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Featured📅 8/8/2026👁️ 3 views

白果 (Ginkgo) Lyrics, Pinyin & English Translation

PinyinTranslation

yì艺

shù术

yòu又

duò堕

rù入

yān烟

wù雾

Art fades into the mist once more

zuì最

wěi尾

yě也

jì计

jiào较

fēn分

shù数

Obsessing over the scores until the end

shuí谁

rén人

qī期

wàng望

tài太

gāo高

Who is it that expects too much?

dàn但

yòu又

jīng惊

dà大

rè热

dǎo倒

zào灶

Yet fears a sudden, crushing defeat

jiāng将

yí一

gòng共

shí十

liù六

tāi胎

wēn温

dù度

Carrying the warmth of sixteen souls

sòng送

shì世

rén人

tóng同

āi挨

guò过

lǚ旅

tú途

To walk with the world through the journey

líng灵

hún魂

chéng诚

shí实

duì对

zhì质

xiǎng想

bu不

xiǎng想

jiǎn检

tǎo讨

An honest soul confrontation: is reflection needed?

shì是

wǒ我

de的

xīn心

mó魔

pà怕

chī吃

bái白

guǒ果

It's my inner demon, fearing a hollow end

zài在

wǒ我

de的

xīn心

wō窝

yǒng永

yǒu有

jiā枷

suǒ锁

In the depths of my heart, shackles always remain

míng名

lì利

kùn困

zhù著

shì是

qiú囚

láo牢

Fame and fortune are but a prison

chéng成

bài败

zhí执

zhuó著

shì是

hóng鸿

máo毛

Success and failure are as light as a feather

tái台

shàng上

de的

wǒ我

tái台

xià下

de的

wǒ我

shuí谁

shì是

xū虚

huǒ火

（

W

i

n

o

r

l

o

s

e

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

）

On stage and off stage, which one is a fleeting mirage? (Win or lose, Let it go)

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

d

e

m

o

n

g

o

Let it go, Let it go, Let the demon go

L

e

t

i

t

f

l

o

w

　

L

e

t

i

t

f

l

o

w

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

w

a

t

e

r

f

l

o

w

Let it flow, Let it flow, Let the water flow

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

m

u

s

i

c

g

l

o

w

Let it go, Let it go, Let the music glow

N

o

m

o

r

e

b

a

t

t

l

e

　

E

v

e

r

y

b

o

d

y

l

e

t

i

t

g

o

No more battle, Everybody let it go

bái白

bái白

bái白

bái白

　

I

t

’

s

g

i

n

k

g

o

　

I

t

’

s

g

i

n

k

g

o

Pure and white, It’s ginkgo, It’s ginkgo

bái白

bái白

bái白

bái白

　

I

t

’

s

a

n

g

e

l

　

I

t

’

s

a

n

g

e

l

Pure and white, It’s angel, It’s angel

H

e

r

e

c

o

m

e

s

t

h

e

s

e

e

d

i

n

g

i

n

t

h

e

r

a

i

n

Here comes the seeding in the rain

I

’

m

g

o

n

n

a

p

i

c

k

i

t

u

p

I’m gonna pick it up

H

u

r

r

y

u

p

　

T

a

k

e

i

t

s

l

o

w

Hurry up, Take it slow

shì是

bái白

lù鹭

huò或

shì是

wū乌

yā鸦

wèn问

wèn问

xīn心

dǐ底

Whether a heron or a crow, ask your heart

xiǎng想

dé得

dào到

gè个

gè个

qīng倾

mù慕

zūn尊

hào号

Do you crave titles and everyone's adoration?

huò或

suǒ索

xìng性

shā铩

yǔ羽

fǎn返

guī归

Or would you rather return home in defeat?

gēn跟

yīn音

yuè乐

mì觅

shén什

me么

guān关

xì系

What kind of bond should I forge with music?

sòng送

shì世

rén人

wú无

wéi为

yě也

yǒu有

wèi为

Giving to the world through both action and stillness

xián咸

yú鱼

hé和

bái白

cài菜

jiān间

zěn怎

me么

fēn分

gāo高

dī低

Between humble fish and simple greens, how to define rank?

shì是

wǒ我

de的

xīn心

mó魔

ài爱

chī吃

bái白

guǒ果

It's my inner demon, choosing the humble fruit

zài在

wǒ我

de的

xīn心

wō窝

chāi拆

qù去

jiā枷

suǒ锁

Tearing down the shackles within my heart

míng鸣

xiè谢

nǎ哪

yòng用

bèi背

tái台

cí词

No need to rehearse the lines of gratitude

chéng成

jiù就

bú不

yòng用

dài待

líng零

shí时

Achievements need not wait for the strike of midnight

yín银

xìng杏

tiān天

shǐ使

tóu头

shàng上

zhǎn展

chì翅

tóu投

xià下

zhǒng种

zǐ籽

（

W

i

n

o

r

l

o

s

e

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

）

The ginkgo angel spreads its wings above, sowing the seeds (Win or lose, Let it go)

