SHE 中国话

jennyzhu
February 09, 2008 at 01:20 PM posted in General Discussion

For the passionate ones learning Chinese, we have a song for you! Plus, it was performed in this year's CCTV CNY extravanganza. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lTRRVyA8TI

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Joachim
June 01, 2008 at 09:52 PM

video got removed due to copyright violations ...

err

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cassielin
February 12, 2008 at 03:26 AM

wow, rich, you really did a very good job!

翻译的太棒了!

by the way, i can not sing this song well although i like it very much. I m not good at tongue twister绕口令

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rich
February 11, 2008 at 10:33 PM

Hire me. :)

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jennyzhu
February 11, 2008 at 04:49 PM

What a mammoth of song! There is a severe shortage of quality translators in China. Calling CPoddies.

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excuter
February 11, 2008 at 03:40 PM

hmm...在中文怎么说 my head is spinning / now I´m confused... too much input...please enter the resetbutton...?

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rich
February 11, 2008 at 11:17 AM

I got so caught up with the 小笼包 I forgot the video link!!! Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLqtwk-IbJA

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rich
February 11, 2008 at 11:16 AM

Me again... here is the music video for the song, and much easier to see subtitles (although are traditional). Find it funny seeing all the 老外 in it, especially at the end when the black fellow is at the bund in Shanghai, comes up to a Chinese guy breakdancing, and says "请问,南翔小笼在哪里?" ha ha ha. What a changing world... thus the point of the song...

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rich
February 11, 2008 at 10:03 AM

Here is my attempt and matching characters, pinyin and rough English translation together:

