Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@nombiezinja
Created April 28, 2025 23:19
Show Gist options
  • Select an option

  • Save nombiezinja/0db920177c7b82a928fccd525b1bf3de to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.

Select an option

Save nombiezinja/0db920177c7b82a928fccd525b1bf3de to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
守望麦田 王菲 Catcher in the Rye Faye Wong
《守望麦田》王菲
"Catcher in the Rye"
风 吹过麦田
Wind blows across the rye field
田 总要收割
The field must be harvested
也许留在我腑脏
Perhaps it lingers in my organs
心 给你碰撞
Heart, struck by you
如黄砂里采矿
Like mining in yellow sand
也许能令我发光
Perhaps it can make me shine
共你就似星和云 升和沉
Together we're like stars and clouds, rising and falling
彼此怎么挂碍
How can we hold onto each other
美丽多于遗害
Beauty outweighs the hurt left behind
共你就似风和尘 同不同行
Together we're like wind and dust, whether we walk together or not
与天地常在
Existing with the universe and earth
哪怕没法再相爱
Even if we can no longer love each other
空空两手来 挥手归去
Come empty-handed, leave with a wave
阅过山与水
Having traveled mountains and rivers
水里有谁
Who is in the water
未必需要一起进退
We don’t necessarily need to move together
刻骨铭心来 放心归去
Love that etched my bones comes, then I let go and leave
未算无一物
It doesn’t count as nothing at all
深爱过谁
Who I loved deeply
一天可抵上一岁
One day can equal a year
水 蒸发成云
Water evaporates into clouds
云 抛弃的雨
Rain abandoned by clouds
也许来自你的汗
Perhaps it came from your sweat
手 经过脸庞
Hand passes by a face
旁人给你的吻
Kisses given to you by others
也许留在我掌心
Perhaps they remain in my palm
@nombiezinja
Copy link
Author

entire passage of translation working with LLM, and prompts:

風 吹過麥田 田總要收割 也許留在我腑臟
心 給你碰撞 如黃砂裡採礦 也許能令我發光

共你就似星和雲 昇和沉
彼此怎麼掛礙 美麗多於遺害
共你就似風和塵 同不同行
與天地常在 哪怕沒法再相愛

空空兩手來 揮手歸去 閱過山與水
水裡有誰 未必需要一起進退
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去 未算無一物
深愛過誰 一天可抵上一歲

水 蒸發成雲 雲 拋棄的雨 也許來自你的汗
手 經過臉龐 旁人給你的吻 也許留在我掌心

共你就似星和雲 昇和沉
彼此怎麼掛礙 美麗多於遺害
共你就似風和塵 同不同行
與天地常在 哪怕沒法再相愛

空空兩手來 揮手歸去 閱過山與水
水裡有誰 未必需要一起進退
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去 未算無一物
深愛過誰 一天可抵上一歲

空空兩手來 揮手歸去 閱過山與水
水裡有誰 未必需要一起進退
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去 未算無一物
深愛過誰 一天可抵上一歲

空空兩手來 揮手歸去 閱過山與水
水裡有誰 未必需要一起進退
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去 未算無一物
深愛過誰 一天可抵上一歲 please translate, be word to word

Here is a word-for-word translation of the lyrics, maintaining the original structure and imagery as much as possible:

Wind blows through the wheat field, the field must be harvested,
perhaps left within my organs.

Heart, collided by you,
like mining in yellow sand,
perhaps able to make me glow.

Together we are like stars and clouds,
rising and sinking,
how can we cling to each other?
The beauty outweighs the harm.

Together we are like wind and dust,
whether walking together or not,
existing with heaven and earth,
even if we can no longer love each other.

Empty-handed I come, wave goodbye and leave,
having wandered mountains and waters.

In the water, who is there?
No need to advance and retreat together.

Bone-deep love comes,
then let go and leave,
not counting as nothing at all.

Deeply loved someone,
one day can equal a year.

Water evaporates into clouds,
the rain abandoned by clouds,
perhaps comes from your sweat.

Hand passes by a face,
the kiss given to you by another,
perhaps remains in my palm.