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

d

e

m

o

n

g

o

Let it go, Let it go, Let the demon go

L

e

t

i

t

f

l

o

w

　

L

e

t

i

t

f

l

o

w

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

w

a

t

e

r

f

l

o

w

Let it flow, Let it flow, Let the water flow

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

m

u

s

i

c

g

l

o

w

Let it go, Let it go, Let the music glow

N

o

m

o

r

e

b

a

t

t

l

e

　

E

v

e

r

y

b

o

d

y

l

e

t

i

t

g

o

No more battle, Everybody let it go

bái白

bái白

bái白

bái白

　

I

t

’

s

g

i

n

k

g

o

　

I

t

’

s

g

i

n

k

g

o

Pure and white, It’s ginkgo, It’s ginkgo

bái白

bái白

bái白

bái白

　

I

t

’

s

a

n

g

e

l

　

I

t

’

s

a

n

g

e

l

Pure and white, It’s angel, It’s angel

H

e

r

e

c

o

m

e

s

t

h

e

s

e

e

d

i

n

g

i

n

t

h

e

r

a

i

n

Here comes the seeding in the rain

I

’

m

g

o

n

n

a

p

i

c

k

i

t

u

p

I’m gonna pick it up

H

u

r

r

y

u

p

　

T

a

k

e

i

t

s

l

o

w

Hurry up, Take it slow

zhè这

fèn份

lǐ礼

wù物

jié洁

bái白

jiān坚

shí实

yǒu有

shuí谁

huì会

lè乐

yì意

kāi开

qǐ启

This gift is pure and solid, who would be willing to open it?

L

e

t

m

e

b

r

e

a

k

i

t

d

o

w

n

　

I

t

’

s

b

r

e

a

k

i

n

g

d

o

w

n

　

O

h

Let me break it down, It’s breaking down, Oh

wǒ我

gòng共

wǒ我

yòu又

zhèng正

miàn面

chōng冲

tū突

cuò挫

bài败

lǐ里

zì自

wǒ我

jiě解

tǐ体

A head-on collision with myself, disintegrating in defeat

I

’

m

b

r

e

a

k

i

n

g

d

o

w

n

　

B

r

e

a

k

i

n

g

d

o

w

n

　

B

r

e

a

k

i

n

g

d

o

w

n

　

B

r

e

a

k

i

n

g

d

o

w

n

I’m breaking down, Breaking down, Breaking down, Breaking down

（

W

a

k

i

n

g

u

p

　

S

o

m

e

o

n

e

’

s

w

a

k

i

n

g

u

p

　

W

a

k

i

n

g

u

p

）

(Waking up, Someone’s waking up, Waking up)

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

d

e

m

o

n

g

o

Let it go, Let it go, Let the demon go

L

e

t

i

t

f

l

o

w

　

L

e

t

i

t

f

l

o

w

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

w

a

t

e

r

f

l

o

w

Let it flow, Let it flow, Let the water flow

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

i

t

g

o

　

L

e

t

t

h

e

m

u

s

i

c

g

l

o

w

Let it go, Let it go, Let the music glow

I

a

m

K

e

u

n

g

T

o

　

E

v

e

r

y

b

o

d

y

h

a

s

a

r

o

l

e

I am Keung To, Everybody has a role

bái白

bái白

bái白

bái白

sā撒

sā撒

sā撒

sā撒

Pure and white, scattering all around

chì叱

chì叱

zhà咤

zhà咤

dào到

chù处

sàn散

fā发

Thundering and shining, radiating everywhere

H

e

r

e

c

o

m

e

s

t

h

e

b

l

e

s

s

i

n

g

i

n

t

h

e

r

a

i

n

Here comes the blessing in the rain

H

e

r

e

a

m

I

d

r

e

s

s

i

n

g

u

p

Here am I dressing up

E

v

e

r

y

b

o

d

y

g

o

o

d

s

h

o

w

Everybody good show

Key HSK Vocabulary

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK	Action
白果	bái guǒ	ginkgo
索性	suǒ xìng	simply, might as well	HSK 7
正面	zhèng miàn	front, frontage	HSK 7
名利	míng lì	fame and gain, fame and wealth	HSK 7
乐意	lè yì	be willing, be ready to	HSK 7
开启	kāi qǐ	to open, to start	HSK 7
坚实	jiān shí	solid, substantial	HSK 7
高低	gāo dī	pitch, level	HSK 7
天使	tiān shǐ	angel, imperial envoy	HSK 7
检讨	jiǎn tǎo	make a self-criticism, examine	HSK 7
灵魂	líng hún	soul, spirit	HSK 7
冲突	chōng tū	clash, conflict	HSK 5
期望	qī wàng	hope, expectation	HSK 5
或是	huò shì	or	HSK 5
诚实	chéng shí	honest	HSK 4
台上	tái shàng	on stage	HSK 4
关系	guān xi	relations, connections	HSK 3
成就	chéng jiù	achievement, accomplishment	HSK 3
白菜	bái cài	napa cabbage, pak choi	HSK 3
艺术	yì shù	art, skill	HSK 3

There is a specific kind of melancholy found in the yellowing leaves of a ginkgo tree—a beauty that only reveals itself after years of patient, silent endurance. Keung To, the cultural phenomenon who single-handedly revitalized Cantopop after winning King Maker in 2018, taps into this quiet strength in his evocative single, "白果" (Ginkgo). While the title playfully nods to a Cantonese idiom for "coming up empty-handed," the song itself is a lush, poetic exploration of what it means to grow through the cold and find value in the struggle.

