G.E.M.鄧紫棋 – 差不多姑娘 (2019)

Looking for something to explain the rich meaning of the Chinese expression 差不多 I came across this videoclip by G.E.M.鄧紫棋 who raps about what she calls “差不多 girls”. The song 差不多姑娘 was published as part of the album City Zoo and is the only rap song on it. It seems the 差不多 in the lyrics has the meaning similar as in hard to keep apart. To better understand the lyrics you need to be familiar with Chinese internet slang and some other expressions that aren’t part of the standard HSK vocabulary. The combination of rhythm and rhyme do make things easier though…

The song is a playful and satirical commentary on the “almost the same” lives of many young women in modern society, criticizing the pursuit of superficial trends, beauty standards, and social comparisons. The term “差不多” (chàbùduō), meaning “almost the same,” is repeated throughout to emphasize the monotony and lack of individuality in the behaviors and desires being described.

差不多姑娘 – MISS SIMILAR – Chinese lyrics

差不多的姑娘
追逐差不多的漂亮
她们差不多的愿望
牵着她们鼻子方向

我回到差不多的家 躺在差不多的沙发
微博差不多的刷 都吃著差不多的瓜
那标题差不多的炸 八著差不多的卦
网友差不多的嘴弄脏了差不多的话

一条差不多的事业线 抓差不多的眼
看着差不多的留言 都是差不多的贱
到处差不多的Baby 比著差不多的基尼
举著差不多的V 挤著差不多的D

在差不多的街头 摆着差不多的Pose
跟差不多的潮流 整了差不多的Nose
交差不多的男友 走得差不多的Close
供差不多的楼 送差不多的Rose

跳着差不多的舞 扭著差不多的屁股
差不多的思路 嫌差不多的腿粗
看差不多的脸书 人差不多都想哭
女孩差不多的路 都差不多无助

差不多的姑娘
追逐差不多的漂亮
她们差不多的愿望
牵着她们鼻子方向

都露著差不多的腰 Fake著差不多的微笑
撒著差不多的娇 关系差不多的靠
抱 差不多的大腿 语气差不多的骚
靠 差不多的方法 买了差不多的包

都逞著差不多的强 所以讲话差不多的呛
差不多思想 都有着差不多狭窄审美观
差不多的弹 差不多的赞
为差不多的闪光 差不多的忙

喝差不多的红酒 啃著差不多的肉
对差不多的镜头 演着差不多的秀
图差不多的修 修得差不多的瘦
身边差不多的密友 都是差不多的Low

OH 差不多的优越感 写在差不多的脸上
在差不多的机场 走差不多红的地毯
差不多的妆 差不多的浪
裙子差不多的短 家里差不多的脏

差不多的姑娘
追逐差不多的漂亮
她们差不多的愿望
牵着她们鼻子方向

差不多的你 差不多的我
差不多的她 差不多的傻
听着差不多的废话
差不多的那些乌鸦 又嘻嘻哈哈
吱吱又喳喳 都差不多的瞎
差不多姑娘 都土生土长 在有毒的土壤
差不多都曾对镜子里的自己失望
差不多都遗忘 没有武装的模样
这差不多的症状 夸张

而现在各位姑娘 这里我要分享
曾经的我都一样 有差不多的忧伤
差不多两个礼拜没有吃饭
差不多我就把命给送上
数不尽的差不多 都差不多
差不多 人生真的不该这么过
像我唱的那首歌 差不多的虚荣如果能够看破
只是差不多的那个 泡沫

Chinese lyrics with English translation and pinyin –《差不多的姑娘》

Verse 1:

差不多的姑娘
Chàbùduō de gūniang
The “almost the same” girl or miss similar

追逐差不多的漂亮
Zhuīzhú chàbùduō de piàoliang
Chasing almost the same beauty

她们差不多的愿望
Tāmen chàbùduō de yuànwàng
They have almost the same desires

牵着她们鼻子方向
Qiānzhe tāmen bízi fāngxiàng
Leading them by the direction of their noses

Verse 2:

我回到差不多的家 躺在差不多的沙发
Wǒ huídào chàbùduō de jiā tǎng zài chàbùduō de shāfā
I return to almost the same home, lying on almost the same sofa

微博差不多的刷 都吃著差不多的瓜
Wēibó chàbùduō de shuā dōu chīzhe chàbùduō de guā
Scrolling through almost the same Weibo, eating almost the same melon (gossip)

