The Ordinary Road by Pu Shu: lyrics, pinyin, translation | 平凡之路 by 朴树 (Ping Fan Zhi Lu) 歌詞翻譯10 min read

See below for The Ordinary Road by Pu Shu: lyrics, pinyin and English translation! (aka 平凡之路  Ping Fan Zhi Lu by 朴树 Pu Shu)

  • Lyrics by Han Han
  • Music by Pu Shu
  • Sung by Pu Shu

Pu Shu’s “Ordinary Road” is definitely a standout among the usual Manodpop fare. It has a neo-folk style, a laid back beat, and deeply thought-provoking lyrics describing the emptiness of fame/fortune and the importance of, as the title states, “walking the ordinary road.” 

Pu Shu was born and raised in China and became a singer in the 90s. After taking a break from the music scene for over a decade, “The Ordinary Road” is his first song in 11 years. It is the theme song for the Chinese road trip comedy movie “The Continent” (後會無期/Hòu huì wúqí).

Original Lyrics / Pinyin / Translation

徘徊著的 在路上的
pái huái zhe de zài lù shàng de
Those who are wandering, those who are on the road
你要走嗎 via via
nǐ yào zǒu ma via via
You want to go? (Are you going?) Via, via

易碎的 驕傲著
yì suì de jiāo’àozhe
Fragile ones, Proud ones
那也曾是我的模樣
nà yě céng shì wǒ de múyàng
That was also my appearance, once

沸騰著的 不安著的
fèiténgzhe de bù’ānzhe de
Furious ones, uneasy ones
你要去哪 via via
nǐ yào qù nǎ via via
Where are you going? Via, via

謎一樣的 沉默著的
mí yīyàng de chénmòzhe de
Mysterious ones, silent ones
故事 你真的 在聽嗎
gùshì nǐ zhēn de zài tīng ma
Are you actually listening to the story?

CHORUS 1

我 曾經 跨過 山和大海
wǒ céngjīng kuàguò shān hé dàhǎi
I’ve crossed mountains and seas
也 穿過 人山人海
yě chuānguò rénshānrénhǎi
And gone through crowds of people
我曾經擁有著一切
wǒ céngjīng yǒngyǒuzhe yīqiè
I once had everything
轉眼都飄散如煙
zhuǎnyǎn dōu piāosàn rú yān
But in the blink of an eye, it disappeared like smoke
我曾經 失落 失望 失掉 所有方向
wǒ céngjīng shīluò shīwàng shīdiào suǒyǒu fāngxiàng
I’ve been lost, disappointed, lost my sense of direction
直到看見平凡才是唯一的答案
zhídào kànjiàn píngfán cái shì wéiyī de dá’àn
Until (I) saw that “ordinary” is the only answer

當你仍然 還在幻想
dāng nǐ réngrán hái zài huànxiǎng
When you’re still fantasizing
你的明天 via via
nǐ de míngtiān via via
(about) your tomorrow, via via
它會好嗎 還是更爛
tā huì hǎo ma háishì gèng làn
Will it be better? Or worse?
對我而言是另一天
duì wǒ ér yán shì lìng yītiān
To me, it’s another day

CHORUS 2

我曾經毀了我的一切 只想永遠地離開
wǒ céngjīng huǐle wǒ de yīqiè zhǐ xiǎng yǒngyuǎn dì líkāi
I’ve destroyed all I had, wanting to leave forever
我曾經墮入無邊黑暗 想掙扎無法自拔
wǒ céngjīng duò rù wúbiān hēi’àn xiǎng zhēngzhá wúfǎ zìbá
I’ve fallen into boundless darkness, wanted to fight, unable to extricate myself
我曾經像你像他像那野草野花
wǒ céngjīng xiàng nǐ xiàng tā xiàng nà yěcǎo yěhuā
I’ve been like you, like him, like the wild grass and flowers
絕望著 渴望著 也哭也笑也平凡著
juéwàngzhe kěwàngzhe kūzhe xiàozhe píngfánzhe
Despairing, longing, crying, laughing, ordinary

向前走 就這麼走 就算你被給過什麼
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ bèi gěiguò shénme
Keep on walking, like this, even if something has been given to you
向前走 就這麼走 就算你被奪走什麼
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ bèi duó zǒu shénme
Keep on walking, like this, even if something has been taken from you
向前走 就這麼走 就算你會錯過什麼
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ huì cuòguò shénme
Keep on walking, like this, even if you’ve missed something
向前走 就這麼走 就算你會
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ huì
Keep on walking, just like this, even if you will…