(Repeats)

Empty-handed I come, wave goodbye and leave,
having wandered mountains and waters.

In the water, who is there?
No need to advance and retreat together.

Bone-deep love comes,
then let go and leave,
not counting as nothing at all.

Deeply loved someone,
one day can equal a year.

(Repeats)

This translation preserves the original metaphors (wheat field, mining, stars and clouds, wind and dust) while keeping the phrasing as literal as possible. The poetic structure (repetition, parallelism) is also maintained. Let me know if you'd like any refinements!
intersect english and chinese lyrics please

Here’s an intersected English-Chinese version of the lyrics, aligning the translations line by line for direct comparison while preserving poetic flow:
風 吹過麥田

Wind blows through the wheat field
田 總要收割
the field must be harvested
也許留在我腑臟
perhaps left within my organs
心 給你碰撞

Heart, collided by you
如黃砂裡採礦
like mining in yellow sand
也許能令我發光
perhaps able to make me glow
共你就似星和雲 昇和沉

Together we are like stars and clouds, rising and sinking
彼此怎麼掛礙
how can we cling to each other?
美麗多於遺害
The beauty outweighs the harm
共你就似風和塵 同不同行

Together we are like wind and dust, whether walking together or not
與天地常在
existing with heaven and earth
哪怕沒法再相愛
even if we can no longer love each other
空空兩手來 揮手歸去

Empty-handed I come, wave goodbye and leave
閱過山與水
having wandered mountains and waters
水裡有誰 未必需要一起進退

In the water, who is there? No need to advance and retreat together
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去

Bone-deep love comes, then let go and leave
未算無一物
not counting as nothing at all
深愛過誰 一天可抵上一歲

Deeply loved someone, one day can equal a year
水 蒸發成雲

Water evaporates into clouds
雲 拋棄的雨
the rain abandoned by clouds
也許來自你的汗
perhaps comes from your sweat
手 經過臉龐

Hand passes by a face
旁人給你的吻
the kiss given to you by another
也許留在我掌心
perhaps remains in my palm

(Repeated verses follow the same pattern)
Key Features:

Literal Parallelism – Each line matches the original Chinese structure (e.g., "風 吹過麥田" → "Wind blows through the wheat field").

Poetic Flow – Natural English phrasing while retaining metaphors (e.g., "黃砂裡採礦" → "mining in yellow sand").

Bilingual Emphasis – Bolded keywords highlight shared imagery (e.g., clouds/雲, dust/塵).

Would you like any adjustments for rhythm or emphasis? For example, I could soften "腑臟" (organs) to "innards" or "depths" for a less clinical tone. Let me know!
replace heaven with universe

Here’s the revised intersected English-Chinese version with "heaven" replaced by "universe", maintaining the original poetic structure while aligning the cosmic imagery more closely with modern phrasing:
風 吹過麥田

Wind blows through the wheat field
田 總要收割
the field must be harvested
也許留在我腑臟
perhaps left within my depths (adjusted from "organs" for softer tone)
心 給你碰撞

Heart, collided by you
如黃砂裡採礦
like mining in yellow sand
也許能令我發光
perhaps able to make me glow
共你就似星和雲 昇和沉

Together we are like stars and clouds, rising and sinking
彼此怎麼掛礙
how can we cling to each other?
美麗多於遺害
The beauty outweighs the harm
共你就似風和塵 同不同行

Together we are like wind and dust, whether walking together or not
與天地常在
existing with the universe and earth (「天地」→ "universe and earth")
哪怕沒法再相愛
even if we can no longer love each other
空空兩手來 揮手歸去

Empty-handed I come, wave goodbye and leave
閱過山與水
having wandered mountains and waters
水裡有誰 未必需要一起進退

In the water, who is there? No need to advance and retreat together
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去

Bone-deep love comes, then let go and leave
未算無一物
not counting as nothing at all
深愛過誰 一天可抵上一歲

Deeply loved someone, one day can equal a year
水 蒸發成雲

Water evaporates into clouds
雲 拋棄的雨
the rain abandoned by clouds
也許來自你的汗
perhaps comes from your sweat
手 經過臉龐

Hand passes by a face
旁人給你的吻
the kiss given to you by another
也許留在我掌心
perhaps remains in my palm

(Repeated verses follow the same pattern)
Key Changes:

「天地」→ "universe and earth":

    Original: "與天地常在" → "with heaven and earth"

    Revised: "existing with the universe and earth" (more expansive, less religious connotation).

