王菲’s 红豆 (Hóng Dòu, meaning Red Beans), released in 1998, is one of her most iconic and beloved songs. It’s a melancholic yet tender ballad. Here are the Chinese lyrics with English translations, pinyin and more.
Table of Contents
紅豆 (1998)
还没好好的感受 雪花绽放的气候
我们一起颤抖 会更明白 甚么是温柔
还没跟你牵着手 走过荒芜的沙丘
可能从此以后 学会珍惜 天长和地久
有时候 有时候
我会相信一切有尽头
相聚离开 都有时候
没有甚么会永垂不朽
可是我 有时候
宁愿选择留恋不放手
等到风景都看透
也许你会陪我 看细水长流
还没为你把红豆 熬成缠绵的伤口
然后一起分享 会更明白 相思的哀愁
还没好好的感受 醒著亲吻的温柔
可能在我左右 你才追求 孤独的自由
有时候 有时候
我会相信一切有尽头
相聚离开 都有时候
没有甚么会永垂不朽
可是我 有时候
宁愿选择留恋不放手
等到风景都看透
也许你会陪我 看细水长流
有时候 有时候
我会相信一切有尽头
相聚离开 都有时候
没有甚么会永垂不朽
可是我 有时候
宁愿选择留恋不放手
等到风景都看透
也许你会陪我 看细水长流
Chinese lyrics with pinyin and English translations
还没好好的感受 雪花绽放的气候
Hái méi hǎo hǎo de gǎnshòu xuěhuā zhànfàng de qìhòu
Haven’t yet fully felt the climate where snowflakes bloom
我们一起颤抖 会更明白 甚么是温柔
Wǒmen yìqǐ chàndǒu huì gèng míngbái shénme shì wēnróu
If we shiver together, we’ll better understand what tenderness is
还没跟你牵着手 走过荒芜的沙丘
Hái méi gēn nǐ qiānzhe shǒu zǒuguò huāngwú de shāqiū
Haven’t yet held your hand walking across barren dunes
可能从此以后 学会珍惜 天长和地久
Kěnéng cóngcǐ yǐhòu xuéhuì zhēnxī tiāncháng hé dìjiǔ
Maybe from now on, we’ll learn to cherish everlasting love
有时候 有时候
Yǒu shíhòu yǒu shíhòu
Sometimes, sometimes
我会相信一切有尽头
Wǒ huì xiāngxìn yíqiè yǒu jìntóu
I believe everything has an end
相聚离开 都有时候
Xiāngjù líkāi dōu yǒu shíhòu
Meeting and parting both have their times
没有甚么会永垂不朽
Méiyǒu shénme huì yǒngchuí bùxiǔ
Nothing lasts forever
可是我 有时候
Kěshì wǒ yǒu shíhòu
But sometimes I
宁愿选择留恋不放手
Nìngyuàn xuǎnzé liúliàn bù fàngshǒu
Would rather choose to hold on and not let go
等到风景都看透
Děng dào fēngjǐng dōu kàn tòu
Until we’ve seen through all the scenery
也许你会陪我 看细水长流
Yěxǔ nǐ huì péi wǒ kàn xì shuǐ cháng liú
Maybe you’ll stay with me and watch the gentle flow of time
还没为你把红豆 熬成缠绵的伤口
Hái méi wèi nǐ bǎ hóngdòu áo chéng chánmián de shāngkǒu
Haven’t yet boiled red beans into lingering wounds of longing
然后一起分享 会更明白 相思的哀愁
Ránhòu yìqǐ fēnxiǎng huì gèng míngbái xiāngsī de āichóu
Then sharing it together, we’ll better understand the sorrow of longing
还没好好的感受 醒著亲吻的温柔
Hái méi hǎo hǎo de gǎnshòu xǐngzhe qīnwěn de wēnróu
Haven’t yet fully felt the tenderness of waking kisses
可能在我左右 你才追求 孤独的自由
Kěnéng zài wǒ zuǒyòu nǐ cái zhuīqiú gūdú de zìyóu
Maybe only by my side do you pursue the freedom of loneliness
（重复 Repeated chorus）
有时候 有时候
Yǒu shíhòu yǒu shíhòu
Sometimes, sometimes
我会相信一切有尽头
Wǒ huì xiāngxìn yíqiè yǒu jìntóu
I believe everything has an end
相聚离开 都有时候
Xiāngjù líkāi dōu yǒu shíhòu
Meeting and parting both have their times
没有甚么会永垂不朽
Méiyǒu shénme huì yǒngchuí bùxiǔ
Nothing lasts forever
可是我 有时候
Kěshì wǒ yǒu shíhòu
But sometimes I
宁愿选择留恋不放手
Nìngyuàn xuǎnzé liúliàn bù fàngshǒu
Would rather choose to hold on and not let go
等到风景都看透
Děng dào fēngjǐng dōu kàn tòu
Until we’ve seen through all the scenery
也许你会陪我 看细水长流
Yěxǔ nǐ huì péi wǒ kàn xì shuǐ cháng liú
Maybe you’ll stay with me and watch life flow on gently
10 key phrases from the song
- 好好地感受 (hǎo hǎo de gǎnshòu) – To properly experience/feel something
- 甚么是温柔 (shénme shì wēnróu) – What gentleness is
- 相聚离开 (xiāngjù líkāi) – Meeting and parting
- 永垂不朽 (yǒng chuí bù xiǔ) – To last forever, to be immortal
- 宁愿选择 (nìngyuàn xuǎnzé) – Would rather choose
- 留恋不放手 (liúliàn bù fàngshǒu) – To hold on and not let go
- 等到风景都看透 (děngdào fēngjǐng dōu kàn tòu) – Until all the scenery has been seen through (metaphor for life experience)
- 细水长流 (xìshuǐ chángliú) – A slow, steady love that lasts long (literally: “a small stream flows forever”)
- 熬成缠绵的伤口 (áo chéng chánmián de shāngkǒu) – To stew (red beans) into lingering wounds (metaphor for love turning into sorrow)
- 孤独的自由 (gūdú de zìyóu) – The freedom of loneliness
Interpretation
This song expresses a deep sense of nostalgia, love, and loss. It reflects the impermanence of relationships, the bittersweet nature of memories, and the longing for enduring love. The phrase “细水长流” (xì shuǐ cháng liú) literally means “a small stream flows steadily,” symbolizing a love that lasts through time, slow and steady. The lyrics acknowledge that nothing lasts forever, yet the singer still clings to the hope that love can endure beyond fleeting moments.
In Chinese culture, 红豆 (red beans) symbolize love, longing, and deep emotions. The phrase originates from an ancient Tang dynasty poem by 王维 (Wang Wei), where red beans are seen as tokens of love and remembrance. The line “还没为你把红豆 熬成缠绵的伤口” (Haven’t boiled the red beans into a lingering wound for you) suggests that the love has not yet turned into painful regret, but the potential for sorrow exists.
Chinese summary
这首歌讲的是爱情中的珍惜和不舍。歌词描写两个人还没有一起经历很多事情，但已经开始明白什么是温柔、相思和陪伴。作者觉得人生和感情都有结束的时候，但即使这样，还是愿意紧紧抓住这段感情，希望能和对方一直走下去，一起慢慢度过平凡却温暖的生活。