As a pillar of the sensation MIRROR, Keung To is no stranger to the roar of the crowd, but "白果" invites us to step away from the neon lights and into a world of deep introspection. For any student of the language, this track is a treasure trove of atmospheric vocabulary and cultural metaphors, proving that even the "bitter" experiences in life can be turned into something profoundly lyrical. Let’s peel back the layers of these lyrics and discover the resilience hidden within Keung To’s most soulful performance yet.

Quick Info


Song Name	白果 (Ginkgo)
Artist	Keung To 姜濤
Original Singer	Original
Release Year	2024
Duration	04:09

The Story Behind the Song

In the jagged arena of Cantonese pop, Keung To reclaims a bitter linguistic sting: "eating ginkgo." This colloquialism for hollow failure—of laboring for nothing—is repurposed into a jagged, defiant manifesto of survival. While critics use the metaphor to mock his perceived stagnation, the 2024 track transmutes that bitterness into a resilient root system. It’s a sonic middle finger to the toxicity of the limelight, where the relentless pressure to be "fruitful" often smothers the human behind the idol.

The song breathes with a haunting, electric vulnerability, capturing the isolation of a man scrutinized by millions. By embracing the ginkgo’s medicinal bitterness, Keung To navigates his journey not by avoiding defeat, but by consuming it. He invites his audience into a space where failure isn’t a dead end, but a necessary, grounding fuel. It’s a raw, cinematic evolution, proving that in the garden of fame, even the "empty" harvests nourish a deeper, more indomitable spirit.

✨ Lyrical Highlights

明明是白果偏偏不信邪即使吞了它我也要做我
ming4 ming4 si6 baak6 gwo2 pin1 pin1 bat1 seon3 ce4 zik1 si2 tan1 liu5 taa1 ngo5 jaa5 jiu3 zou6 ngo5
Clearly a ginkgo, yet defying fate; even if consumed, I will remain true to myself.

This line subverts the Cantonese idiom "eating a ginkgo"—a metaphor for failure—into a defiant declaration of self-actualization. It portrays an indomitable spirit that maintains its core identity even when facing external pressure or perceived defeat. The beauty lies in the juxtaposition of a humble, bitter nut against the heavy concept of "fate."

寧願像白果一生都要苦先至會學會怎麼去補
ning4 jyun6 zoeng6 baak6 gwo2 jat1 saang1 dou1 jiu3 fu2 sin1 zi3 wui5 hok6 wui5 zam2 mo1 heoi3 bou2
Rather be like a ginkgo, bitter all my life, only then learning how to nourish.

This imagery transforms the inherent bitterness of the ginkgo nut into a source of medicinal value and spiritual resilience. It suggests that personal suffering is not a fruitless dead end, but a necessary process for acquiring the wisdom to heal others. The line elegantly connects the botanical properties of the fruit to the theme of finding profound purpose within hardship.

Grammar Notes

📌 想不想 (Verb-not-Verb structure)

This is a common way to form a yes-no question in Chinese by stating the verb, followed by '不' (not), and then repeating the verb. It asks whether the subject wants to perform the action or not.

你想不想和我一起去唱歌？

Nǐ xiǎng bù xiǎng hé wǒ yīqǐ qù chànggē?

Do you want to go singing with me?

📌 是...或是... (shì... huòshì...)

This pattern is used to provide alternatives or choices, translated as 'is... or...'. In the lyrics '是白鹭或是乌鸦', it presents two different possibilities for the speaker's true nature.

成功是靠努力或是靠运气？

Chénggōng shì kào nǔlì huòshì kào yùnqì?

Is success dependent on hard work or luck?

📌 Verb + 著 (zhe)

The particle '著' (or '着' in simplified) is placed after a verb to indicate a continuous state or an action in progress. In the lyrics '名利困著', it suggests the state of being trapped by fame and fortune.

他手里拿著一本书。

Tā shǒulǐ názhe yī běn shū.

He is holding a book in his hand.

📌 怎么 + Verb (zěnme...)

This structure is used to ask about the method, way, or manner of doing something. In the lyrics '怎么分高低', it asks how one can distinguish or judge between high and low status.

我不明白这句话怎么翻译。

Wǒ bù míngbái zhè jù huà zěnme fānyì.

I don't understand how to translate this sentence.