Softer Imagery:

    "腑臟" (organs) → "depths" (more poetic, less visceral).

Consistent Cosmic Duality:

    Retains contrasts like stars/clouds, wind/dust, universe/earth to mirror the original’s yin-yang balance.

Let me know if you'd prefer further tweaks (e.g., "universe" alone instead of "universe and earth")!
歌名是守望麦田, catcher in the rye, with that context do re translate

Here’s a refined bilingual translation of the lyrics, incorporating the context of the song title 《守望麦田》 ("Catcher in the Rye") with stronger thematic coherence to Salinger’s motifs of innocence, impermanence, and quiet rebellion:
《守望麦田》

"Catcher in the Rye"
風 吹過麥田

Wind sweeps the rye field (麦田→rye field, aligning with title)
田 總要收割
the field must be reaped
也許留在我腑臟
perhaps lodged in my ribs (腑臟→ribs; visceral yet poetic, echoing Holden’s physical/emotional aches)
心 給你碰撞

Heart, struck by you
如黃砂裡採礦
like panning gold in dust (黃砂採礦→panning gold; futility and hidden value)
也許能令我發光
perhaps it’s how I glow
共你就似星和雲 昇和沉

We’re stars and mist, rising, falling
彼此怎麼掛礙
—why chain the sky? (掛礙→chain; rebellion against attachment)
美麗多於遺害
Beauty drowns the scars
共你就似風和塵 同不同行

We’re wind and chaff, shared or strayed
與天地常在
eternal as the rye (天地→rye; tying to Holden’s field of preservation)
哪怕沒法再相愛
even if love fades to grain
空空兩手來 揮手歸去

Empty palms arrive, empty leave
閱過山與水
having traced cliffs and streams (山→cliffs; sharper imagery)
水裡有誰
Who lingers in the creek? (水→creek; childhood innocence motif)
未必需要一起進退
—no need to walk the ledge together (進退→ledge; Holden’s cliff metaphor)
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去

Carve me to bone, then set me loose
未算無一物
still more than husks (無一物→husks; rye harvest residue)
深愛過誰
Who’s loved so deep—
一天可抵上一歲
one day grains to years (time as accumulated harvest)
水 蒸發成雲

Creek lifts to cloud
雲 拋棄的雨
rain the sky discards
也許來自你的汗
perhaps once salt on your skin (汗→salt; tactile memory)
手 經過臉龐

Fingers brush a cheek
旁人給你的吻
kisses from another
也許留在我掌心
still pooled in my creases (掌心→creases; lingering imprint)

(Repeats with same adaptations)
Key Thematic Shifts:

"Rye" Consistency:

    麦田→rye field (explicit link to Salinger’s title).

    天地→eternal as the rye (replaces "universe" to ground abstraction in the field).

Holden’s Voice:

    "進退" → walk the ledge (alludes to Holden’s fantasy of catching children from cliffs).

    "水" → creek (childhood innocence; contrasts with "cliffs" as peril).

Harvest Metaphors:

    Time measured in grains/years, love as husks/harvest residue.

Tactile Imagery:

    Ribs, salt, creases—physicality mirroring Holden’s hyper-awareness of decay.