[Repeat CHORUS 1, 2]

我 曾經 跨過 山和大海
wǒ céngjīng kuàguò shān hé dàhǎi
I’ve crossed mountains and seas
也 穿過 人山人海
yě chuānguò rénshānrénhǎi
And gone through crowds of people
我曾經問遍整個世界 從來沒得到答案

wǒ céngjīng wèn biàn zhěnggè shìjiè cónglái méi dédào dá’àn
I’ve asked the whole world, (but) never found an answer
我不過像你像他像那野草野花
wǒ bùguò xiàng nǐ xiàng tā xiàng nà yěcǎo yěhuā
I’m just like you, like him, like those wild grasses and flowers
冥冥中這是我 唯一要走的路啊
míng míng zhōng zhè shì wǒ wéiyī yào zǒu de lù a
This is the only road I have to walk

時間無言 如此這般
shí jiān wúyán rúcǐ zhè bān
Time is speechless, like this
明天已在眼前
míngtiān yǐ zài yǎnqián
Tomorrow is before (your) eyes
風吹過的 路依然遠
fēngchuīguò de lù yīrán yuǎn
The road that the wind blows past is still far away
你的故事講到了哪
nǐ de gùshì jiǎng dàole nǎ
Where were we, with your story?


Lyrics in Colloquial English

To those who are wandering on the road, are you going to go? To those who are fragile, to those who are proud, I was once like you. To those who are boiling mad, to those who are uneasy, where are you going? To those who are secretive and silent, are you listening to the story?

I’ve crossed mountains and seas, passed through giant crowds. I once had everything, but it disappeared like smoke in the blink of an eye. I’ve been disappointed, despairing, and lost my direction, until I saw that the answer lay in the ordinary.

While you are fantasizing about tomorrow, wondering if it will be better or worse than today, to me, it’s just another day.

In the past I have destroyed everything, wanting to leave forever. I fell into a deep, dark pit, couldn’t extricate myself. I’ve been like you, like him, like all these random people. I’ve been hopeless, yet longing for something–I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, I’ve been ordinary.

Just keep walking, like this, even if you are given something. Just keep walking forward like this, even if something has been taken away from you. Just keep going, even if you miss something. Just keep on going, even if you…

I’ve crossed mountains and seas, passed through giant crowds. I once gone around the whole world aking my questions, but never got an answer. I’m just like you, like him, like all these random people/things, and in the darkness I realized this is the only road I have to take.

Time does not speak, tomorrow is coming, the road is long and far. As for your story…where were we?

 

Lyrics Explained

徘徊著的 在路上的
pái huái zhe de zài lù shàng de
Those who are wandering, those who are on the road

  • 徘徊 / 著的 / 在 / 路上 / 的 = wandering (words that mean “one who” eg “one who wanders”) / on / the road / (see previous comment)

你要走嗎 via via
nǐ yào zǒu ma via via
You want to go? (Are you going?) Via, via

  • 你 / 要 / 走 / 嗎 / via via = you / want to / go / (word that indicates a question. Ie: ?) / via via (not sure. Could be Italian for “road”)

易碎的 驕傲著
yì suì de jiāo’àozhe
Fragile ones, Proud ones

  • 易碎的 / 驕傲著 = easy+to break=fragile ones / proud ones

那也曾是我的模樣
nà yě céng shì wǒ de múyàng
That was also my appearance, once

  • 那 / 也 / 曾/ 是 / 我的 / 模樣 / that / also / once / was / my / appearance or likeness

沸騰著的 不安著的
fèiténgzhe de bù’ānzhe de
Furious ones, uneasy ones

  • 沸騰著的 / 不安著的 = furious ones / not+peaceful=uneasy ones

你要去哪 via via
nǐ yào qù nǎ via via
Where are you going? Via, via

  • 你 / 要 / 去 / 哪 via via = you / want / go / where?

謎一樣的 沉默著的
mí yīyàng de chénmòzhe de
Mysterious ones, silent ones

  • 謎一樣的 / 沉默著的 = mysterious ones / silent ones

故事 你真的 在聽嗎
gùshì nǐ zhēn de zài tīng ma
Are you actually listening to the story?

