认得邻居

小时候，眼睛只看前面，

When I was little, my eyes looked only ahead.

门外的路，比家里面好看。

The road outside looked better than the home within.

现在，一个年轻女生，

Now, a young woman

坐上飞机，去外国留学。

Boards a plane to study abroad.

别人开口就问结婚，

People open their mouths and ask about marriage,

说女人的路，是这一条。

Saying this is the road a woman should take.

我的路，不只这一条，

My road is not limited to this one.

到了外国，我叫留学生。

When I reach another country, they call me an international student.

机票只写我要去哪里，

The plane ticket only says where I am going;

没有写回来时我怎么看。

It does not say how I will see when I return.

飞机往外飞，问题往里走，

The plane flies outward; the questions walk inward.

去外国看看，也回来看看自己。

Go abroad and look around—then come back and look at yourself.

咱们往前走，别只看前面，

Let’s move forward, but not look only ahead.

外面有路，里面也有路。

There are roads outside, and there are roads inside too.

邻居的门很近，他的过去很远，

My neighbor’s door is close; his past is far away.

我只认得名字，不知道他的昨天。

I recognize only his name and know nothing about his yesterday.

跟老人聊一个晚上，没有坐飞机也走远，

I talk with an old man all evening; without boarding a plane, I still travel far.

聊天儿不坐飞机，也能看见很多年。

Conversation boards no plane, yet it can reveal many years.

叔叔没有留学，也走了很多年，

Uncle never studied abroad, but he has travelled for many years.

叔叔没有留学，也走了很多年，

Uncle never studied abroad, but he has travelled for many years.

姐妹走两条路，还是一家人。

Two sisters walk two roads and remain one family.

热情不是多说，是愿意听完，

Warmth is not talking more; it is being willing to listen to the end.

照顾有时不是药，是给别人时间。

Sometimes care is not medicine—it is giving someone your time.

飞机往外飞，问题往里走，

The plane flies outward; the questions walk inward.

去外国看看，也回来看看自己。

Go abroad and look around—then come back and look at yourself.

咱们往前走，别只看前面，

Let’s move forward, but not look only ahead.

外面有路，里面也有路。

There are roads outside, and there are roads inside too.

回来时，路还在那里，

When I return, the road will still be there.

这次，眼睛也往里看。

This time, my eyes will look inward too.