“Pengyou” (朋友), released in 1997, is a classic song by Taiwanese singer Wakin Chau (周华健), with lyrics and composition by Liu Siming (刘思铭). Here are the Chinese lyrics, pinyin and English translations.
What is life without friendship? That is exactly what this song is about: it dwells on the unsurpassable value of true friendship. In this blog I will walk you through the lyrics step by step.
The song features heartfelt lyrics and a warm melody, expressing gratitude and appreciation for friendship. Upon its release, it quickly became one of the most iconic friendship songs in the Chinese music scene. Frequently played at graduations, reunions, and farewell events, Pengyou evokes nostalgia and conveys the enduring bond of friendship, emphasizing support and companionship throughout life.
Wakin Chau (周华健) is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter born in 1960. He became famous in the 1980s and 1990s, known for his warm voice and heartfelt songs. His hits like 朋友 and 花心 made him a major figure in Mandopop and Cantopop. With a career spanning decades, he has released numerous albums and remains loved across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. His music often explores themes of love, friendship, and life’s journey.
Chinese lyrics
这些年 一个人 风也过 雨也走
有过泪 有过错 还记得坚持什么
真爱过 才会懂 会寂寞 会回首
终有梦 终有你 在心中
朋友 一生一起走 那些日子 不再有
一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒
朋友 不曾孤单过 一声朋友 你会懂
还有伤 还有痛 还要走 还有我
(间奏)
这些年 一个人 风也过 雨也走
有过泪 有过错 还记得坚持什么
真爱过 才会懂 会寂寞 会回首
终有梦 终有你 在心中
朋友 一生一起走 那些日子 不再有
一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒
朋友 不曾孤单过 一声朋友 你会懂
还有伤 还有痛 还要走 还有我
朋友 一生一起走 那些日子 不再有
一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒
朋友 不曾孤单过 一声朋友 你会懂
还有伤 还有痛 还要走 还有我
朋友 一生一起走 那些日子 不再有
一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒
朋友 不曾孤单过 一声朋友 你会懂
还有伤 还有痛 还要走 还有我
一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒
(结束)
Chinese lyrics with pinyin and English translations
这些年 一个人 风也过 雨也走
Zhèxiē nián yí gè rén fēng yě guò yǔ yě zǒu
These years, alone, the wind has passed, the rain has gone
有过泪 有过错 还记得坚持什么
Yǒu guò lèi yǒu guò cuò hái jìdé jiānchí shénme
There were tears, there were mistakes, still remember what I held on to
真爱过 才会懂 会寂寞 会回首
Zhēn àiguò cái huì dǒng huì jìmò huì huíshǒu
Only after truly loving will you understand loneliness and looking back
终有梦 终有你 在心中
Zhōng yǒu mèng zhōng yǒu nǐ zài xīnzhōng
There will always be dreams, and there will always be you in my heart
朋友 一生一起走 那些日子 不再有
Péngyǒu yìshēng yìqǐ zǒu nàxiē rìzi bù zài yǒu
Friends walk together for a lifetime, those days are gone
一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒
Yí jù huà yí bèizi yìshēng qíng yì bēi jiǔ
One word for a lifetime, a lifetime of friendship, one cup of wine
朋友 不曾孤单过 一声朋友 你会懂
Péngyǒu bùcéng gūdān guò yì shēng péngyǒu nǐ huì dǒng
Friends have never been lonely, one call of “friend,” and you’ll understand
还有伤 还有痛 还要走 还有我
Hái yǒu shāng hái yǒu tòng hái yào zǒu hái yǒu wǒ
There are still wounds, still pain, still a journey ahead, and still me
(Instrumental)
(Repeat lyrics)
(结束)
(Jiéshù)
(End)
Key vocabulary from the song
| Chinese (Simplified) | Pinyin | English Meaning | Notes/Usage Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 朋友 | péngyǒu | Friend | 朋友之间要互相帮助。(Friends should help each other.) |
| 一生 | yìshēng | A lifetime | 他是一生的朋友。(He is a lifelong friend.) |