中国话 Zhōngguóhuà The Chinese Language
扁担宽板凳长 Biǎndān kuān bǎndèng cháng Carrying pole thick, wooden bench long 扁担想绑在板凳上 Biǎndān xiǎng bǎngzài bǎndèng shàng Carrying pole wants to tie onto the bench 扁担宽板凳长 Biǎndān kuān bǎndèng cháng Carrying pole thick, wooden bench long 扁担想绑在板凳上 Biǎndān xiǎng bǎngzài bǎndèng shàng Carrying pole wants to tie onto the bench 伦敦玛莉莲买了件旗袍送妈妈 Lúndūn mǎlìliánlián mǎile jiàn qípáo song māmā London's Marilin bought a cheongsam to her mom 莫斯科的夫司基爱上牛肉面疙瘩 Mòsīkē de fūsījī àishàng niúròumiàn gēdá Moscow's Fusky loves beef noodle soup 各种颜色的皮肤各种颜色的头发 Gèzhǒng yánsè de pífū gèzhǒng yánsè de tóufǎ Various colors of skin, various colors of hair 嘴里唸的说的开始流行中国话 Zuǐlǐ niànde shuōde kāishǐ liúxíng zhōngguóhuà Chinese becomes the fashion from everyone's mouth 多少年我们苦练英文发音和文法 Duōshào nián wǒmen kǔliàn yīngwén fāyīn hé wénfǎ Many years we practice English pronunciation and grammar 这几年换他们卷着舌头学平上去入的变化 Zhè jīnián huàn tāmen juǎnzhù shétóu xué ping shàngqùrù de biànhuà These years it's their turn to start learning how to roll their tongues 平平仄仄平平仄 Píng píng zè zè píng píng zè Ping ping ze ze ping ping ze ze 好聪明的中国人 Hǎo cōngmíng de zhōngguórén Chinese people are very smart 好优美的中国话 Hǎo yōuměi de zhōngguóhuà The Chinese language is very graceful 扁担宽板凳长 Biǎndān kuān bǎndèng cháng Carrying pole thick, wooden bench long 扁担想绑在板凳上 Biǎndān xiǎng bǎngzài bǎndèng shàng Carrying pole wants to tie onto the bench 板凳不让扁担绑在板凳上 Bǎndèng bùràng biǎndān bǎngzài bǎndèng shàng Bench won't let the carrying pole be tied onto the bench 扁担偏要绑在板凳上 Biǎndān piānyào bǎngzài bǎndèng shàng Carrying pole still wants to be tie onto the bench 板凳偏偏不让扁担绑在那板凳上 Bǎndèng piānpiān bùràng biǎndān bǎngzài nǎ bǎndèng shàng Bench still doesn't want the carrying pole to be tie onto the bench 到底扁担宽还是板凳长 Dàodǐ biǎndān kuān háishì bǎndèng cháng So when it comes down to it, is the carrying pole thicker or the bench longer? 哥哥弟弟坡前坐 Gēgē dìdì pō qián zuò Older brother and younger brother sitting on slope 坡上卧着一只鹅 Pō shàng wò zhe yīzhī é There is a duck lying on the slope 坡下流着一条河 Pō xià liúzhù yītiáo hé Under it is a river 哥哥说宽宽的河 Gēgē shuō kuānkuān de hé Older brother says wide wide river 弟弟说白白的鹅 Dìdì shuō báibái de é Younger brother says white white duck 鹅要过河 河要渡鹅 Éyào guòhé hé yào dù é Duck want to pass the river, river wants to flow through the duck 不知是那鹅过河还是河渡鹅 Bùzhī shì nǎ é guòhé háishì hé dù é Don't know if the duck passes by itself or if the river helps the duck to flow across the river 全世界都在学中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài xué zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 孔夫子的话越来越国际化 Kǒngfūzi de huà yuèláiyuè guójìhuà Confucius' word became international 全世界都在讲中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài jiǎng zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 我们说的话让世界都认真听话 Wǒmen shuōde huà ràng shìjiè dōu rènzhēn tīnghuà Our language makes the whole world pay attention to what we are saying 纽约苏珊娜 开了间禅风Lounge Bar Niǔyuē sūshānnà kāile jiān chánfēng Lounge Bar New York's Susana opens a Buddha style lounge bar 柏林来的沃夫冈拿胡琴配着电吉他 Bǎilín láide wòfūgāng ná húqín pèi zhe diànjítā Wolfgang came from Berlin, holding a huqin (Chinese two-stringed instrument) and