[English translation] 如寄 - Transient

出品人//Presented by：郭炜炜 (Guo Wei Wei)
制作//Producer：小旭音乐、三个糙汉一个软妹组 (Xiao Xun Music, "San Ge Cao Han Yi Ge Ruan Mei Zu" or "Team of three coarse dudes and one cute chic"
监制//Executive Producer：红尘秘意 (Hong Chen Mi Yi)
策划//Associate producer：忌廉 (Ji Lian)
作词//Lyrics：陆菱纱 (Lu Ling Sha)
演唱//Vocal：萧忆情 (Xiao Yi Qing)
作曲/编曲/混音//Composer/Arrangement/Mixing：小旭音乐 (Xiao Xun Music) ——Tureleon


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一路大雪纷飞 踏上归程

门外几株桃枝 宛若故人

雪中你眉眼如旧 唇角笑意深

一句问候却微微颤着声

A snowy blizzard graced the path of my returning journey

The few peach blossom branches outdoor, reminders of one I knew

In the snow, your features remained as old, the corner of your lips drew a deep smile

Yet your greeting voice trembled ever so slightly

听你温柔细数 清闲平生

笑我两鬓华发 消瘦几分

只捧起陈年的酒 又一杯满斟

这口酒竟比风雪还要冷

I listened to gentle recollections of your uneventful life

You laughed at my graying hair, and how I’ve grown a few rounds thinner

I lifted the aged wine, and filled my cup whole

This wine turned out colder than the winds and snow

是不是再多念想捱不过时光利刃

终究化成寒暄三两声

那一年相伴相护的承诺 散作了浮尘

负尽少年心 也未曾负过你深恩

Is it true that no matter how much our longings, it cannot outlast the blade of time

Alas turning into mere greetings and pleasantries 

The promise that we’ll be there for each other that year had dispersed like floating dust 

I may forsake my youth, but never my deepest gratitude to you

如今刀尖造梦 功名渐成

难逃俗世纷争 飘摇红尘

多少次闹市擦肩 将身影错认

灯火阑珊处心似座荒城

Now with my blade I’ve realized my dreams, my success and fame coming to fruition

Worldly trifles proved inescapable, lost in mortal’s dust, I wavered

Countless times in market squares I’ve brushed shoulders with strangers, and mistook them for you

Under the dim lights, my heart is but a city deserted

问你经年孤身 又为谁等

却答无心吟歌 琴案蒙尘

轻声叹人不如新 抚眉间折痕

说不忍看我沧桑的眼神

I asked, having endured solitude for years, who have you been waiting for 

But you answered that you had no will to sing, that your zither stand had gathered dust

then softly lamented that people change, caressing the creases between my brows

and said you couldn’t bear the sight of my world-worn eyes

听人说后来我们都变成江湖传闻

茶楼酒肆里说完一生

你只道昔年情谊皆封存 何必有悔恨

愿前路安稳 不再为旧事执念深

I heard we’d become the talk of legends

In tea houses and taverns, had our life stories told

You only say our affections of yesteryears had been sealed away, why the need for bitter regrets

Wishing us a steady road ahead, no longer deep in obsessions over the past

回望你执伞伫立雪纷纷 黯然失魂

剑上新穗还留有余温

你知我一心向江湖而生 终为江湖困

人间本如寄 此一生再也无归程

I glanced back at you, standing despondently with an umbrella in the falling snow

My sword tassel carries your warmth still

You knew my heart was destined for worldliness, and in worldliness I was trapped alas

Mortal life had always been transient, and in this life there can only be no return

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Translator's note:

So this song is the continuation of my previously translated song "Snow between brows" or "Frosted Brows" (which I think is a more elegant translation of the title - credits to youtuber Taigektou, you guys should really check out their instrumentals, they're amazing.) Alternative translations include "Fading" or "Journey", at least those that I've come across. The reason they're so different is because it is hard to find that precise word to describe its meaning.

The phrase "如寄" came from a verse written by Cao Pi (曹丕) during the Late Han till Wei Dynasty in his "善哉行". It's original verse is "人生如寄，多忧何为", the gist of it is: "we are like guest in this mortal life, our stay is impermanent, so why all the worries?" 

Hence “如寄” literally means "like a guest", which also emphasize the transience of mortal existence (hence my choice of the title). 

Back to the story. So in the previous song, from the master's point of view, her disciple was portrayed as one who has left her behind to pursue his dreams. In this song, the disciple is shown to have regretted his neglect of his loving master. He yearns for reunification, but by chance and fate he could not find her. Whether he eventually found her many years later, or that it was an imaginary reunion, I'm uncertain. 

There's also another verse referencing a well-known poem. "Under the dim lights, my heart is but a city deserted." The excerpt from the original poem (词/ci) is from Xing Qiji's (辛弃疾) "青玉案"

"众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首，那人却在灯火阑珊处。"

"Searching high and low in the crowds for that person, I looked back, and that person had been standing under the dim lantern lights." 

(This is a really rough translation of the classical poem, but you get my point.)

Even under the dim lights, he could not find his master, hence his immense sense of loss is comparable to a deserted city.

So that's it for now. Hope you guys enjoy the song!