Giày cao gót màu đỏ – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Thái Kiện Nhã

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Tanya Chua's “Giày cao gót màu đỏ” offers a beautiful entry point into Mandarin Chinese. The song's rich, metaphorical lyrics about love and attraction provide a memorable way to learn descriptive vocabulary and expressions of complex emotions. Its clear, soulful melody makes it enjoyable to listen to repeatedly, aiding in language acquisition and offering a special insight into the nuances of Mandopop songwriting.

[English]

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

What can I compare you to, to make it special?

What can I compare you to, to make it special?

What can I compare you to, to make it special?

My feelings for you are so strong.

My feelings for you are so strong.

My feelings for you are so strong.

But I don’t really know you.

But I don’t really know you.

But I don’t really know you.

Just by instinct.

Just by instinct.

Just by instinct.

You’re like the comfort of being wrapped in a blanket.

You’re like the comfort of being wrapped in a blanket.

You’re like the comfort of being wrapped in a blanket.

But also like the wind, unpredictable.

But also like the wind, unpredictable.

But also like the wind, unpredictable.

Like the scent of perfume lingering on my wrist.

Like the scent of perfume lingering on my wrist.

Like the scent of perfume lingering on my wrist.

Like a pair of red high heels I can’t bear to let go of.

Like a pair of red high heels I can’t bear to let go of.

Like a pair of red high heels I can’t bear to let go of.

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

How can I describe you most accurately?

What can I compare you to, to make it special?

What can I compare you to, to make it special?

What can I compare you to, to make it special?

My feelings for you are so strong.

My feelings for you are so strong.

But I don’t really know you.

But I don’t really know you.

But I don’t really know you.

But I don’t really know you.

Just by instinct.

My feelings for you are so strong.

Just by instinct.

Just by instinct.

Just by instinct.

You’re like the comfort of being wrapped in a blanket.

You’re like the comfort of being wrapped in a blanket.

You’re like the comfort of being wrapped in a blanket.

But also like the wind, unpredictable.

But also like the wind, unpredictable.

But also like the wind, unpredictable.

Like the scent of perfume lingering on my wrist.

Like the scent of perfume lingering on my wrist.

Like the scent of perfume lingering on my wrist.

Like a pair of red high heels I can’t bear to let go of.

Like a pair of

red high heels I can’t bear to let go of.

Like a pair of red high heels I can’t bear to let go of.

I love you, a thrilling and conflicting feeling.

I love you, a thrilling and conflicting feeling.

I love you, a thrilling and conflicting feeling.

Crazy, but afraid of having no way back.

Crazy, but afraid of having no way back.

Crazy, but afraid of having no way back.

Can you let me stop this chase?

Can you let me stop this chase?

Can you let me stop this chase?

Just let you be the last and only.

Just let you be the last and only.

Just let you be the last and only.

Red high heels.

Red high heels.

Red high heels.

[Chinese]

该怎么去形容你最贴切

Gāi zěnme qù xíngróng nǐ zuì tiēqiè

Nên miêu tả em như thế nào cho chuẩn xác nhất đây?

该怎么去形容你最贴切

Gāi zěnme qù xíngróng nǐ zuì tiēqiè

Nên miêu tả em như thế nào cho chuẩn xác nhất đây?

拿什么跟你作比较才算特别

Ná shénme gēn nǐ zuò bǐjiào cái suàn tèbié

Lấy gì ra so sánh với em mới được coi như là đặc biệt?

对你的感觉强烈

Duì nǐ de gǎnjué qiángliè

Cảm giác của tôi đối với em rất mãnh liệt

却又不太了解

Què yòu bù tài liǎojiě

Nhưng lại không hiểu rõ về em

只凭直觉

Zhǐ píng zhíjué

Chỉ dựa vào cảm giác mà thôi

你像窝在被子里的舒服

Nǐ xiàng wō zài bèizi lǐ de shūfu

Em tựa như cảm giác thoải mái khi cuộn người trong chăn ấm

却又像风捉摸不住

Què yòu xiàng fēng zhuōmō bù zhù

Nhưng lại giống như cơn gió không đoán trước được

像手腕上散发的香水味

Xiàng shǒuwàn shàng sànfà de xiāngshuǐ wèi

Tựa như hương nước hoa phảng phất nơi cổ tay

像爱不释手的红色高跟鞋

Xiàng àibùshìshǒu de hóngsè gāogēnxié

Như đôi giày cao gót màu đỏ yêu không nỡ buông tay vậy

该怎么去形容你最贴切

Gāi zěnme qù xíngróng nǐ zuì tiēqiè

Nên miêu tả em như thế nào cho chuẩn xác nhất đây?

该怎么去形容你最贴切

Gāi zěnme qù xíngróng nǐ zuì tiēqiè

Nên miêu tả em như thế nào cho chuẩn xác nhất đây?

拿什么跟你作比较才算特别

Ná shénme gēn nǐ zuò bǐjiào cái suàn tèbié

Lấy gì ra so sánh với em mới được coi như là đặc biệt?

