Boost Your Vocab with This Catchy Children’s Song!

This catchy children’s song was written by Zhao Yingjun–and it is now a hit.

It has become a very popular children’s song since it was sung by a lovely father(Jia Nai Liang) and daughter(Jia Yunxin), and is now often sung and loved by many children across China.

The upbeat rhythm and cheerful lyrics make people unconsciously tap their feet and follow along to the singing. It’s a great song for Chinese Beginner language learners, or kids who are learning to speak Mandarin.

Trust me, once you hear it, you will be singing along right away! You can watch a video and hear the song here:

Tàiyáng duì wǒ zhǎ yǎnjīng,
太阳       对  我  眨    眼睛，
The sun blinks at me.

Niǎo’r chànggē gěi wǒ tīng.
鸟儿      唱歌     给  我   听。
Birds sing for me.

Wǒ shì yígè nǔlì gànhuó’r, hái bù niánrén de xiǎo yāojing.
我  是 一个 努力   干活儿，还  不   粘人   的  小    妖精。
I am a little goblin who is hard-working and does not bother.

Bié wèn wǒ cóng nǎlǐ lái,
别   问   我    从   哪里  来，
Do not ask where I come from,

Yě bié wèn wǒ dào nǎlǐ qù.
也  别  问    我  到   哪里 去。
And do not ask me where to go.

Wǒ yào zhāixià zuìměi de huā’r,
我   要    摘下     最美   的  花儿，
I want to pick the most beautiful flowers,

Xiàn gěi wǒ de xiǎo gōngzhǔ.
献    给   我  的  小    公主。
give them to my little princess.

Dàwáng jiào wǒ lái xún shān.
大王       叫    我  来  巡   山，
The King asked me to patrol the mountains,

Wǒ bǎ rénjiān zhuàn yí zhuàn.
我  把   人间      转   一    转。
and I go around the world.

Dǎ qǐ wǒ de gǔ,
打 起 我  的  鼓，
Hitting my drum,

Qiāo qǐ wǒ de luó,
敲    起 我   的  锣，
beating my gong.

Shēnghuó chōngmǎn jiézòu gǎn.
生活          充满          节奏    感。
Life is full of rhythm.

Dàwáng jiào wǒ lái xún shān.
大王       叫    我  来  巡   山，
The King asked me to patrol the mountains,

Zhuā gè héshàng zuò wǎncān.
抓     个    和尚     做    晚餐。
I catch a monk to eat at night.

Zhè shānjiàn de shuǐ, wúbǐ de tián.
这    山涧      的  水，无比   的  甜。
The water from mountain stream is very sweet,

Bú xiàn yuānyāng bú xiàn xiān.
不    羡      鸳鸯      不   羡    仙。
I don’t envy the affectionate couple or the immortal god.

1. 山涧 (Shānjiàn): n. mountain stream; mountain creeks.

Zhè shānjiàn shì xiàng píngyuán liú qù de.
这    山涧       是   向     平原        流  去 的。
This mountain stream flows to the plain.

Zhèlǐ yǒu yì tiáo qīngchè de shānjiàn.
这里   有  一  条   清澈     的    山涧。
There is a clear mountain stream.

2. 鸳鸯 (Yuānyang): n. mandarin duck. Usually, people use this word to describe an affectionate couple.

Wǒ hěn xǐhuān yuānyāng.
我    很    喜欢    鸳鸯。
I like Mandarin ducks very much.

Zhǐ xiàn yuānyang bú xiàn xiān.
只    羡      鸳鸯      不   羡    仙。
A pair of mandarin ducks is more enviable than an immortal.

It’s a famous saying in China, and “鸳鸯(yuānyang) Mandarin ducks” have always been the symbol of a loving couple in Chinese culture)

Chinese Song for Kids: 劳动最光荣 Be Proud of Working Hard
Kids’ Chinese Song: 七色光之歌 The Song of the Sunlight