an electric guitar 各种颜色的皮肤各种颜色的头发 Gèzhǒng yánsè de pífū gèzhǒng yánsè de tóufǎ Various colors of skin, various colors of hair 嘴里唸的说的开始流行中国话 Zuǐlǐ niànde shuōde kāishǐ liúxíng zhōngguóhuà Chinese become the fashion from everyone's mouth 多少年我们苦练英文发音和文法 Duōshào nián wǒmen kǔliàn yīngwén fāyīn hé wénfǎ Many years we practice English pronunciation and grammar 这几年换他们卷着舌头学平上去入的变化 Zhè jīnián huàn tāmen juǎnzhù shétóu xué ping shàngqùrù de biànhuà These years it's their turn to start learning how to roll their tongues 平平仄仄平平仄 Ping ping zè zè ping ping zè Ping ping ze ze ping ping ze ze 好聪明的中国人 Hǎo cōngmíng de zhōngguórén Chinese people are very smart 好优美的中国话 Hǎo yōuměi de zhōngguóhuà The Chinese language is very graceful 有个小孩叫小杜 Yǒugè xiǎohái jiào xiǎodù A kid called "Xiao Gu" 上街打醋又买布 Shàngjiē dǎcù yòu mǎi bù He goes to the street to buy vinegar and cloth 买了布打了醋 Mǎile bù dǎle cù He bought the cloth and vinegar 回头看见鹰抓兔 Huítóu kànjiàn yīng zhuā tù Turned around see an eagle trying to catch a rabbit 放下布搁下醋 Fàng xià bù gēxià cù He puts down the cloth and vinegar, 上前去追鹰和兔 Shàngqián qù zhuī yīng hé tù To go catch the eagle and rabbit 飞了鹰跑了兔 Fēi le yīng pǎo le tù The eagle flies away, the rabbit runs away 洒了醋湿了布 Sǎle cù shīle bù And the vinegar spills and gets the cloth wet 嘴说腿腿说嘴 Zuǐ shuō tuǐ tuǐ shuō zuǐ Mouth talk about legs, legs talks about mouth 嘴说腿爱腿 Zuǐ shuō tuǐ ài pǎo tuǐ Mouth talk about legs, legs love to running around 腿说嘴爱卖嘴 Tuǐ shuō zuǐ ài mài zuǐ Legs talk about mouth, mouth loves to talk 光动嘴不动腿 Guāng dòng zuǐ bùdòng tuǐ Only move mouth, not move legs 光动腿不动嘴 Guāng dòng tuǐ bùdòngzuǐ Only move legs, not move mouth 不如不长腿和嘴 Bùrú bùzhǎng tuǐ hé zuǐ It would be better not to move legs or mouth 到底是那嘴说腿还是腿说嘴 Dàodǐ shì na zuǐ shuō tuǐ háishì tuǐ shuō zuǐ So when it comes down to it, is a mouth talk about legs or legs talks about mouth? 全世界都在学中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài xué zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 孔夫子的话越来越国际化 Kǒngfūzi de huà yuèláiyuè guójìhuà Confucius' word becomes international 全世界都在讲中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài jiǎng zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 我们说的话让世界都认真听话 Wǒmen shuōde huà ràng shìjiè dōu rènzhēn tīnghuà Our language makes the whole world pay attention to what we are saying 全世界都在学中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài xué zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 孔夫子的话越来越国际化 Kǒngfūzi de huà yuèláiyuè guójìhuà Confucius' word becomes international 全世界都在讲中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài jiǎng zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 我们说的话让世界都认真听话 Wǒmen shuōde huà ràng shìjiè dōu rènzhēn tīnghuà Our language makes the whole world pay attention to what we are saying 全世界都在学中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài xué zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 孔夫子的话越来越国际化 Kǒngfūzi de huà yuèláiyuè guójìhuà Confucius' word becomes international 全世界都在讲中国话 Quánshìjiè dōu zài jiǎng zhōngguóhuà The whole world is learning Chinese 我们说的话让世界都认真听话 Wǒmen shuōde huà ràng shìjiè dōu rènzhēn tīnghuà Our language makes the whole world pay attention to what we are saying

