Singer: Ronghao Li 李荣浩
Title: Nian Shao You Wei 年少有为
English Title: If I were young (being successful and accomplished at a young age.)
Lyrics / Pinyin / English Translation:
电视一直闪
diànshì yīzhí shǎn
The TV keeps flickering
联络方式都还没删
liánluò fāngshì dōu hái méi shān
I haven’t even deleted our contact information
你待我的好
nǐ duì wǒ de hǎo
The kindness you showed me
我却错手毁掉
wǒ què cuò shǒu huǐ diào
I ruined it with my careless hands
也曾一起想
yě céng yīqǐ xiǎng
We once dreamed together
有个地方睡觉吃饭
yǒu gè dìfāng shuìjiào chīfàn
Of having a place to sleep and eat
可怎么去熬日夜颠倒连头款也凑不到
kě zěnme qù áo rìyè diāndǎo lián tóu kuǎn yě còu bù dào
But how to endure the upside-down days when we couldn’t even gather the down payment
墙板 被我砸烂 到现在还没修
qiáng bǎn bèi wǒ zá làn dào xiànzài hái méi xiū
The wall panel was smashed by me, and hasn’t been repaired until now
一碗热的粥 你怕我没够 都留一半带走
yī wǎn rè de zhōu nǐ pà wǒ méi gòu dōu liú yī bàn dài zǒu
A bowl of hot porridge, you were worried I wouldn’t have enough, so you left half for me to take
给你形容 美好今后你常常眼睛会红
gěi nǐ xíngróng měihǎo jīnhòu nǐ chángcháng yǎnjīng huì hóng
I describe to you how beautiful the future is, and you often end up with red eyes
原来心疼我 我那时候不懂
yuánlái xīnténg wǒ wǒ nà shíhòu bù dǒng
You were actually heartbroken for me, but I didn’t understand back then
假如我年少有为不自卑
jiǎrú wǒ niánshào yǒuwéi bù zìbēi
If only I had been successful and confident when I was young
懂得什么是珍贵
dǒngdé shénme shì zhēnguì
And knew what was truly valuable
那些美梦
nàxiē měimèng
Those beautiful dreams
没给你 我一生有愧
méi gěi nǐ wǒ yīshēng yǒu kuì
I never gave them to you, and I will always feel guilty
假如我年少有为 知进退
jiǎrú wǒ niánshào yǒuwéi zhī jìntuì
If only I had been successful and known when to advance and retreat
才不会让你替我受罪
cái bù huì ràng nǐ tì wǒ shòu zuì
I wouldn’t have made you suffer for my mistakes
婚礼上 多喝几杯
hūnlǐ shàng duō hē jǐ bēi
At the wedding, drink a few more glasses
和你现在那位
hé nǐ xiànzài nà wèi
With the person you’re with now
也曾一起想
yě céng yīqǐ xiǎng
We once dreamed together
有个地方睡觉吃饭
yǒu gè dìfāng shuìjiào chīfàn
Of having a place to sleep and eat
可怎么去熬日夜颠倒连头款也凑不到
kě zěnme qù áo rìyè diāndǎo lián tóu kuǎn yě còu bù dào
But how to endure the upside-down days when we couldn’t even gather the down payment
墙板 被我砸烂 到现在还没修
qiáng bǎn bèi wǒ zá làn dào xiànzài hái méi xiū
The wall panel was smashed by me, and hasn’t been repaired until now
一碗热的粥 你怕我没够 都留一半带走
yī wǎn rè de zhōu nǐ pà wǒ méi gòu dōu liú yī bàn dài zǒu
A bowl of hot porridge, you were worried I wouldn’t have enough, so you left half for me to take
给你形容 美好今后你常常眼睛会红
gěi nǐ xíngróng měihǎo jīnhòu nǐ chángcháng yǎnjīng huì hóng
I describe to you how beautiful the future is, and you often end up with red eyes
原来心疼我 我那时候不懂
yuánlái xīnténg wǒ wǒ nà shíhòu bù dǒng
You were actually heartbroken for me, but I didn’t understand back then
假如我年少有为不自卑
jiǎrú wǒ niánshào yǒuwéi bù zìbēi
If only I had been successful and confident when I was young
懂得什么是珍贵
dǒngdé shénme shì zhēnguì
And knew what was truly valuable
那些美梦
nàxiē měimèng
Those beautiful dreams
没给你 我一生有愧
méi gěi nǐ wǒ yīshēng yǒu kuì
I never gave them to you, and I will always feel guilty
假如我年少有为 知进退
jiǎrú wǒ niánshào yǒuwéi zhī jìntuì
If only I had been successful and known when to advance and retreat
才不会让你替我受罪
cái bù huì ràng nǐ tì wǒ shòu zuì
I wouldn’t have made you suffer for my mistakes
婚礼上 多喝几杯
hūnlǐ shàng duō hē jǐ bēi
At the wedding, drink a few more glasses
和你现在那位
hé nǐ xiànzài nà wèi
With the person you’re with now
假如我年少有为不自卑
jiǎrú wǒ niánshào yǒuwéi bù zìbēi
If only I had been successful and confident when I was young
尝过后悔的滋味
chángguò hòuhuǐ de zīwèi
Tasted the bitterness of regret
金钱地位
jīnqián dìwèi
Money and status
搏到了却好想退回
bó dào le què hǎo xiǎng tuì huí
I fought for them, but now I just want to go back
假如我年少有为 知进退
jiǎrú wǒ niánshào yǒuwéi zhī jìntuì
If only I had been successful and known when to advance and retreat
才不会让你替我受罪
cái bù huì ràng nǐ tì wǒ shòu zuì
I wouldn’t have made you suffer for my mistakes
婚礼上 多喝几杯
hūnlǐ shàng duō hē jǐ bēi
At the wedding, drink a few more glasses
和你现在那位
hé nǐ xiànzài nà wèi
With the person you’re with now
在婚礼上 多喝几杯
zài hūnlǐ shàng duō hē jǐ bēi
At the wedding, drink a few more glasses
祝我年少有为
zhù wǒ niánshào yǒuwéi
Wish me to have been successful when I was young
About the song
“If I were young” is my most favorite Ronghao Li of all-time, no doubt.
The song reflects on regret, missed opportunities, and self-reflection. The narrator thinks about how they could have been more successful and not let their mistakes ruin a relationship. They lament not being confident enough, not understanding the value of love and dreams at a younger age, and wish they had made better choices, particularly in their love life.
The song expresses deep sorrow for how things turned out and an understanding of the pain they caused to someone they care about.
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