| 一起 | yìqǐ | Together | 我们一起去旅行吧！(Let’s travel together!) |
| 过去 | guòqù | To pass (time, events) | 这些年已经过去了。(These years have passed.) |
| 还记得 | hái jìdé | Still remember | 你还记得我们的第一次见面吗？(Do you still remember our first meeting?) |
| 坚持 | jiānchí | To persist, to hold on | 坚持自己的梦想。(Hold on to your dreams.) |
| 真爱 | zhēn’ài | True love | 真爱是无价的。(True love is priceless.) |
| 懂 | dǒng | To understand | 你懂我的感受吗？(Do you understand my feelings?) |
| 寂寞 | jìmò | Loneliness | 夜晚的时候我会感到寂寞。(I feel lonely at night.) |
| 梦 | mèng | Dream | 你的梦想是什么？(What is your dream?) |
| 伤 | shāng | Wound, hurt | 他的心里有很多伤。(He has many emotional wounds.) |
| 痛 | tòng | Pain | 失去朋友让我很痛。(Losing a friend is painful.) |
| 走 | zǒu | To walk, to leave | 我们一起走吧！(Let’s walk together!) |
| 一句话 | yí jù huà | A sentence, a word | 他说了一句话让我很感动。(He said something that moved me.) |
| 一杯酒 | yì bēi jiǔ | A glass of wine | 让我们干一杯酒！(Let’s drink a glass of wine!) |
| 孤单 | gūdān | Loneliness, being alone | 我从未感到孤单。(I have never felt lonely.) |
Key sentences from the song
| Chinese (Simplified) | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 这些年 一个人 风也过 雨也走 | Zhèxiē nián yí gè rén fēng yě guò yǔ yě zǒu | These years, alone, the wind has passed, the rain has gone. |
| 有过泪 有过错 还记得坚持什么 | Yǒu guò lèi yǒu guò cuò hái jìdé jiānchí shénme | There were tears, there were mistakes, still remember what I held on to. |
| 真爱过 才会懂 会寂寞 会回首 | Zhēn àiguò cái huì dǒng huì jìmò huì huíshǒu | Only after truly loving will you understand loneliness and looking back. |
| 终有梦 终有你 在心中 | Zhōng yǒu mèng zhōng yǒu nǐ zài xīnzhōng | There will always be dreams, and there will always be you in my heart. |
| 朋友 一生一起走 那些日子 不再有 | Péngyǒu yìshēng yìqǐ zǒu nàxiē rìzi bù zài yǒu | Friends walk together for a lifetime, those days are gone. |
| 一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒 | Yí jù huà yí bèizi yìshēng qíng yì bēi jiǔ | One word for a lifetime, a lifetime of friendship, one cup of wine. |
| 朋友 不曾孤单过 一声朋友 你会懂 | Péngyǒu bùcéng gūdān guò yì shēng péngyǒu nǐ huì dǒng | Friends have never been lonely, one call of “friend,” and you’ll understand. |
| 还有伤 还有痛 还要走 还有我 | Hái yǒu shāng hái yǒu tòng hái yào zǒu hái yǒu wǒ | There are still wounds, still pain, still a journey ahead, and still me. |
Interpretation
Released in 1997, 朋友 (Péngyǒu) is one of the most iconic songs by Wakin Chau (周华健), with lyrics and composition by Liu Siming (刘思铭). It quickly became a beloved anthem about friendship, widely played at graduations, reunions, and farewells.
The song expresses the enduring nature of true friendship, emphasizing that despite life’s challenges – tears, mistakes, and loneliness – friends remain by each other’s side. The lyrics evoke nostalgia, reminding listeners of shared memories and the strength found in companionship.
The repeated lines “一句话 一辈子 一生情 一杯酒” (“One word for a lifetime, a lifetime of friendship, one cup of wine”) symbolize the simplicity yet depth of true bonds. The song reassures that no matter the distance or hardships, friendship is unbreakable.
This song’s lasting popularity stems from its universal message, touching the hearts of many across generations.
Chinese summary
《朋友》是周华健的一首歌，1997年发行。歌曲讲的是朋友之间的感情。无论经历风雨，朋友一直在一起，不会孤单。歌词说朋友会陪伴一生，分享快乐和伤心。即使有痛苦和困难，朋友还是支持彼此。这首歌让人想起过去的美好回忆，也告诉我们要珍惜朋友。
