囍 – Bilingual Lyrics Vietnamese/English

• By: 葛东琪

Lyrics & Translation

"囍" (Double Happiness) offers a unique gateway into the nuances of Chinese cultural storytelling and musical expression. Through its blend of traditional instruments and a deeply evocative, albeit dark, narrative, learners can explore how language and music intertwine to convey complex emotions and hidden meanings. The song's ambiguous yet powerful lyrics, combined with its distinct sonic landscape, provide an excellent opportunity to appreciate the depth of Chinese artistry and the power of lyrical interpretation. Delve into its intriguing story to uncover the layers of cultural significance and masterful musical composition.

[English]

The eighteenth day of the first lunar month, an auspicious day, carrying sorghum.

Carrying the red attire, every inch cut in haste carries a sorrow.

Cutting away the beloved, alas, he doesn’t return, she feigns a smile.

The clapper of red sandalwood speaks lightly, yet its meaning is hard to guess.

Listen, at the hour of the Rabbit, three miles away, it stirs.

The rhythm, the sound of hooves rises, chopping away sorrow.

What seemed slow is now fast, the door pushes open, the mist parts.

Wild cats follow for several streets, climbing trees, necks crooked.

Looking around, she waits, this village is strange.

Closing all the doors.

Again, Wang Ergou’s shoes left outside the door.

She alone remembers the love that cuts deep.

Beyond right and wrong.

Now, dismounting, just now.

That official smiles.

That official ponders, thinking for a long time.

Only humming a tune of a lonely person’s sorrow.

She, once again, couldn’t respond.

She smiles while crying.

Can you guess how she smiles while crying?

Crying.

Look how she cries while smiling. (First bow to Heaven and Earth)

...

(Second bow to the parents)

...

(Husband and wife bow to each other)

In the hall.

He spoke from the heart.

Without keeping promises, how can one be carefree?

Light shadows, sighing for childhood sweethearts.

Waiting for a jade Ruyi.

A wine barrel, ah.

She perks up her ears, listening outside the bridal chamber.

The kind-hearted Wang Ergou runs here.

Bringing her some snacks.

This time, she couldn’t even speak.

She smiles while crying.

Can you guess how she smiles while crying?

Crying.

Look how she cries while smiling.

...

The eighteenth day of the first lunar month, this auspicious day.

The eighteenth day of the first lunar month, this auspicious day.

...

The eighteenth day of the first lunar month, this auspicious day.

...

The eighteenth day of the first lunar month, this auspicious day.

...

[Vietnamese]

正月十八 黃道吉日 高粱抬

抬上紅裝 一尺一恨 匆匆裁

裁去良人 奈何不歸 故作顏開

響板紅檀 說得輕快 著實難猜

聽著 卯時那三裡之外翻起來

平仄 馬蹄聲漸起斬落愁字開

說遲那時快 推門霧自開

野貓都跟了幾條街 上樹脖子歪

張望瞧她在等 這村裡也怪

把門全一關

又是王二狗的鞋 落在家門外

獨留她還記著 切膚之愛

屬是非之外

這不 下馬 方才

那官人笑起來

那官人樂著尋思了半天

只哼唧出個 離人愁來

她這次又是沒能接得上話

她笑著哭來著

你猜她怎麼笑著哭來著

哭來著

你看她怎麼哭著笑來著 (一拜天地)

(二拜高堂)

(夫妻對拜)

堂前

他說了掏心窩子話

不兌上諾言 豈能瀟灑

輕陰 嘆青梅竹馬

等一玉如意

一酒桶啊

她豎起耳朵一聽 這洞房外

那好心的王二狗 跑這

給她送點心來了

她這次可是沒能說得上話

她笑著哭來著

你猜她怎麼笑著哭來著

哭來著

你看她怎麼哭著笑來著

正月十八 這黃道吉日

正月十八 這黃道吉日

正月十八 這黃道吉日

正月十八 這黃道吉日

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
吉日 /jɪ̌ ʈ͡ʂʅ/ B2	noun - auspicious day
高粱 /kaʊ̯ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ/ C1	noun - sorghum
紅裝 /xʊ̌ŋ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ/ B2	noun - red attire
裁 /t͡sɑɪ̯/ B1	verb - to cut
良人 /li̯ɑŋ ʐən/ B2	noun - husband
響板 /ɕi̯ɑŋ pʰɑŋ/ C1	noun - clapper
紅檀 /xʊ̌ŋ tʰwən/ C1	noun - red sandalwood
翻 /fən/ B1	verb - to turn over
馬蹄 /mǎ tʰɤ̌i/ B2	noun - horse hoof
野貓 /jɛ̌ ʈ͡ɕɑʊ̯/ A2	noun - wild cat
切膚 /t͡ɕʰə̌ ʈ͡ʂʰʊ̯/ C1	adjective - heart-wrenching
官人 /k̚wə̌n ʐən/ B2	noun - official
洞房 /tʊ̌ŋ fɑŋ/ C1	noun - bridal chamber
點心 /ti̯ɛn ɕin/ B1	noun - snack
青梅竹馬 /tsʰʊ̌ɪ̯n t͡ʂʰʊ̌ɪ̯ t͡ʂʊ̌ʊ̯ mɑ/ C1	noun - childhood sweetheart

Key Grammar Structures

• 正月十八 黃道吉日 高粱抬

  ➔ Temporal phrases (正月十八 - the 18th of the first lunar month)

  ➔ The sentence begins with a temporal phrase, setting the scene.

• 裁去良人 奈何不歸 故作顏開

  ➔ Resultative verb complement (裁去 - cut off) ; Adverbial clause of reason (奈何不歸 - how can he not return); Verb-object structure (故作顏開 - pretend to smile)

  ➔ This line employs several complex grammatical structures to convey nuanced emotions.

• 說得輕快 著實難猜

  ➔ Resultative verb complement (說得輕快 - speak lightly); Emphasis (著實 - really, indeed)

  ➔ This line combines a resultative complement with an emphasis word to describe a seemingly lighthearted situation.

• 聽著 卯時那三裡之外翻起來

  ➔ Aspect marker (起來 - indicates the start or continuation of an action); prepositional phrase (三裡之外 - outside of three li)

  ➔ The use of 起來 indicates the action starts or continues. The prepositional phrase helps locate the origin of the sound

• 平仄 馬蹄聲漸起斬落愁字開

  ➔ Parallel structure (平仄 - the tonal patterns) ; verb-object construction (斬落愁字 - chop down the word 'sorrow')

  ➔ The line uses parallel structure to create rhythm and verb-object structure to deliver impactful emotion.

• 她豎起耳朵一聽 這洞房外

  ➔ Action sequence (豎起耳朵一聽 - pricked up her ears and listened)

  ➔ This line describes a sequence of actions, conveying alertness and anticipation.

• 他說了掏心窩子話

  ➔ Verb-object structure (掏心窩子話 - heartfelt words)

  ➔ This line uses a verb-object construction to describe the type of words spoken.

• 你猜她怎麼笑著哭來著

  ➔ Modal particle (來著 - indicates a past action, often with a sense of emphasis or questioning)

  ➔ The modal particle adds a layer of questioning and speculation about the past event.