The song《倩女幽魂》(Qiàn Nǚ Yōu Hún) by 张国荣 (Leslie Cheung) was released in 1987 as the theme song for the classic Hong Kong film A Chinese Ghost Story (倩女幽魂). Here are the Chinese lyrics, English translations with pinyin and more.
About the song
- It is one of Leslie Cheung’s most iconic songs, blending romantic, melancholic and eerie elements to match the film’s supernatural and tragic love story.
- The lyrics evoke the themes of fate, longing and the fleeting nature of love, which are central to the movie.
- The melody combines traditional Chinese musical elements with a modern pop ballad style, creating a hauntingly beautiful sound.
A Chinese ghost story (theme song)
人生路美梦似路长
路里风霜风霜扑面干
红尘里美梦有几多方向
找痴痴梦幻中心爱路随人茫茫
人生是美梦与热望
梦里依稀依稀有泪光
何从何去去觅我心中方向
风仿佛在梦中轻叹路和人茫茫
人间路快乐少年郎
路里崎岖崎岖不见阳光
泥尘里快乐有几多方向
一丝丝梦幻般风雨路随人茫茫
丝丝梦幻般风雨路随人茫茫
Lyrics with pinyin and English translations
人生路美梦似路长
Rénshēng lù měi mèng sì lù cháng
Life’s journey is like a long beautiful dream
路里风霜风霜扑面干
Lù lǐ fēng shuāng fēng shuāng pū miàn gān
The wind and frost along the road hit my face dryly
红尘里美梦有几多方向
Hóngchén lǐ měimèng yǒu jǐ duō fāngxiàng
In this world of dust, how many directions do dreams have?
找痴痴梦幻中心爱路随人茫茫
Zhǎo chī chī mènghuàn zhōngxīn ài lù suí rén mángmáng
Searching blindly for the center of dreams, love follows people in the vast uncertainty
人生是美梦与热望
Rénshēng shì měimèng yǔ rè wàng
Life is made of beautiful dreams and desires
梦里依稀依稀有泪光
Mèng lǐ yīxī yīxī yǒu lèi guāng
In dreams, there are faint traces of tears
何从何去去觅我心中方向
Hécóng héqù qù mì wǒ xīnzhōng fāngxiàng
Where should I go to find the direction in my heart?
风仿佛在梦中轻叹路和人茫茫
Fēng fǎngfú zài mèng zhōng qīngtàn lù hé rén mángmáng
The wind seems to sigh gently in dreams, as both the road and people are lost in vast uncertainty
人间路快乐少年郎
Rénjiān lù kuàilè shàonián láng
The path of life is one of joyful young men
路里崎岖崎岖不见阳光
Lù lǐ qíqū qíqū bù jiàn yángguāng
The road is rough and winding, with no sunlight in sight
泥尘里快乐有几多方向
Ní chén lǐ kuàilè yǒu jǐ duō fāngxiàng
In the dust and mud, how many directions lead to happiness?
一丝丝梦幻般风雨路随人茫茫
Yī sī sī mènghuàn bān fēngyǔ lù suí rén mángmáng
Like strands of dreams, the stormy road follows people in endless uncertainty
丝丝梦幻般风雨路随人茫茫
Sī sī mènghuàn bān fēngyǔ lù suí rén mángmáng
Like strands of dreams, the stormy road follows people in endless uncertainty
Key vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 人生 (人生路) | rénshēng (rénshēng lù) | life (life’s journey) | A common metaphor for one’s path in life. |
| 美梦 | měi mèng | beautiful dream | Often used to describe dreams that may not be realistic. |
| 方向 | fāngxiàng | direction | Can refer to both physical direction and one’s purpose in life. |
| 依稀 | yīxī | vaguely, faintly | Describes something that is unclear or distant. |
| 红尘 | hóng chén | the mortal world | Poetic term for worldly affairs and human life. |
| 霜 | shuāng | frost | Symbolizes hardship, coldness, or the passage of time. |
| 追寻 | zhuīxún | to pursue, to seek | Often used in a poetic context to describe searching for dreams or love. |
| 梦幻 | mènghuàn | illusion, dreamlike | Describes something surreal, like a fantasy. |
| 丝丝 | sī sī | thread-like, little by little | Often used to describe fine or delicate emotions. |
| 风雨 | fēngyǔ | wind and rain | A metaphor for hardship and struggles in life. |
Key phrases
- 人生路，美梦似路长 (rénshēng lù, měi mèng sì lù cháng)
- Life’s journey, like a beautiful dream, seems long.
- 红尘里，美梦有几多方向 (hóng chén lǐ, měi mèng yǒu jǐ duō fāngxiàng)
- In the mortal world, how many dreams have a clear direction?
- 风仿佛在梦中轻叹 (fēng fǎngfú zài mèng zhōng qīng tàn)
- The wind seems to sigh gently in the dream.
- 人生是美梦与热望 (rénshēng shì měi mèng yǔ rè wàng)
- Life is a mix of beautiful dreams and passionate hopes.
- 何从何去，去觅我心中方向 (hé cóng hé qù, qù mì wǒ xīnzhōng fāngxiàng)
- Where should I go to find the direction in my heart?
- 路里风霜扑面干 (lù lǐ fēng shuāng pū miàn gān)
- The wind and frost on the road hit my face dry.
- 泥尘里，快乐有几多方向 (ní chén lǐ, kuàilè yǒu jǐ duō fāngxiàng)
- In the dust and mud, how many paths lead to happiness?
- 丝丝梦幻般风雨路随人茫茫 (sī sī mèng huàn bān fēng yǔ lù suí rén máng máng)
- The dream-like wind and rain on the road follow people endlessly.
Interpretation
The song《倩女幽魂》is filled with poetic imagery, expressing themes of fate (人生路), dreams (美梦), and uncertainty (茫茫). The lyrics compare life to a long road (路长), where one searches for direction (方向) amid the ever-changing world (红尘里). The song captures a sense of longing, as the wind (风) whispers through dreams, and one wonders 何从何去 (where to go next). It reflects the struggles (风霜) and illusions (梦幻) we encounter, making it a melancholic yet deeply moving ballad about destiny and lost love.
Chinese summary
《倩女幽魂》是一首充满诗意的歌曲，表达了人生路的变化和美梦的追求。歌词中提到，生活就像一条漫长的路，充满风霜和泥尘。在人生的旅途中，我们寻找方向，但未来却常常让人感到茫茫。歌曲中也有梦幻和泪光的画面，让人感受到一种淡淡的忧伤。这首歌不仅是关于爱情，也是关于人生的思考，让人回味无穷。
