Chú Ếch Con – Bilingual Lyrics Vietnamese/English

• By: Various Children's Artists

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the simple yet rich language of Vietnamese through the cheerful melody of "Chú Ếch Con" (The Little Frog). This classic children's song is special because it introduces young learners to vocabulary related to nature, animals, and basic actions in a memorable and engaging way, making learning Vietnamese feel like a happy, musical playtime.

[English]

Look, there’s a little frog,

With two round eyes so big and cog.

He sits alone to study hard,

By the bomb crater near the xoan tree yard.

So many young catfish play,

With plenty of little climbing perch in sway.

They flutter their fins with glee,

Dancing to the frog’s crisp melody.

Look, there’s a little frog,

The most obedient child in his log.

He’s finished his lessons, all by heart,

Now he sings a contest with the myna bird’s art.

So many little warblers sing along,

With plenty of female tilapia in the throng.

Enchanted by his lovely tune,

They laugh with joy beneath the moon.

Look, there’s a little frog,

With two round eyes so big and cog.

He sits alone to study hard,

By the bomb crater near the xoan tree yard.

So many young catfish play,

With plenty of little climbing perch in sway.

They flutter their fins with glee,

Dancing to the frog’s crisp melody.

Look, there’s a little frog,

The most obedient child in his log.

He’s finished his lessons, all by heart,

Now he sings a contest with the myna bird’s art.

So many little warblers sing along,

With plenty of female tilapia in the throng.

Enchanted by his lovely tune,

They laugh with joy beneath the moon.

[Vietnamese]

Kìa chú là chú ếch con

Có hai là hai mắt tròn.

Chú ngồi học bài một mình

Bên hố bom kề vườn xoan.

Bao cô cá trê non

Cùng bao chú cá rô ron.

Tung tăng chiếc vây son

Nhịp theo tiếng ếch vang giòn.

Kìa chú là chú ếch con

Bé ngoan là ngoan nhất nhà.

Chú học thuộc bài xong rồi

Chú hát thi cùng họa my.

Bao nhiêu chú chim ri

Cùng bao cô cá rô phi.

Nghe tiếng hát mê li

Cùng vui thích chí cười khì.

Kìa chú là chú ếch con

Có hai là hai mắt tròn.

Chú ngồi học bài một mình

Bên hố bom kề vườn xoan.

Bao cô cá trê non

Cùng bao chú cá rô ron.

Tung tăng chiếc vây son

Nhịp theo tiếng ếch vang giòn.

Kìa chú là chú ếch con

Bé ngoan là ngoan nhất nhà.

Chú học thuộc bài xong rồi

Chú hát thi cùng họa my.

Bao nhiêu chú chim ri

Cùng bao cô cá rô phi.

Nghe tiếng hát mê li

Cùng vui thích chí cười khì.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ếch /ɛ̂k/ A1	noun - frog
mắt /mǎt/ A1	noun - eye
ngồi /ŋôːi/ A1	verb - to sit
học /ɣɔ̂k/ A1	verb - to study
bài /baːi/ A1	noun - lesson
bom /boːm/ A2	noun - bomb crater
xoan /xwaːn/ B1	noun - tamarind tree
cá /kaː/ A1	noun - fish
trê /t͡ɕe/ B1	noun - mudfish
rô /roː/ B1	noun - gourami fish
tung /tuŋ/ A2	verb - to flutter
vây /viː/ A2	noun - fin
son /son/ A2	adjective - pink
hát /hǎt/ A1	verb - to sing
chim /t͡ɕim/ A1	noun - bird
ri /ri/ B1	noun - type of bird
mê /me/ A2	adjective - enchanted
cười /kə̄ːi/ A1	verb - to laugh

Key Grammar Structures

• Kìa chú là chú ếch con

  ➔ Demonstrative pronoun + Copula verb

  ➔ "Kìa" is a demonstrative pronoun indicating proximity or surprise, used to draw attention. "Là" is the copula verb linking the subject to the predicate, like "is" in English.

• Có hai là hai mắt tròn

  ➔ Possession + Repetition for emphasis

  ➔ "Có" expresses possession, meaning "have" or "there is/are". The repetition "hai là hai" emphasizes the quantity, a poetic way to stress "two round eyes".

• Chú ngồi học bài một mình

  ➔ Verb phrase with locative adverb

  ➔ "Ngồi học" is a verb phrase meaning "to sit and study", compounded from verbs. "Một mình" is an adverb indicating "alone" or "by oneself", functioning as a locative modifier.

• Cùng bao cô cá trê non

  ➔ Conjunction + Indefinite quantifier

  ➔ "Cùng" is a conjunction meaning "together with". "Bao" is an indefinite quantifier like "many" or "so many", used before nouns for emphasis in lists.

• Nghe tiếng hát mê li

  ➔ Adjective intensifier + Adjective

  ➔ "Mê li" is an intensifier modifying the adjective "nghe", intensifying "enchanted" in "enchanted by the singing". This structure amplifies emotional responses.

• Chú hát thi cùng họa my

  ➔ Verb + Preposition + Noun (coordination)

  ➔ "Thi" is a verb meaning "to compete", and "cùng" coordinates "thi với họa my", indicating "compete together with the fairies", a structure showing collaboration.

• Bên hố bom kề vườn xoan

  ➔ Prepositional phrase with juxtaposition

  ➔ "Bên" is a preposition meaning "beside", "kề" juxtaposes "beside the crater next to the garden", creating a descriptive location adverbial.

• Nhịp theo tiếng ếch vang giòn

  ➔ Compound verb + Modifier

  ➔ "Nhịp theo" is a compound verb meaning "to follow the rhythm of", with "theo" indicating direction. "Vang giòn" modifies the sound, showing vivid onomatopoeic description.

• Cùng vui thích chí cười khì

  ➔ Adverbial phrases for emotion

  ➔ "Vui thích chí" and "cười khì" are adverbial phrases conveying joy: "happily and delightedly laugh hilariously", stacked adverbs intensifying the happy response.