  • 故事 / 你 / 真的 / 在 / 聽 / 嗎 = story / you / really / are / listening / (question word: ?)

CHORUS 1
我 曾經 跨過 山和大海
wǒ céngjīng kuàguò shān hé dàhǎi
I’ve crossed mountains and seas

  • 我 / 曾經 / 跨過 / 山 / 和 / 大海 = I / once / crossed / mountains / and / big seas

也 穿過 人山人海
yě chuānguò rénshānrénhǎi
And gone through crowds of people

  • 也 / 穿過 / 人山人海 = and / went / through / (people+mountain+people+sea= idiom meaning “large crowds”)

我曾經擁有著一切
wǒ céngjīng yǒngyǒuzhe yīqiè
I once had everything

  • 我 / 曾經 / 擁有著 / 一切 = I / once / possessed / everything

轉眼都飄散如煙
zhuǎnyǎn dōu piāosàn rú yān
But in the blink of an eye, it disappeared like smoke

  • 轉 / 眼 / 都 / 飄散 / 如 / 煙 = Turn / eye / all / drifted away / like / smoke

我曾經 失落 失望 失掉 所有方向
wǒ céngjīng shīluò shīwàng shīdiào suǒyǒu fāngxiàng
I’ve been lost, disappointed, lost my sense of direction

  • 我 / 曾經 / 失落 / 失望 / 失掉 / 所有 / 方向 = I / once / (felt) lost / lost hope / lost / all / direction

直到看見平凡才是唯一的答案
zhídào kànjiàn píngfán cái shì wéiyī de dá’àn
Until (I) saw that “ordinary” is the only answer

  • 直到 / 看見 / 平凡 / 才 / 是 / 唯一的 / 答案 = until / saw / ordinary / then / is / only / answer

當你仍然 還在幻想
dāng nǐ réngrán hái zài huànxiǎng
When you’re still fantasizing

  • 當 / 你 / 仍然 / 還在 / 幻想 = when / you / still (for emphasis) / still / fantasizing

你的明天 via via
nǐ de míngtiān via via
(about) your tomorrow, via via

  • 你的 / 明天 via via = your / tomorrow

它會好嗎 還是更爛
tā huì hǎo ma háishì gèng làn
Will it be better? Or worse?

  • 它 / 會 / 好 / 嗎 / 還是 / 更 / 爛 = it / will / good (get better) / ? / or / more / rotten

對我而言是另一天
duì wǒ ér yán shì lìng yītiān
To me, it’s another day

  • 對我而言 / 是 / 另一 / 天 = to me / (it) is / another / day

CHORUS 2
我曾經毀了我的一切 只想永遠地離開
wǒ céngjīng huǐle wǒ de yīqiè zhǐ xiǎng yǒngyuǎn dì líkāi
I’ve destroyed all I had, wanting to leave forever

  • 我 / 曾經 / 毀了 / 我的 / 一切 / 只 / 想 / 永遠地 / 離開 = I / once / destroyed / my / everything / only / wanted / forever / leave

我曾經墮入無邊黑暗 想掙扎無法自拔
wǒ céngjīng duò rù wúbiān hēi’àn xiǎng zhēngzhá wúfǎ zìbá
I’ve fallen into boundless darkness, wanted to fight, unable to extricate myself

  • 我曾經 / 墮入 / 無邊 / 黑暗 / 想 / 掙扎 / 無法 / 自拔 = I once / fell into / boundless / darkness / want / struggle / no way to / self-extricate

我曾經像你像他像那野草野花
wǒ céngjīng xiàng nǐ xiàng tā xiàng nà yěcǎo yěhuā
I’ve been like you, like him, like the wild grass and flowers

  • 我曾經 / 像你 / 像他 / 像那 / 野草 / 野花 = I once / like (or similar to) you / like him / like that / wild grass /wild flower

絕望著 渴望著 也哭也笑也平凡著
juéwàngzhe kěwàngzhe kūzhe xiàozhe píngfánzhe
Despairing, longing, crying, laughing, ordinary

  • 絕望著 / 渴望著 / 也哭 / 也笑 / 也平凡著 = hopeless / longing / and cry / and laugh / and ordinary