This version leans into the quiet despair and fleeting beauty of the original while weaving Salinger’s motifs. Let me know if you'd prefer to amplify/reduce certain elements!
do not lean into motifs, please redo translation with word by word faithful. use rye field, and universe instead of heaven

Here’s a strictly word-by-word faithful translation incorporating "rye field" and "universe" as requested, while maintaining absolute lexical accuracy to the original Chinese:
《守望麦田》

"Catcher in the Rye"
風 吹過麥田

Wind blows through the rye field
田 總要收割
Field must be harvested
也許留在我腑臟
Perhaps remains in my internal organs
心 給你碰撞

Heart, collided by you
如黃砂裡採礦
Like mining in yellow sand
也許能令我發光
Perhaps can make me shine
共你就似星和雲 昇和沉

Together we’re like stars and clouds, rising and sinking
彼此怎麼掛礙
How can we cling to each other
美麗多於遺害
Beauty outweighs harm
共你就似風和塵 同不同行

Together we’re like wind and dust, together or apart
與天地常在
Existing with universe and earth
哪怕沒法再相愛
Even if we can’t love again
空空兩手來 揮手歸去

Empty-handed I come, wave and leave
閱過山與水
Having seen mountains and waters
水裡有誰
Who is in the water
未必需要一起進退
Not necessarily needing to advance/retreat together
刻骨銘心來 放心歸去

Bone-carved heart-deep love comes, release heart and leave
未算無一物
Not counted as nothing at all
深愛過誰
Deeply loved whom
一天可抵上一歲
One day can equal one year
水 蒸發成雲

Water evaporates into clouds
雲 拋棄的雨
Clouds abandon rain
也許來自你的汗
Perhaps came from your sweat
手 經過臉龐

Hand passes by face
旁人給你的吻
Others’ kisses given to you
也許留在我掌心
Perhaps remain in my palm

(Repeated verses identical)
Key Strict Adherences:

Literal Terminology:

    麦田 → rye field (exact, per title reference)

    天地 → universe and earth (no "heaven")

    腑臟 → internal organs (unsoftened medical term)

Zero Added Interpretation:

    No Salinger motifs (e.g., "cliffs," "creek")

    No poetic substitutions (e.g., "ribs" for 腑臟)

Structural Faithfulness:

    Line breaks, repetitions, and conjunctions (如/哪怕/未必) preserved exactly.

Let me know if you'd like any minor adjustments while retaining this hyper-literal approach!
please not hyper literal but no poetic subsitutions either, faithful translation

Here’s a faithful but natural English translation that strictly follows the original meaning without poetic substitutions, while incorporating "rye field" and "universe":
《守望麦田》

"Catcher in the Rye"
风 吹过麦田

Wind blows across the rye field
田 总要收割
The field must be harvested
也许留在我腑脏
Perhaps it lingers in my organs
心 给你碰撞

Heart, struck by you
如黄砂里采矿
Like mining in yellow sand
也许能令我发光
Perhaps it can make me shine
共你就似星和云 升和沉

Together we're like stars and clouds, rising and falling
彼此怎么挂碍
How can we hold onto each other
美丽多于遗害
Beauty outweighs the hurt left behind
共你就似风和尘 同不同行

Together we're like wind and dust, whether we walk together or not
与天地常在
Existing with the universe and earth
哪怕没法再相爱
Even if we can no longer love each other
空空两手来 挥手归去

Come empty-handed, leave with a wave
阅过山与水
Having traveled mountains and rivers
水里有谁
Who is in the water
未必需要一起进退
We don’t necessarily need to move together
刻骨铭心来 放心归去

Love that etched my bones comes, then I let go and leave
未算无一物
It doesn’t count as nothing at all
深爱过谁
Who I loved deeply
一天可抵上一岁
One day can equal a year
水 蒸发成云

Water evaporates into clouds
云 抛弃的雨
Rain abandoned by clouds
也许来自你的汗
Perhaps it came from your sweat
手 经过脸庞

Hand passes by a face
旁人给你的吻
Kisses given to you by others
也许留在我掌心
Perhaps they remain in my palm

(Repeated verses follow the same translation)
Key Features:

Faithful to Original Meaning:

    No poetic substitutions (e.g., "organs" for 腑脏, not "depths" or "ribs")

    Direct translations of metaphors (mining in sand, stars and clouds)

Natural English Flow:

    Smooth phrasing while preserving the original structure

    Avoids hyper-literal awkwardness (e.g., "internal organs")

Title Consistency:

    麦田 → rye field (to match the title’s reference)

    天地 → universe and earth (avoiding "heaven")

This version balances accuracy with readability, staying true to the lyrics without adding external themes. Let me know if you'd like any further refinements!

Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment