The Language of Love 爱情的语言

I'll concede Mandarin probably wasn't the first language to pop into your head after reading the title, but for the Chinese, love songs and love poetry go back as far as literature itself. The Classic of Poetry (also known as the Book of Songs, Book of Odes, etc) is the earliest collection of Chinese poems and songs dating from the 10th to 7th century BC. Over half of the 305 poems are categorised as 'Airs of the States', thought to be ancient folk songs. These 'Airs' were shorter and simpler in their composition than the other eulogies and court hymns, but documented the views and everyday lives of the ordinary public. Needless to say love, longing, and courtship were inevitable subject matter for the common people. I'm going to try my hand at translating something more recent than the Classic of Poetry, but I hope I fully convey the depth and feeling of Chinese love poetry. 

炉中煤 A Burning Coal (1920)

郭沫若 by Guo Moruo

Ah, my young maiden! 

I will not disappoint your care, 

In turn you should not betray my attention. 

For the one I love, I will

Burn myself to nothing.

Ah, my young maiden!
You would know my story? 

You would not despise me, the crude black slave I am?

As deep in this black slave's bosom,

Is a heart that burns like fire.　 




Ah, my young maiden! 

I think on my past life, 

At first, I was a useful pillar,  

Later buried underground for many years,  

Until this morning, only now seeing sunlight again.　 

Ah, my young maiden! 

Since I saw the sun's rays again,

I often long for my hometown,

For the one I love, I will

Burn myself to nothing.

一课开花的树 A Tree in Blossom (1980)

席慕蓉 by Xi Murong

How do I make you meet me

At my most beautiful moment? For this

I went before the Buddha, and prayed for 500 years.

I begged him to let us bind as specks of dirt.
　 

But the Buddha turned me into a tree

To grow beside your road.

In the sunshine, carefully opening the blossoms,

Each one is a hope from my former life.
　 

When you walk by I plead that you listen;

My passion to wait for you trembles those leaves  

But when you finally, impassively walk past 

Behind you, falls a friend. (or 'you leave behind a friend')

That isn't a petal, it is my withered heart. 

情死 Love's Death 

徐志摩 by Xu Zhimo

Roses,  an overwhelming host of fragrant red roses, 

like last night's thunderstorm,

It must have been a signal you sent —— such fragile beauty.

Your colour is wine to my eyes, I want to draw nearer,

But I dare not. 

Youth! How many drops of white dew upon your forehead, bursting into colour at dawn.

The smile on your cheeks must be heaven-sent; how pitiful the world  

In its coarseness, unable to have the chance to bloom forever.  

To possess such beauty is your destiny,

I walk closer; your intoxicating colour and redolence subdues 

A soul! I am your captive.

Wherever you smile, I am there trembling,

You have already ascended the peak of life, gazing toward your friends,

A deep pool reflects the sky.  

You stand by the water's edge, and I stand behind you, 

I, your captive.

Here, I smile, while you there tremble. 

Such beauty is the fate of fate.

I clutch you in my hand; I love you, rose!

In colour, smell, form, spirit, beauty, charm —— 

All within my grasp. 

Here, I tremble, and you, you smile. 

Rose! I cannot cope with your passing, the dispersion of your perfume, for I love you! 

Petals, sepals, stamens, thorns, you, and I — 

How happy! 

Intertwined together! Slivers of scattered scarlet, two hands blurred with blood. 

Rose! I love you!

Chinese Love Songs 唱一曲情歌

With St. Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's an opportune moment to share some of my favourite mandarin love songs with my own translations. My apologies that so many of them run on a theme of unrequited-ness. I assure you it's all coincidence.

Only for Love 我用所有报答爱 - 张靓颖 Jane Zhang (from The Banquet)

只為一支歌, 血染紅寂寞。 只為一場夢, 摔碎了山河

For only a song, blood stained my loneliness red. For only a dream, I have shattered the whole country

只為一顆心, 愛到分離才相遇. 只為一滴淚, 模糊了恩仇

For only a heart, I parted with love but reunited too late. For only a tear drop, I confused my friends with my enemies.

我用所有 報答愛, 你卻不 不回來

I use all that I have to repay your love, but you still will not come back to me.

歲月 從此一刀兩段. 永不見 風雨 風雨 風雨

From now the moon is sliced in two, I will never again see the wind and rain, wind and rain, wind and rain.  

Painted Heart 画心 - 张靓 Jane Zhang (from Painted Skin)

看不穿 是你失落的魂魄, 猜不透 是你瞳孔的颜色.

I cannot see through to your lost soul, I cannot guess the colour of your eyes. 

一阵风 一场梦 爱如生命般莫测 

A gust of wind, a dream, a love as unpredictable as life itself

你的心到底被什么蛊惑

Your heart, what has bewitched it so?