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kimiik
February 11, 2008 at 09:07 AM

Rich,

Once again you made a nice, safe and smooth translation.

Great job !

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wei1xiao4
February 11, 2008 at 09:02 AM

Thanks. I just got back from Chinese New Year vacation, and this was a fun surprise.

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rich
February 11, 2008 at 08:36 AM

Thanks Jenny! Your post got me watching other videos from the 2008 Chinese New Year lineup (when I should be studying. ;)

Here is an English translation of the song:

Thick carrying pole long bench

Carrying pole want to tie on the bench

Thick carrying pole long bench

Carrying pole want to tie on the bench

London’s Marilin bought a cheongsam to her mom

Moscow’s Fusky loves beef noodle soup

Various colors of skin, various colors of hair

Chinese becomes the fashion from everyone’s mouth

Many years we practice English pronunciation and grammar

These years it’s their turn to start learning how to roll their tongues

Ping ping ze ze ping ping ze ze

Chinese people are very smart

The Chinese language is very graceful

Thick carrying pole long bench

Carrying pole want to tie on the bench

Bench don’t let carrying pole to tie on the bench

Carrying pole still want to tie on the bench

Bench still don’t want carrying pole tie on the bench

So it’s carrying pole thicker or bench longer?

Older brother and younger brother sitting on slope

There is a duck lying on the slope

Under it is a river

Older brother says wide wide river

Younger brother says white white duck

Duck want to pass the river, river wants to flow through the duck

Don’t know if the duck passes by itself or if the river helps the duck to flow across the river

The whole world is learning Chinese

Confucius’ word became international

The whole world is learning Chinese

Our language makes the whole world pay attention to what we are saying

New York’s Susana opens a Buddha style lounge bar

Wolfgang came from Berlin, holding a huqin (Chinese two-stringed instrument) and an electric guitar

Various colors of skin, various colors of hair

Chinese become the fashion from everyone’s mouth

Many years we practice English pronunciation and grammar

These years it’s their turn to start learning how to roll their tongues

Ping ping ze ze ping ping ze ze

Chinese people are very smart

The Chinese language is very graceful

A kid called “Xiao Gu”

He goes to the street to buy vinegar and cloth

He bought the cloth and vinegar, and turned around see an eagle trying to catch a rabbit

He puts down the cloth and vinegar, to go catch the eagle and rabbit

The eagle flies away, the rabbit runs away and spill the old Gu’s vinegar and wet the cloth

Mouth talk about legs, legs talks about mouth

Mouth talk about legs, legs love to running around

Legs talk about mouth, mouth loves to talk

Only move mouth, not move legs

Only move legs, not move mouth

So is a mouth talk about legs or legs talks about mouth?

The whole world is learning Chinese

Confucius’ word becomes international

The whole world is learning Chinese

Our language makes the whole world pay attention to what we are saying

The whole world is learning Chinese

Confucius’ word becomes international

The whole world is learning Chinese

Our language makes the whole world pay attention to what we are saying

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kimiik
February 11, 2008 at 08:07 AM

The lyrics :

扁担宽板凳长

扁担想绑在板凳上

扁担宽板凳长

扁担想绑在板凳上

伦敦玛莉莲买了件旗袍送妈妈

莫斯科的夫司基爱上牛肉面疙瘩

各种颜色的皮肤各种颜色的头发

嘴里念的说的开始流行中国话

多少年我们苦练英文发音和文法 (suffering of english practice?)

这几年换他们卷著舌头学平上去入的变化

平平仄仄平平仄(仄仄平平仄仄平)

好聪明的中国人好优美的中国话 (the nationalist touch)

扁担宽板凳长

扁担想绑在板凳上

板凳不让扁担绑在板凳上

扁担偏要绑在板凳上

板凳偏偏不让扁担绑在那板凳上

到底扁担宽还是板凳长

哥哥弟弟坡前坐

坡上卧著一只鹅

坡下流著一条河

哥哥说宽宽的河

弟弟说白白的鹅

鹅要过河河要渡鹅

不知是那鹅过河

还是河渡鹅

全世界都在学中国话

孔夫子的话越来越国际化全世界都在讲中国话 (here comes Confucius!)

我们说的话让世界都认真听话

纽约苏珊娜开了间禅风lounge bar

柏林来的沃夫冈拿胡琴配著电吉他

各种颜色的皮肤各种颜色的头发

嘴里念的说的开始流行中国话

多少年我们苦练英文发音和文法

这几年换他们卷著舌头学平上去入的变化

平平仄仄平平仄(仄仄平平仄仄平)

好聪明的中国人好优美的中国话

有个小孩叫信

上街打醋又买布

买了布打了醋

回头看见鹰抓兔

放下布搁下醋

上前去追鹰和兔

飞了鹰跑了兔

洒了醋湿了布

嘴说腿腿说嘴

嘴说腿爱跑腿

腿说嘴爱卖嘴

光动嘴不动腿

光动腿不动嘴

不如不长腿和嘴

到底是那嘴说腿还是腿说嘴

全世界都在学中国话

孔夫子的话越来越国际化

全世界都在讲中国话

我们说的话让世界都认真听话

全世界都在学中国话

孔夫子的话越来越国际化

全世界都在讲中国话

我们说的话让世界都认真听话

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excuter
February 09, 2008 at 02:29 PM

nice song, but I would have understood more of it if I would have been able to read the text wich was very hard to look at (my eye still hurts a bit from trying... ;-) )