Without Envy (忘羡 translation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkFoxxuAUGE
Original: http://www.bilibili.com/video/av40168431
I’m making this translation for my friends, since I’m good in English and I know Chinese so...
I’ve sacrificed accuracy in my translation and translated this in a way that would sound more natural for English speakers/readers. (and also using the context of the choice of singers and plot here) The aim of this is to get the feeling across, not the details.
I’m sure Chinese readers will find this terribly inaccurate, so just ignore this if you don’t like that! There are other much more detailed, amazing translations that may be more suitable. :)
2nd season opening theme “Forget Envy”*
*The title of this song is ’Wang Xian’, which are also in the names of Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi
Meaning of their given names (not birth names):
Wuxian: without envy - ‘to never envy others’
Wangji: forget motive - ‘to be without ulterior motives’
Lyrics Translation
<< Forget Envy >>
WWX
Flowers on the wind in the verdant green, I recall our carefree days as youths.
Spring comes to Gusu once again.
LWJ
Among the mountain peaks in the deep cloud recesses, I cannot help but feel a longing-- The people are gone, but their noble spirit remains
WWX
Buying loquats after the rain, picking a bamboo oar, tossing it over. “Catch!”
Those bittersweet days, we’ll look back on them with a smile.
WWX
I’m dwelling on the past*
*Chengqing is used in this line and is also the name of Wei Wuxian’s flute
LWJ
How do I leave behind my feelings?
WWX
I play a song filled with joy and regrets
Both
After all this time, I still believe
LWJ
They said you were carefree* and had no worries
But chaos followed your shadow
*Suibian is mentioned here, meaning ‘whatever/anything’ and is also the name of WWX’s sword
WWX
We shared a boat down the lonely misty river, the torches in Yunping awaiting the dawn
...I suddenly wake, it’s no longer that night
LWJ
Three thousand rules of this land cannot compare to half a jar of Emperor’s Smile, “Are you drunk?”
The strings stop and all is forgotten*, my heart is moved but what comes next?
*’wangji’ is used here, also Lan Wangji’s name
LWJ
It takes only a split second to reunite with you
WWX
Why do you keep asking if it bothers you?
LWJ
We spoke of life and death, the wine is still warm
Both
Ten years have passed and our dreams have not turned cold
Chorus
Both
I realised--
I’m dwelling on the past
Stirring--
How do I leave behind my feelings?
With you--
I play a song filled with joy and regrets
After all this time, I still believe
(my translation is really geared towards feeling and context not accuracy for English speakers, so if you know Chinese, you’ll know this is not accurate. Here, I’ll show you my process - i spent a few hours writing this out by making 3 drafts:
1) “a thousand sails passed and still innocent/naive” -->
2) “i’ve/we’ve been through so much and i/we still naively believe” -->
3) “After all this time, I still believe”
so if you want accuracy and analysis, this translation is not done for that purpose. Hope you enjoy it!)