你的轮廓在黑夜之中淹没, 看桃花开出怎样的结果

Your silhouette disappears into the night, I watch the last of the peach blossoms open, 

看着你抱着我 目光似月色寂寞, 就让你在别人怀里快乐 

I watch you, holding me, your gaze as lonely as moonlight, so I let you find happiness in someone else’s arms.

爱着你 像心跳难触摸. 画着你 画不出你的骨骼. 

Loving you, as untouchable as a heartbeat. Drawing you, I cannot draw your skeleton.

记着你的脸色 是我等你的执着,  你是我一首唱不完的歌 

Remembering your face, determined to wait for you, you are my never ending song.

爱着你 像心跳难触摸. 画着你 画不出你的骨骼. 

Loving you, as untouchable as a heartbeat. Drawing you, I cannot draw your skeleton.

记着你的脸色 是我等你的执着, 我的心只愿为你而割舍

Remembering your face, determined to wait for you. My heart hopes only for you, I’ve not given up.

Love at Kangmei 康美之恋 - 谭晶 Jing Tan

 一条路 海角天涯. 两颗心 相依相伴. 

One road, to the ends of the Earth. Two hearts, lean on one another.

风吹不走誓言, 雨打不湿浪漫.

The wind cannot sweep away a promise, the rain cannot wash away a romance.

意济苍生苦与痛, 情牵天下喜与乐.

Wishing to ease people’s pain, our hearts fill with joy.

一条路 千山万水, 两颗星 无怨无悔. 

One road, over mountains and seas. Two stars, without regrets.

风吹不走誓言, 雨打不湿浪漫.

The wind cannot sweep away a promise, the rain cannot wash away a romance.

意济苍生苦与痛, 情牵天下喜与乐. 

Wishing to ease people’s pain, our hearts fill with joy.

明月清风相思. 丽日百草也多情 

Bright moon, calm breeze, thinking of each other. Beautiful day, fragrant grasses, how many feelings! 

两颗心长相伴, 你我写下爱的神话

Two hearts stay together forever, you and I will write a fairy-tale romance. 

明月清风相思, 丽日百草也多情 

Bright moon, calm breeze, thinking of each other. Beautiful day, fragrant grasses, how many feelings! 

康美情长相恋, 你我写下爱的神话

Kangmei’s love lasts forever, you and I will write a fairy-tale romance.

Passing Rain 過雲雨 - 張敬軒 Hins Cheung

天空剛下了幾場雨 看街上無人不多

It has been raining, and I see no one on the streets.

現在的你在做什麼 還有沒有在想我

What are you doing right now? Are you thinking of me?

快樂是否曾來過 探訪我們兩個

Did happiness not call here once, and visit you and I?

誰都不想讓自己錯 剩下了自己一個

Who doesn’t think they have made a mistake, when abandoned all alone?

找到你愛的咖啡店 嘗試去感應著你

I find the coffee shop that you loved, to try to connect with you.

喝一杯低糖的Latte 你還會想嘗一口

I drink a sugarfree latte, do you still want to try a sip?

快樂是否曾來過 探訪我們兩個

Did happiness not call here once, and visit you and I?

誰都不想讓自己錯 剩下了自己一個

Who doesn’t think they have made a mistake, when abandoned all alone?

*春夏秋冬 有多少人會走

Spring, summer, autumn, winter; how many people will leave?

春夏秋冬 有多少人會留

Spring, summer, autumn, winter; how many people will stay?

傳聞你身邊有個他 兩個人很快樂嗎

Rumour says someone else is by your side now, are the two of you happy?

聽說你跟他提起我 是否對我也牽挂

I heard that you mentioned me to him, was it to lead me along?

快樂是否也來過 探訪你們兩個

Did happiness not call here once, and visit the two of you?

誰都不想再讓你哭 剩下你自己一個

Who doesn’t want to cry again, when abandoned all alone?

外面的雨下得太久 我的心感覺冷漠

The rain outside has been falling for too long, my heart feels forgotten,

看到這一場過雲雨 你是否會想起我

I see the storm clouds are passing, do you still think of me? 

Wandering Songstress 天涯歌女 - Shanghai Restoration Project's Version   

(seen in Street Angel 1937 and Lust|Caution 2007)

天涯呀海角 觅呀觅知音

To the ends of the Earth and edges of the sea; searching, searching for my soulmate.

小妹妹唱歌郎奏琴

A young girl sings, a boy accompanies with a zither.

郎呀咱们俩是一条心

My dearest, our hearts are one.

哎呀哎呀郎呀 咱们俩是一条心

Aiya aiya my young man, our hearts are one.

家山呀北望 泪呀泪满襟

From my mountain home, I gaze North. Tears, tears fall and wet my gown.

