Who... (Chinese version) - Translation Collaboration and Lyrics discussion

[jon_the_d]

In this thread I want us to work together to try to translate the Chinese version of Who...

If you haven't heard it yet, go here. (The scan of the lyrics in the booklet can be found in that thread too.)

Firstly, here are the original Chinese lyrics (simplified chinese, for traditional, see the scan in the thread linked above^)

Spoiler:

uh- la la la...

最难以渡过谁陪我 陪著我一直不放手
当泪流在眼眸 是谁让我依靠诉说?
有了快乐欢笑时候 和谁享受?
曾有过和我双手紧紧握 是谁?
全都想起在我心里头

我和你分开两端 别离渡过的夜晚
只见月娘在天边 泪一点一滴流
我和你分开两端 别离渡过的夜晚
只见月娘在天边 泪一直流

真的坚强 怎样才对 让我心明白的人那是谁?
又曾是谁 温柔以对 那感觉让我有体会?
有了谁 让我才会 开始想迈步去追?
希望谁 手指放我发间 轻轻抚慰?
是谁有 耐心守著陪著我 不放弃念头?
这我不忘一直放心中

我曾有 没有方向迷路的时候
也有过 长路漫漫那种感受
只能够 喃喃自语地对自己说
就这样没有什么...

但愿今天到永久 祈祷这歌声能够
能传到你左右 在你身边停留
但愿今天到永久 祈祷这歌声能够
能传到你左右 陪你停留

但愿今天到永久 祈祷这歌声能够
能传到你左右 在你身边停留
但愿今天到永久 祈祷这歌声能够
能传到你左右 陪你停留

ha-a-a-

There have been several efforts so far and I thought it would be good to discuss our differences of opinion and try to work out the best translation possible.

We can also discuss the meaning of the song, as some parts are a bit vague to say the least.

As we work on it, I will update this first post with our combined effort for the completed translation.

To start with I'll put what I have come up with here for people to look at.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LYRICS!!!
original/english/pinyin(romaji)
ALL HERE!!!


Song translation: Translated as a SONG. the order and rhythm is intact. singable!

Spoiler:

uh- la la la...

In the hard times who’ll be with me, hold my hand and not let it go
When tears are in my eyes, who can make me speak honestly?
In the times of joy and laughter, who do I want?
The one to always take my hand, and hold tight, was who?
All of this I think of in my heart

Me and you split into two, on that night we spent apart
Watching the moon in the sky, my tears fell drop by drop
Me and you split into two, on that night we spent apart
Watching the moon in the sky, my tears just flowed

To find true strength, to know what’s right, the one who helped me understand was who?
And it was who, showed me kindness, that feeling let me understand?
Having who, let me at last, begin to want to follow?
I hope who, will softly stroke my hair, soothing gently?
And who has, patiently stayed beside me, never giving up?
I won’t forget, it’s kept in my heart.

I have had, times I was directionless and lost,
And I’ve had, the feeling that the road’s too hard,
but I just, start to mutter and say to myself
just like this, this is nothing…

from now until forever, I will pray that this song can,
can reach you where you are, and always stay with you
from now until forever, I will pray that this song can,
can reach you where you are, and stay with you

from now until forever, I will pray that this song can,
can reach you where you are, and always stay with you
from now until forever, I will pray that this song can,
can reach you where you are, and stay with you

ha-a-a-

Pure Translation: Trying to be as close as possible to the pure meaning of the words.

Spoiler:

uh- la la la...

Who’ll stay with me through the most difficult times, stay with me and not let me go.
Who is it that makes me speak the truth, when tears are in my eyes?
Who do I wish to share the times of joy and laughter with?
Who has always held my hand, gripping tightly?
All this I think of in my heart.

Me and you split into two, that night we spent apart
just seeing the moon* on the horizon, my tears fell drop by drop
Me and you split into two, that night we spent apart
just seeing the moon* on the horizon, my tears didn’t stop

True strength, which way is right, who was it who let me understand my heart?
Who was tender to me, and let me experience that feeling?
Who made me be able to want to follow someone?
Who do I hope will run their fingers through my hair, gently soothing me?
Who has patiently stayed with me, never giving up?
I won’t forget, it’s always in my heart.

I have had times when I was directionless and lost
And I've had the feeling that the road is too hard
All I can do, is mutter to myself
“It’s nothing”

From now until forever, I pray this song can
Can reach you where you are, and stay with you
From now until forever, I pray this song can
Can reach you where you are, and stay with you

From now until forever, I pray this song can
Can reach you where you are, and stay with you
From now until forever, I pray this song can
Can reach you where you are, and stay with you

ha-a-a-

[truehappiness]

(Brackets are elaborations)

Who accompanied me during the hard times and not let go?
Who will listen to me when my tears are falling?
Who will come and share happiness with me when I'm happy?
Who was there that held hands tightly with me before?

You and I have been separated into two places (worlds, countries, etc)
During those nights that we were separated
We can only see the woman of the moon (The moon is considered to be a woman in Chinese culture)
With our tears falling down
You and I have been separated into two places (worlds, countries, etc)
During those nights that we were separated
We can only see the woman of the moon (The moon is considered to be a woman in Chinese culture)
With our tears continuing to fall

Who was the one who taught me true strength?
Who was the one that made me feel tenderness?
Whom did I want to pursue (chase after slowly)?
Whom did I want to comfort me?
Who has not given up?
I will never forget (place it into my heart)

I have never lost my way as well as the feeling of a long journey/stroll (The thoughts and so on)
Because of this, I can only speak to myself
That's the way that things are... (for some reason, she puts “nothing” aka meiyou shenme at the end.. anyone care to add?)

From today until eternity,
I pray that this singing voice will reach you and stay with you
From today until eternity,
I pray that this singing voice will reach you and stay with you

From today until eternity,
I pray that this singing voice will reach you and stay with you
From today until eternity,
I pray that this singing voice will reach you and stay with you

This is my parents' collaboration after reading the lyrics like a few times. They admitted that some parts were kind of strange, like her "Nothing" after "that's how things are" and the line about her having been lost and not being lost.. my parents addressed that it was possible to mistranslate depending on who was translating and if they didn't have enough of a grasp of Chinese, or didn't think "hard enough", it'd be mistranslated.

It's definitely almost a direct translation of the Japanese one though except for like certain portions.

[kiseki89]

曾有过和我双手紧紧握 是谁?.. interesting way of phrasing...

jon_the_d: wow you even hanyupinying them...
The lyrics for the chorus... I love both versions - the Complete and Tour version

[alternarist]

well.. i feel that the lyrics has some parts that are defintiely awkward. But i feel that the majority meaning of the song is still there.. Well, we cant expect a Japanese song to be transformed to a Chinese song, that is singable and has 100% the original meaning maintained.

So for this effort, i feel that it's already a good job..

[shippo]

I guess we need the romaji lyrics here...

[truehappiness]

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcszp7w6_17tdw7zdv the "romaji" aka pinyin are right here.

[truehappiness]

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcszp7w6_17tdw7zdv

The "romaji" aka pinyin are right here. He linked to it in his first post. jontheD, make it BIG in the first post so people know that it's a link to it instead of saying "hi its over here." It tends to go over people's heads otherwise.

[jon_the_d]

Thanks truehappiness...is that better now?

right, let's go through the song from top to bottom...the first bit I am unclear about is:
是谁让我依靠诉说
是谁 = who (is it that...)
让我 = let's me/makes me
依靠 = reliably/dependably
诉说 = tell/relate
I translated this as "who makes me speak honestly."

are we generally agreed on this one? any other suggestions?