.t͡ɕʰî/ B2	verb - to abandon, to forsake
謹守 (jǐnshǒu) /t͡ɕinʂoʊ/ C1	verb - to adhere to, to abide by
美好 (měihǎo) /meɪxɑʊ/ B1	adjective - beautiful, fine
幸福 (xìngfú) /ɕiŋfu/ A2	adjective - happy, blessed noun - happiness, well-being
快樂 (kuàilè) /kʰwaɪ.lɤ̂/ A1	adjective - happy, merry noun - happiness

Key Grammar Structures

• 我心事誰又會在意想聽

  ➔ Question word + 又 + verb + ...

  ➔ This structure emphasizes a rhetorical or repeated question, often implying uncertainty or speculation.

• 越對我好 越需要控制我反應

  ➔ 越...越... (The more...the more...)

  ➔ This is a comparative structure indicating that as one condition increases, another also increases.

• 平凡像我這一種 今天要認了命

  ➔ 像...一樣 (like...), ...的種類

  ➔ This structure uses '像' (like) to compare or categorize something, indicating similarity or type.

• 原來避免輸不起

  ➔ 原來 + verb phrase (originally/used to)

  ➔ This structure indicates the original or initial reason or state for an action or situation.

• 怕有天放心後 才給我最愛拋棄

  ➔ 怕 + result clause / future concern

  ➔ This structure uses '怕' (fear) to express worry about a future event happening, often followed by a result clause.

• 我要謹守我座右銘

  ➔ 我要 + verb + ... (I want to do ...)

  ➔ This structure expresses personal intention or desire to perform an action.