那标题差不多的炸 八著差不多的卦
Nà biāotí chàbùduō de zhà bāzhe chàbùduō de guà
Those headlines are almost the same, discussing almost the same gossip

网友差不多的嘴弄脏了差不多的话
Wǎngyǒu chàbùduō de zuǐ nòng zāngle chàbùduō de huà
Netizens’ almost the same mouths are spreading almost the same dirty words

Verse 3:

一条差不多的事业线 抓差不多的眼
Yī tiáo chàbùduō de shìyè xiàn zhuā chàbùduō de yǎn
An almost the same career line, catching almost the same gaze

看着差不多的留言 都是差不多的贱
Kànzhe chàbùduō de liúyán dōu shì chàbùduō de jiàn
Looking at almost the same comments, all almost the same insults

到处差不多的Baby 比著差不多的基尼
Dàochù chàbùduō de Baby bǐzhe chàbùduō de jīní
Everywhere, almost the same babies, comparing almost the same bikinis

举著差不多的V 挤著差不多的D
Jǔzhe chàbùduō de V jǐzhe chàbùduō de D
Holding almost the same V, squeezing almost the same D

Verse 4:

在差不多的街头 摆着差不多的Pose
Zài chàbùduō de jiētóu bǎizhe chàbùduō de Pose
On almost the same street, striking almost the same pose

跟差不多的潮流 整了差不多的Nose
Gēn chàbùduō de cháoliú zhěngle chàbùduō de Nose
Following almost the same trend, fixing almost the same nose

交差不多的男友 走得差不多的Close
Jiāo chàbùduō de nán yǒu zǒu de chàbùduō de Close
Dating almost the same boyfriend, walking almost the same close

供差不多的楼 送差不多的Rose
Gòng chàbùduō de lóu sòng chàbùduō de Rose
Providing almost the same house, giving almost the same rose

Verse 5:

跳着差不多的舞 扭著差不多的屁股
Tiàozhe chàbùduō de wǔ niǔzhe chàbùduō de pìgu
Dancing almost the same dance, shaking almost the same butt

差不多的思路 嫌差不多的腿粗
Chàbùduō de sīlù xián chàbùduō de tuǐ cū
Almost the same way of thinking, complaining about almost the same thick legs

看差不多的脸书 人差不多都想哭
Kàn chàbùduō de liǎnshū rén chàbùduō dōu xiǎng kū
Looking at almost the same Facebook, everyone almost wants to cry

女孩差不多的路 都差不多无助
Nǚhái chàbùduō de lù dōu chàbùduō wúzhù
Girls walking almost the same road, all almost helpless

Chorus:

差不多的姑娘 追逐差不多的漂亮
Chàbùduō de gūniang zhuīzhú chàbùduō de piàoliang
The “almost” girl, chasing almost the same beauty

她们差不多的愿望 牵着她们鼻子方向
Tāmen chàbùduō de yuànwàng qiānzhe tāmen bízi fāngxiàng
They have almost the same desires, leading them by the direction of their noses

Verse 6:

都露著差不多的腰 Fake著差不多的微笑
Dōu lùzhe chàbùduō de yāo Fakezhe chàbùduō de wéixiào
All showing almost the same waist, faking almost the same smile

撒著差不多的娇 关系差不多的靠
Sāzhe chàbùduō de jiāo guānxì chàbùduō de kào
Throwing almost the same flirtatiousness, depending on almost the same relationships

抱 差不多的大腿 语气差不多的骚
Bào chàbùduō de dàtuǐ yǔqì chàbùduō de sāo
Hugging almost the same thighs, using almost the same seductive tone

靠 差不多的方法 买了差不多的包
Kào chàbùduō de fāngfǎ mǎile chàbùduō de bāo
Using almost the same methods, buying almost the same bags

Verse 7:

都逞著差不多的强 所以讲话差不多的呛
Dōu chěngzhe chàbùduō de qiáng suǒyǐ jiǎnghuà chàbùduō de qiàng
All trying to act almost the same strong, so they speak in almost the same harsh way

差不多思想 都有着差不多狭窄审美观
Chàbùduō sīxiǎng dōu yǒuzhe chàbùduō xiázhǎi shěnměi guān
Almost the same thoughts, all having almost the same narrow aesthetic views

差不多的弹 差不多的赞
Chàbùduō de tán chàbùduō de zàn
Almost the same likes, almost the same applause

为差不多的闪光 差不多的忙
Wèi chàbùduō de shǎnguāng chàbùduō de máng
Busy for almost the same fame, almost the same rush

Verse 8:

喝差不多的红酒 啃著差不多的肉
Hē chàbùduō de hóngjiǔ kěn zhe chàbùduō de ròu
Drinking almost the same red wine, nibbling almost the same meat

对差不多的镜头 演着差不多的秀
Duì chàbùduō de jìngtóu yǎn zhe chàbùduō de xiù
Posing for almost the same camera, performing almost the same show

图差不多的修 修得差不多的瘦
Tú chàbùduō de xiū xiū dé chàbùduō de shòu
Editing almost the same photos, editing almost the same slim figure

身边差不多的密友 都是差不多的Low
Shēnbiān chàbùduō de mìyǒu dōu shì chàbùduō de Low
Almost the same close friends around, all almost the same low (meaning simple or basic)

Outro:

OH 差不多的优越感 写在差不多的脸上
OH chàbùduō de yōuyuègǎn xiě zài chàbùduō de liǎn shàng
Oh, almost the same sense of superiority, written on almost the same faces

在差不多的机场 走差不多红的地毯
**

Zài chàbùduō de jīchǎng zǒu chàbùduō hóng de dìtǎn**
Walking on almost the same red carpet at almost the same airport

差不多的妆 差不多的浪
Chàbùduō de zhuāng chàbùduō de làng
Almost the same makeup, almost the same waves (metaphorical)

裙子差不多的短 家里差不多的脏
Qúnzi chàbùduō de duǎn jiālǐ chàbùduō de zāng
Almost the same short skirt, almost the same dirty house

Chorus:

差不多的姑娘 追逐差不多的漂亮
Chàbùduō de gūniang zhuīzhú chàbùduō de piàoliang
The “almost” girl, chasing almost the same beauty

她们差不多的愿望 牵着她们鼻子方向
Tāmen chàbùduō de yuànwàng qiānzhe tāmen bízi fāngxiàng
They have almost the same desires, leading them by the direction of their noses

Vocabulary list for 差不多的姑娘

10 key phrases from the song

1. 差不多的姑娘
   “The kind of girl who is just like the others”
   (Chà bù duō de gū niang)
2. 追逐差不多的漂亮
   “Chasing after almost the same kind of beauty”
   (Zhuī zhú chà bù duō de piào liang)
3. 她们差不多的愿望
   “Their almost the same kind of wishes”
   (Tā men chà bù duō de yuàn wàng)
4. 我回到差不多的家
   “I return to an almost the same kind of home”
   (Wǒ huí dào chà bù duō de jiā)
5. 微博差不多的刷
   “Scrolling through almost the same kind of Weibo”
   (Wēi bó chà bù duō de shuā)
6. 差不多的街头
   “On almost the same kind of street”
   (Chà bù duō de jiē tóu)
7. 交差不多的男友
   “Dating almost the same kind of boyfriend”
   (Jiāo chà bù duō de nán yǒu)
8. 差不多的思路
   “Almost the same kind of mindset”
   (Chà bù duō de sī lù)
9. 差不多的优越感
   “Almost the same sense of superiority”
   (Chà bù duō de yōu yuè gǎn)
10. 差不多的虚荣
    “Almost the same kind of vanity”
    (Chà bù duō de xū róng)

Interpretation

The song “差不多的姑娘” (The “Almost” Girl) by Jony J explores themes of societal pressures, superficiality, and the pursuit of similar ideals of beauty and success, using the concept of “差不多” (“almost the same”) to depict how people – particularly women – often conform to the same standards and expectations.

The song opens by describing “差不多的姑娘” (the “almost” girl), who “追逐差不多的漂亮” (chases almost the same beauty). The women in the song share “差不多的愿望” (almost the same desires), and their lives are guided by the same standards, as if they are “牵着她们鼻子方向” (being led by their noses, as if following someone else’s direction).

The singer returns home to a “差不多的家” (almost the same home), where everything feels repetitive: he lies on a “差不多的沙发” (almost the same sofa), scrolls through 微博差不多的刷 (almost the same posts on Weibo), and eats the same things, like “差不多的瓜” (almost the same gossip). There is an overwhelming sense of uniformity, as the title itself suggests – “差不多的” – referring to the idea that everyone and everything is “almost the same.”

The lyrics continue to highlight the pressure to conform in modern society, from the way people present themselves online (“差不多的V”, “差不多的D”) to the way they dress, act, and think. “差不多的姑娘” (the “almost” girl) embodies the idea of people striving for an ideal, often shaped by external expectations—wearing “差不多的裙子” (almost the same skirt), adopting “差不多的妆” (almost the same makeup), and acting according to “差不多的潮流” (almost the same trends).

