Chopsticks – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Phương Mỹ Chi, DTAP, INUS
• Album: 亚洲新声 第10期 (Asia New Voice Season 10)

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the profound message of unity woven into Phương Mỹ Chi, DTAP, and INUS's song 'Chopsticks.' This track, featuring a beautiful blend of Vietnamese tradition and modern production across multiple languages, is special for its heartfelt call for solidarity, offering listeners a chance to connect with a universal theme of strength in togetherness.

[English]

Once upon a time

Once upon a time

There was a father who fell ill

There was a father who fell ill

But he couldn't rest

But he couldn't rest

’Cause his five kids kept arguing

’Cause his five kids kept arguing

And one day, he gathered them

And one day, he gathered them

To share some words of wisdom

To share some words of wisdom

Who could break a bunch of chopsticks

Who could break a bunch of chopsticks

Would inherit his gold

Would inherit his gold

A bundle of chopsticks can’t be broken, my child

Exhausted, yet there’s no other way

Three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang

Together, we are one

When we hold our hands

Together

We will never end

Together

Brave and bold, this bond can’t be sold

Like chopsticks when they’re held as one

Forever

Together

Together we’re strong

Time is flying fast

That old story hasn’t faded

Lessons from the past

We still need to keep on learning

Break the ice inside

No wall could ever stand between us now

Though we’re apart

Even if we’re miles away

Our souls and hearts

Feel the music that makes us sing along

We’re Asian, uh huh

People of Asia

Shining bright in the galaxy

Though small

Together we shine

When we’re in each other’s hands

We are Asian

We are Asian

Together we’re strong

Brave and bold, this bond can’t be sold

Like chopsticks when they’re held as one

Forever

Together

Together we’re strong

When we hold our hands

Together

We will never end

Together

Together we’re strong

Together

Together

[Chinese]

Once upon a time

Once upon a time

There was a father who got ill

There was a father who got ill

But he could not rest

But he could not rest

Cuz his five kids kept bickering

Cuz his five kids kept bickering

And one day he gathered them

And one day he gathered them

Words of wisdom to be said

Words of wisdom to be said

Who could break a bunch of chopsticks

Who could break a bunch of chopsticks

Would take over his gold

Would take over his gold

筷子一束难以折断孩子你呀

筋疲力尽终究没办法

三个皮匠胜过一个诸葛亮

Together made us as one

When we hold our hands

Together

We will never end

Together

Brave and bold the bond can't be sold

Like the chopsticks when they're held as one

Forever

Together

Together we're strong

Times is flying fast

That old story hasn't faded

Lesson from the past

We still need to keep on learning

Break the ice inside

Ain't no wall could ever stand between us now

Though we're apart

Even if we're miles afar

Our souls and hearts

Feel the music that could make us sing along

We're Asian hu uh

Người Châu Á

Rực sáng thiên hà

Dù nhỏ bé

Together we shine

Khi ta trong tay

We are Asian

We are Asian

Together we're strong

Brave and bold the bond can't be sold

Like the chopsticks when they're held as one

Forever

Together

Together we're strong

When we hold our hands

Together

We will never end

Together

Together we're strong

Together

Together

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
break /breɪk/ A1	verb - to separate into pieces
bickering /ˈbɪkərɪŋ/ B1	verb - to argue about petty things
wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ B1	noun - the ability to make good judgments
chopsticks /ˈtʃɒpstɪks/ A1	noun - utensils used for eating in many Asian cultures
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1	noun - a precious yellow metal
together /təˈɡeðər/ A1	adverb - in or into one company or group
brave /breɪv/ A2	adjective - showing courage
bold /boʊld/ B1	adjective - showing confidence and fearlessness
bond /bɒnd/ B1	noun - a connection or tie
shine /ʃaɪn/ A2	verb - to emit light
galaxy /ˈɡæləksi/ B1	noun - a system of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies
tiny /ˈtaɪni/ A1	adjective - very small
Asian /ˈeɪʒən/ A1	adjective - relating to Asia or its people
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to grasp or carry something
lesson /ˈlɛsən/ A2	noun - something learned from experience
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual part of a person
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - to produce musical sounds with the voice
far /fɑːr/ A1	adjective - distant in space or time

Key Grammar Structures

• Once upon a time There was a father who got ill

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ This sentence uses past simple to narrate a completed event in the story. "got" describes an action that happened at a specific time in the past.

• But he could not rest

  ➔ Modal Verb (could)

  ➔ "Could" expresses ability or possibility in the past. Here, it shows that the father was unable to rest due to the kids' behavior.

• Cuz his five kids kept bickering

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ "Kept" indicates a repeated or continuous action in the past. Here, it shows the ongoing annoyance of the kids arguing, interrupting the father's rest.

• Who could break a bunch of chopsticks

  ➔ Relative Clause (defining)

  ➔ This is a defining relative clause introduced by "who," specifying which person could perform the action. It identifies the one who breaks the chopsticks to inherit the gold.

• Together made us as one

  ➔ Cleft Sentence (It-Cleft)

  ➔ This uses an it-cleft structure to emphasize "together" as the factor that made us one, highlighting unity from collaboration.

• That old story hasn't faded

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ "Hasn't faded" connects a past event (the story) to the present, indicating the lesson remains relevant and hasn't disappeared over time.

• Though we're apart

  ➔ Concession Clause (Though)

  ➔ "Though" introduces a concession, acknowledging separation or distance as a fact, while the main clause follows with unity despite it.

• Even if we're miles afar

  ➔ Conditional Concession (Even if)

  ➔ "Even if" expresses a hypothetical situation of being far apart, conceding it does not break the bond, equivalent to a third conditional in nuance.

• We're Asian hu uh

  ➔ Present Simple for Identity

  ➔ Present simple states a permanent or inherent identity. "Are" emphasizes collective Asian identity, with "hu uh" as emphatic interjection.

• When we hold our hands

  ➔ Time Clause (When)

  ➔ "When" introduces a time clause, linking a future or habitual action to unity. It conditions the idea that holding hands results in strength.