Chino – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Tito Double P, Neton Vega

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Spanish through 'Chino' offers a unique window into the world of corridos tumbados, a popular and influential genre in contemporary Latin music. The song's narrative lyrics provide an opportunity to understand slang and cultural references specific to this style of storytelling. Exploring 'Chino' can help you grasp the themes of loyalty, power, and regional identity that are central to this musical movement.

[English]

Hand me a quick whisky right now, I can take it.

El Chino never fears.

Bad in the rough, good in the smooth.

With Mr. Plumas we're fully loaded.

We always learn from his right‑hand man.

And even though I'm slick, I die on the edge.

I never put down my Glock and my horn.

We are, and will always be, the four‑letter crew.

02 is my code and they see me.

We fight in Michoacán and we watch over Vallarta.

Boss #3's flag is the one that matters.

H4 has my complete trust.

Stay sharp, ride the board.

The Deltas are out on a campaign.

If it's offered, the packages fire.

Don't mess with the Alphas.

And this one's heading to Jalisco, my old man.

Pull yourself, oh mom!

Stay sharp with the ride, buddy.

Tito Double P

...

Smart handling, also out of respect.

Leader of the Alphas, with signature and respect.

Speed, RZRs and adrenaline.

Big buddy check, ready to go and on point.

My brother is red through thick and thin.

For the cash, Kike runs things.

I put the traitors in my sights.

I don't draw attention and they barely look at us.

We take on the bosses' missions.

You can see trucks heading toward the swamp.

The caravans stretch far.

The one with the feathers never fails.

Keeping an eye on what's happening.

Nothing is ever neglected.

...

[Spanish]

Pásenme un whiskyto ahorita que puedo

El Chino nunca carga miedo

Malo por las malas, por las buenas, bueno

Con el señor Plumas estamos de lleno

Su mano derecha siempre le aprendemos

Y aunque soy muy fino, en la raya me muero

No despego nunca mi Glock y mi cuerno

De las cuatro letras somos y seremos

02 mi clave y me ven por La Perla

Peleamos Michoacán y cuidamos Vallarta

Bandera del jefe 3 es la que pesa

H, 4, tiene toda mi confianza

Trucha carrucha con la tabla

Andan los Deltas en campaña

Si se ofrece, truenan las pacas

No se enreden con Los Alfas

Y esta se va hasta Jalisco, mi viejo

Jálese, ¡ay, mamá!

Trucha con la carrucha, compare

Tito Double P

Porte inteligente, también de respeto

Líder de Los Alfas, con firma y aprecio

Velocidad, RZRs y la adrenalina

Amigazo check, al tiro y a la línea

Rojo mi carnal en buenas y malas

Pa las cuentas, Kike manda

A los traicioneros los pongo en la mira

No llamo la atención y muy poco nos miran

Misiones de los jefes nos aventamos

Se ven camionetas con rumbo pa'l charco

Se ven largas las caravanas

Al de las plumas no le falla

Al pendiente de lo que pasa

Nunca se descuida nada

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
whiskyto /wisˈkito/ C2	noun - small glass of whisky (diminutive)
miedo /ˈmjɛ.ðo/ A1	noun - fear
malo /ˈmalo/ A1	adjective - bad
bueno /ˈbweno/ A1	adjective - good
confianza /konˈfjanθa/ B1	noun - trust; confidence
trucha /ˈtɾutʃa/ multi	noun - trout adjective - alert; vigilant (slang)
carrucha /kaˈrutʃa/ C2	noun - old clunker (slang for car)
adrenalina /adɾe.naˈlina/ B2	noun - adrenaline
velocidad /beloθiˈðað/ B1	noun - speed
respeto /resˈpeto/ A2	noun - respect
líder /ˈliðeɾ/ B1	noun - leader
aprender /apɾenˈdeɾ/ A1	verb - to learn
pelear /peleˈaɾ/ A2	verb - to fight
ofrecer /ofɾeˈseɾ/ B1	verb - to offer
truenar /tɾuˈenaɾ/ B2	verb - to thunder verb - slang: to burst open (bundles of money)
descuidar /deskwiˈðaɾ/ B2	verb - to neglect; to not pay attention
carnal /karˈnal/ C2	noun - buddy; pal (Mexican slang)
misión /miˈsjon/ B1	noun - mission; task
campaña /kampaˈɲa/ B2	noun - campaign
camioneta /kami.oˈneta/ B1	noun - pickup truck; van

Key Grammar Structures

• Pásenme un whiskyto ahorita que puedo

  ➔ Imperative form + object pronoun

  ➔ "Pásenme" is the imperative of "pasar" with the indirect object pronoun "-me" attached, meaning 'Pass me (the drink)'.

• Malo por las malas, por las buenas, bueno

  ➔ Antithetical parallelism (contrast structure)

  ➔ The phrase contrasts reactions to situations: ‘bad when things go bad, good when things go well’. It uses repetition and symmetry.

• Y aunque soy muy fino, en la raya me muero

  ➔ Subordinate clause with conjunction ‘aunque’ (concession)

  ➔ ‘Aunque’ introduces a concessive clause meaning ‘even though’. The sentence contrasts refinement with bravery.

• No despego nunca mi Glock y mi cuerno

  ➔ Double negative + reflexive structure (omitted ‘me’)

  ➔ ‘No despego nunca’ means ‘I never separate’. The reflexive ‘me despego’ is shortened by omission of ‘me’ for style.

• De las cuatro letras somos y seremos

  ➔ Use of ser in present and future tenses (identity statement)

  ➔ The phrase uses ‘somos’ (we are) and ‘seremos’ (we will be) to show continuous allegiance or identity with ‘las cuatro letras’.

• Peleamos Michoacán y cuidamos Vallarta

  ➔ Simple present tense describing habitual or factual actions

  ➔ ‘Peleamos’ and ‘cuidamos’ describe ongoing duties, not literal present-time combat.

• Trucha carrucha con la tabla

  ➔ Colloquial imperative phrase with ellipsis

  ➔ ‘Trucha’ (be alert) acts as an imperative. The implied verb ‘estar’ or ‘ponerse’ is omitted, common in slang.

• No se enreden con Los Alfas

  ➔ Negative imperative with reflexive verb

  ➔ ‘No se enreden’ means ‘Don’t get involved’. The reflexive pronoun ‘se’ marks involvement or entanglement.

• Misiones de los jefes nos aventamos

  ➔ Pronominal use of ‘aventarse’ meaning reflexive engagement

  ➔ ‘Nos aventamos’ means ‘we take on (missions ourselves)’; the reflexive form adds personal risk or initiative.

• Nunca se descuida nada

  ➔ Double negation for emphasis

  ➔ ‘Nunca’ and ‘nada’ both negate the clause, strengthening the meaning ‘Nothing is ever neglected’.