The constant comparison and desire to fit in, paired with superficial interactions, are evident in the repetitive nature of the lyrics. Women are shown trying to “逞著差不多的强” (pretend to be strong) and conforming to “差不多的思想” (almost the same thinking), even as they wrestle with feelings of inadequacy. “差不多的思路” (almost the same mindset) and “差不多的脸书” (almost the same Facebook posts) demonstrate how individuals often try to meet the same narrow standards, but may secretly feel trapped in the process.

In the chorus, the singer emphasizes that these women are “差不多的” (almost the same) in their aspirations, yet still feel empty and dissatisfied. The idea that they have the “差不多的忧伤” (almost the same sorrow) is a reflection of how societal pressures weigh heavily on them, leaving them stuck in a cycle of comparing themselves to others, whether through their physical appearance, relationships, or possessions. Despite trying to “买了差不多的包” (buy almost the same bag), “差不多的女友” (almost the same boyfriend), or “差不多的楼” (almost the same house), they are left feeling unfulfilled, as they chase fleeting ideals.

The song finishes by calling attention to this repetitive nature, and the realization that living a life based on “差不多” (almost) is ultimately hollow. There is a sense of self-awareness, as the singer reflects on his own experience, realizing that the pursuit of superficial perfection can lead to “差不多” (the same) dissatisfaction and ultimately to emptiness, symbolized by “差不多的泡沫” (almost the same bubble) – fragile, short-lived, and ultimately, insubstantial.

In conclusion, the song critiques the modern obsession with conformity, superficial standards of beauty, and the endless chase for material success, using the recurring theme of “差不多” to highlight how it all amounts to the same thing in the end: a cycle of unfulfilled desires and missed opportunities for true self-expression and authenticity.

Short summary in Chinese

这首歌《差不多的姑娘》讲的是现代社会中，很多女孩追求相似的外貌和生活方式。她们过着差不多的生活，穿差不多的衣服，做差不多的事，甚至有差不多的想法。歌曲表达了这种“差不多”的生活让人感到空虚和不满足，提醒大家不要只追求表面的完美，而忽视了内心的真实和自我。

Different usages of 差不多 (chà bù duō) in Chinese

Here are 5 example sentences showcasing different usages of 差不多 (chà bù duō) in Chinese:

1. 我们差不多每天都去跑步。
   “We almost run every day.”
   Here, 差不多 expresses something that happens frequently, with the meaning of “almost” or “roughly.”
2. 这两件衣服差不多，颜色稍微不同。
   “These two pieces of clothing are almost the same, just the color is a little different.”
   In this context, 差不多 means “similar” or “almost the same.”
3. 他差不多已经准备好了。
   “He is almost ready.”
   差不多 here means “almost” or “nearly,” used to indicate that something is close to being completed.
4. 这件事和上次差不多。
   “This matter is similar to the last time.”
   In this sentence, 差不多 is used to show that something is nearly identical or very similar to something else.
5. 你差不多可以去休息了。
   “You can almost go rest now.”
   Here, 差不多 is used to suggest that something is close to happening or ready to happen. It implies the action can happen soon or is just about to happen.

Antonyms of 差不多 (chà bù duō)

Here are some antonyms of 差不多 (chà bù duō):

1. 完全不同 (wán quán bù tóng) – Completely different
   Opposite of 差不多 when used to indicate things that are very different from one another. Example:
   这两个人的性格完全不同。
   “These two people’s personalities are completely different.”
2. 差异 (chā yì) – Difference
   This emphasizes the presence of distinct differences rather than similarity. Example:
   这两种方法之间有很大的差异。
   “There is a big difference between these two methods.”
3. 天壤之别 (tiān rǎng zhī bié) – Heaven and earth apart
   This phrase is used to describe a huge contrast or complete dissimilarity, emphasizing a very large gap. Example:
   他们两个人的生活水平天壤之别。
   “Their living standards are as different as heaven and earth.”
4. 完全 (wán quán) – Completely
   When used to describe something that is wholly different or fully distinct, it highlights the lack of similarity. Example:
   这两个方案完全不相同。
   “These two plans are completely different.”
5. 独特 (dú tè) – Unique
   When something is described as 独特, it means it is one-of-a-kind, standing apart from others, unlike 差不多 which suggests similarity. Example:
   他的风格非常独特，没人能模仿。
   “His style is very unique; no one can imitate it.”