小妹妹想郎直到今

I miss him endlessly.

郎呀 患难之交恩爱深

My dearest, love that lasts through hard times is the deepest.

哎呀哎呀 郎呀患难之交恩爱深

Aiya aiya my young man, love that lasts through hard times is the deepest.

人生呀谁不惜呀惜青春

In life, who does not cherish the springtime of youth?

小妹妹似线郎似针

A young girl is the thread, her man is the needle.

郎呀穿在一起不离分

My dearest, once threaded together they are never to part

哎呀哎呀 郎呀穿在一起不离分

Aiya aiya my young man, once threaded together they are never to part.

Chinese New Year Cheer 全国兴高采烈

At this time of year Chinese cities empty as the diaspora of rural workers pour back into the countryside to spend the festivities with their families. Like the pull of seasons on migratory birds, the figurative natural law of Spring Festival compels millions of Chinese to brave the arduous passage home. Public transportation authorities estimate that 3.4 billion journeys will be made on buses, planes and trains in this year’s holiday season alone. But what of those who do not make it home to their families?

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I heard this song on a bus the other day, and its mood immediately distinguished itself from the pounding euro-pop beat new year songs consisting of one phrase repeated ad nauseam that the supermarkets all love to play. Apart from telling a sad tale of spending Spring Festival all on one’s lonesome, it also speaks volumes about Chinese attitudes towards one’s parents. In other words, the philosophy known to the West as ‘filial piety’. It is an Asian topic of pop music that simply doesn’t exist in the West, or not that I’ve heard of anyway. Imagine one of Chinese-speaking Asia’s coolest pop musicians; he’s handsome, acts in films, composes his own songs, hell, he even raps. He released a part-sung, part-rap bubblegum pop song called ‘Listen to Your Mother’. And he’s not alone, I’ve heard numerous songs espousing similar messages. I think Clive Dunn’s ‘Grandad’ may have ended this genre for us before it even began. 

Anyway, here’s my translation of Li Hua Rong’s ‘Happy New Year, Mum and Dad’:

A lively street corner,

The firecrackers are burning.*

A stranger’s smile lets me know

New Year is coming.

The cold wind is blowing in,

The thread of my thought wanders, 

In the cold wind, my parents tiptoeing tall on both feet.*

I hope I can return home.

If I had a pair of wings, if I could fly,

I would fly back to your side.

But I have to be far from home,

My tears singing silently for you.

(Chorus) Dear Mother and Father, Happy New Year,

I have hardships, can you understand?

I wipe my tears, I won’t let you know

In my absence you cannot depend on me.

Dear Mother and Father, Happy New Year,

I wish you peace into your old age.

To return in glory is my goal,

I will definitely make you proud of me.

The red envelopes of my childhood*

Who should I ask?

The ringing of the New Year bell, I feel * 

Just like a blade of grass.

If I had a pair of wings, if I could fly,

I would fly back to your side.

But I have to be far from home,

My tears singing silently for you.

(Chorus) x2

"Happy New Year, Mum and Dad" also mentions a number of Spring Festival traditions which I have asterisked, and although explanations of these are a dime a dozen, what kind of China blogger would I be if I didn't have a go myself?

Firecrackers - Like fireworks, but without the awe and beauty. Instead there's just endless, deafening noise to scare away evil spirits. During Chinese New Year 2011 there were 11,813 accidents and RMB56million worth of damages due to firecrackers and fireworks. Not a great start to the year. 

Chinese Couplets - While the lyrics don't mention the couplets directly, the video shows a man and an old woman tiptoeing in order to stick scrolls onto a wall. These scrolls of calligraphy come in pairs, with one stuck on either side of the door frame to usher in blessings for the new year. Another common decoration stuck onto doors is the character 福, meaning 'happiness' and 'blessings'. It is normally stuck on upside down because the character 倒 (dao) 'upside down' sounds the same as 到 (dao) 'arrives'. Decorations such as these are usually red in colour, as the lucky colour is believed to frighten ghosts and spirits.

Red Envelopes - Also known as red packets. These envelopes are filled with money, and are always given to someone younger than yourself, especially to children at New Year. Red envelopes are also given as wedding gifts. 

New Year Bell - On New Year's Eve bells are set up in large public squares where people gather to celebrate and wait for the countdown. A bell's peal is thought to drive away bad luck. 

Family - Explicit throughout the song is the desire to return to one's home to pass the year with your relatives. Together you participate in one of the most important New Year traditions: gorging yourself senseless. This feast also involves a number of traditional foods, including fish, dumplings, lotus, new year cake, tang yuan, as well as a host of local customs. 

I suppose all that's left for me to say is Happy New Year!

祝来年好运, 成就, 健康, 大吉大利! 愿快乐幸福永伴你左右!