Duì nǐ de gǎnjué qiángliè

对你的感觉强烈

Nhưng lại không hiểu rõ về em

却又不太了解

Què yòu bù tài liǎojiě

Nhưng lại không hiểu rõ về em

只凭直觉

Duì nǐ de gǎnjué qiángliè

只凭直觉

Zhǐ píng zhíjué

Chỉ dựa vào cảm giác mà thôi

你像窝在被子里的舒服

Nǐ xiàng wō zài bèizi lǐ de shūfu

Em tựa như cảm giác thoải mái khi cuộn người trong chăn ấm

却又像风捉摸不住

Què yòu xiàng fēng zhuōmō bù zhù

Nhưng lại giống như cơn gió không đoán trước được

像手腕上散发的香水味

Xiàng shǒuwàn shàng sànfà de xiāngshuǐ wèi

Tựa như hương nước hoa phảng phất nơi cổ tay

像爱不释手的红色高跟鞋

Xiàng àibùshìshǒu de

hóngsè gāogēnxié

Như yêu không nỡ buông tay vậy

我爱你 有种 左左右右兴奋的冲突

Wǒ ài nǐ yǒu zhǒng zuǒ zuǒyòuyòu xīngfèn de chōngtú

Tôi yêu em vô cùng nhưng lại đầy mâu thuẫn

疯狂却害怕没有退路

Fēngkuáng què hàipà méiyǒu tuìlù

Điên cuồng nhưng lại sợ không có đường lui

你能不能让我停止这种追逐

Nǐ néng fǒu ràng wǒ tíngzhǐ zhè zhǒng zhuīzhú

Em có thể khiến tôi dừng lại sự theo đuổi này không?

就这么双 最后唯一的

Jiù zhème shuāng zuìhòu wéiyī de

Hãy là đôi giày cuối cùng duy nhất nhé

红色高跟鞋

Hóngsè gāogēnxié

Đôi giày cao gót màu đỏ

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
形容 /xíngróng/ B1	verb - to describe
感觉 /gǎnjué/ A2	noun - feeling, sensation
强烈 /qiángliè/ B2	adjective - strong, intense
直觉 /zhíjué/ B1	noun - intuition
舒服 /shūfu/ A2	adjective - comfortable
风 /fēng/ A1	noun - wind
香水 /xiāngshuǐ/ B1	noun - perfume
高跟鞋 /gāogēnxié/ B1	noun - high-heeled shoes
爱 /ài/ A1	verb - to love noun - love
兴奋 /xīngfèn/ B2	adjective - excited, thrilled
冲突 /chōngtú/ B2	noun - conflict
疯狂 /fēngkuáng/ B2	adjective - crazy, mad
害怕 /hàipà/ A2	verb - to be afraid
停止 /tíngzhǐ/ B1	verb - to stop
追逐 /zhuīzhú/ B2	verb - to chase, pursue
唯一 /wéiyī/ B1	adjective - only, unique

Key Grammar Structures

• 该怎么去形容你最贴切 (Gāi zěnme qù xíngróng nǐ zuì tiēqiè)

  ➔ Modal verb + verb phrase + complement

  ➔ This sentence uses “该 (gāi)” which is a modal verb indicating 'should' or 'how to'. It's followed by a verb phrase describing the action of describing someone. “贴切 (tiēqiè)” is an adverb meaning 'accurate' or 'appropriate'.

• 你像窝在被子里的舒服 (Nǐ xiàng wō zài bèizi lǐ de shūfu)

  ➔ Simile with '像 (xiàng)' + noun phrase with relative clause

  ➔ The sentence uses “像 (xiàng)” to create a simile, comparing the person to the comfort of being nestled in blankets. “窝在被子里的舒服 (wō zài bèizi lǐ de shūfu)” is a noun phrase describing the feeling, with “的 (de)” connecting the adjective '舒服 (shūfu)' to the preceding phrase.

• 却又像风捉摸不住 (Què yòu xiàng fēng zhuōmō bù zhù)

  ➔ Conjunction '却 (què)' + simile with '像 (xiàng)' + verb-object structure

  ➔ “却 (què)” indicates a contrast. The sentence then uses another simile, comparing the person to the elusive nature of the wind. “捉摸不住 (zhuōmō bù zhù)” is a verb-object structure meaning 'difficult to grasp' or 'unpredictable'.

• 我爱你 有种 左左右右兴奋的冲突 (Wǒ ài nǐ yǒu zhǒng zuǒ zuǒyòuyòu xīngfèn de chōngtú)

  ➔ Possessive construction '有种 (yǒu zhǒng)' + reduplicated adjective + noun

  ➔ “有种 (yǒu zhǒng)” is a common construction meaning 'there is a feeling of'. “左左右右 (zuǒ zuǒyòuyòu)” is a reduplication of “左 (zuǒ)” and “右 (yòu)” (left and right) used to emphasize the back-and-forth, conflicted nature of the excitement. “冲突 (chōngtú)” means 'conflict'.