zuó rì xiàng nà dōng liú shuǐ

昨日像那东流水

Yesterday was like the eastward flowing water

lí wǒ yuǎn qù bù kě liú

离我远去不可留

Departed far from me, it cannot stay

jīn rì luàn wǒ xīn duō fán yōu

今日乱我心多烦忧

Today, it disturbs my heart with much worry

chōu dāo duàn shuǐ shuǐ gèng liú

抽刀断水水更流

Drawing a sword to cut water, the water flows even more

jǔ bēi xiāo chóu chóu gèng chóu

举杯消愁愁更愁

Raising a glass to drown sorrows, the sorrows grow deeper

míng zhāo qīng fēng sì piāo liú

明朝清风四飘流

Tomorrow morning, the cool breeze will drift everywhere

yóu lái zhǐ wén xīn rén xiào

由来只闻新人笑

Since long ago, one only hears the new lovers' laughter

yǒu shéi tīng dào jiù rén kū

有谁听到旧人哭

Has anyone ever heard the old lovers' crying?

ài qíng liǎng gè zì hǎo xīn kǔ

爱情两个字好辛苦

The two words "Love" are so laborious and painful

shì yào wèn yī gè míng bái

是要问一个明白

Is it to ask for a clear answer?

hái shì yào zhuāng zuò hú tú

还是要装作糊涂

Or is it to pretend to be confused and muddled?

zhī duō zhī shǎo nán zhī zú

知多知少难知足

Knowing much or knowing little, it's hard to be content

kàn sì gè yuān yāng hú dié

看似个鸳鸯蝴蝶

Looking like mandarin ducks and butterflies

bù yìng gāi de nián dài

不应该的年代

In an era that shouldn't have been

kě shì shéi yòu néng bǎi tuō rén shì jiān de bēi āi

可是谁又能摆脱人世间的悲哀

But who can shake off the sorrows of the human world?

huā huā shì jiè yuān yāng hú dié

花花世界鸳鸯蝴蝶

In the bustling world, mandarin ducks and butterflies

zài rén jiān yǐ shì diān

在人间已是癫

In the human world, it's already madness

hé kǔ yào shàng qīng tiān

何苦要上青天

Why bother trying to reach the blue heavens?

bù rú wēn róu tóng mián

不如温柔同眠

Better to sleep gently together