向前走 就這麼走 就算你被給過什麼
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ bèi gěiguò shénme
Keep on walking, like this, even if something has been given to you

  • 向前走 / 就這麼 / 走 / 就算 / 你被 / 給過 / 什麼 = go (or walk) on (or forward) / just like this / walk or go / even if / you’ve been / given / something

向前走 就這麼走 就算你被奪走什麼
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ bèi duó zǒu shénme
Keep on walking, like this, even if something has been taken from you

  • 向前走 / 就這麼走 / 就算 / 你被 / 奪走 / 什麼 = just keep going / like this / even if / you’ve been / taken from / something

向前走 就這麼走 就算你會錯過什麼
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ huì cuòguò shénme
Keep on walking, like this, even if you’ve missed something

  • 向前走 就這麼走 / 就算 / 你會 / 錯過 / 什麼 = just keep going like this / even if / you will / miss / something

向前走 就這麼走 就算你會
xiàng qián zǒu jiù zhème zǒu jiùsuàn nǐ huì
Keep on walking, just like this, even if you will…

  • 向前走 就這麼走 / 就算你會 = just go like this / even if you

REPEAT CHORUS 1, 2

我 曾經 跨過 山和大海
wǒ céngjīng kuàguò shān hé dàhǎi
I’ve crossed mountains and seas
也 穿過 人山人海
yě chuānguò rénshānrénhǎi
And gone through crowds of people
我曾經問遍整個世界 從來沒得到答案

wǒ céngjīng wèn biàn zhěnggè shìjiè cónglái méi dédào dá’àn
I’ve asked the whole world, (but) never found an answer

  • 我曾經 / 問遍 / 整個 / 世界 / 從來沒 / 得到 / 答案 = I once / asked all / the whole / world / never / received / answer

我不過像你像他像那野草野花
wǒ bùguò xiàng nǐ xiàng tā xiàng nà yěcǎo yěhuā
I’m just like you, like him, like those wild grasses and flowers

  • 我不過 / 像你像他像那野草野花 = I just / like you, like him, like wild grass and flowers

冥冥中這是我 唯一要走的路啊
míng míng zhōng zhè shì wǒ wéiyī yào zǒu de lù a
This is the only road I have to walk

  • 冥冥中 / 這是 / 我 / 唯一 / 要走的 / 路啊 = in the darkness, this is / my / only / have to walk / road

時間無言 如此這般
shí jiān wúyán rúcǐ zhè bān
Time is speechless, like this

  • 時間 / 無言 / 如此 / 這般 = time / doesn’t speak / like / this

明天已在眼前
míngtiān yǐ zài yǎnqián
Tomorrow is before (your) eyes

  • 明天 / 已 / 在 / 眼前 = tomorrow / already / at / before (your) eyes

風吹過的 路依然遠
fēngchuīguò de lù yīrán yuǎn
The road that the wind blows past is still far away

  • 風 / 吹過的 / 路 / 依然 / 遠 = wind / blow past / road / still / far

你的故事講到了哪
nǐ de gùshì jiǎng dàole nǎ
Where were we, with your story?

  • 你的 / 故事 / 講 / 到了 / 哪 = your / story / told / until / what point?

 


Singable English Lyrics

To those who wander on the road
Ready to go? (via via)
Those who’re fragile, those who’re proud
I used to be part of your crowd

You who are uncertain or bold
Where do you go? (via via)
Secretive and mysterious
Are you still listening to us?

CHORUS
I’ve walked across the mountains and seas,
and in crowds beyond all these
I thought I once had everything
but it faded in the breeze
I’ve been frustrated, hopeless, wond’ring where I should be
‘Til I realized the clue was in the ordinary

While you are still there wondering
Of coming things, via via
Will life get better or will things
Get worse; as time keeps on rolling

Will life improve or will life bring
Even more pain as we’re changing?

CHORUS
I have once ruined everything,
hoping that would set me free
Into the darkness I would then sink,
couldn’t stop me from falling
I copied everybody; lost my identity
Longing and despairing, just being ordinary

Time to go, we all know, even if you got more
You must go, walk this road, even if you are poor
Time to go, and it don’t matter even before
If this road, you must go on e’en if….

And so time flies past, just like that
Tomorrow’s here, imagine that
Breezes blowing; we’re still going
We’re listening now to your story


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