关山酒 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 草帽酱

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heroic world of 'Guanshan Wine,' a Mandopop masterpiece rooted in the traditional Chinese 'Guofeng' style. Its powerful, classical Chinese lyrics offer an excellent way to learn sophisticated vocabulary and poetic expression about patriotism, ambition, and history. The song’s blending of traditional instruments like the *dizi* with modern rhythms makes its language both culturally rich and highly engaging.

[English]

I pour wine at the mountain pass, a thousand autumns down my throat

Boiled snow for cups, toasting with winds and clouds anew

I'm the old friend from afar, green mountains await my white hair

In my youth, wielding a silver spear, showing off my romance

Years of wind and snow sharpen my blade, with blustery winds in solitary day

Seeing the chaotic world, rugged and thin like bones

Smoke from battlefields unending, yellow clouds shroud the ground in sorrow

By luck, the red plum blossoms haven't fallen long from the branch

Enduring the long smoke in my embrace, hastily devising a plan

Stepping through flying sand, drawing my sword to slay enemy foes

Submerged in the setting sun's evening fire, spring winds ascend the high tower

Chaotic world's beacons of war never end, trapping the capital city

I pour wine at the mountain pass, a thousand autumns down my throat

Boiled snow for cups, toasting with winds and clouds anew

I'm the old friend from afar, green mountains await my white hair

In my youth, wielding a silver spear, showing off my romance

Destiny's recklessness like a lone wild goose wandering

In this mortal world, full of trickery in my belly

Boldly singing and pouring jade cups to the Northern Dipper

Endless rivers and mountains, I wish to guard with you

I pour wine at the mountain pass, a thousand autumns down my throat

Boiled snow for cups, toasting with winds and clouds anew

I'm the old friend from afar, green mountains await my white hair

In my youth, wielding a silver spear, showing off my romance

I pour wine at the mountain pass, a thousand autumns down my throat

Boiled snow for cups, toasting with winds and clouds anew

I'm the old friend from afar, green mountains await my white hair

In my youth, wielding a silver spear, showing off my romance

[Chinese]

我自关山点酒千秋皆入喉

更有沸雪酌与风云某

我是千里故人青山应白首

年少犹借银枪逞风流

几载风雪卷刃朔风同孤昼

瞧得乱世一般嶙峋瘦

塞外硝烟未断黄云遍地愁

侥幸红梅久不曾下枝头

长烟入怀潦草作运筹

踏过飞沙拔剑斩仇寇

残阳暮火春风上重楼

乱世烽火不尽长安囚

我自关山点酒千秋皆入喉

更有沸雪酌与风云某

我是千里故人青山应白首

年少犹借银枪逞风流

天命轻狂应似孤鸿游

向人世间尽一腹鬼谋

纵意而歌玉怀斟北斗

河山万里愿与君同守

我自关山点酒千秋皆入喉

更有沸雪酌与风云某

我是千里故人青山应白首

年少犹借银枪逞风流

我自关山点酒千秋皆入喉

更有沸雪酌与风云某

我是千里故人青山应白首

年少犹借银枪逞风流

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
关山 (guān shān) /ɡuān ʃán/ B2	noun - mountain pass; strategic location
酒 (jiǔ) /dʒiːˈuː/ A1	noun - alcohol; wine; liquor
千秋 (qiān qiū) /tʃʰjɛn t͡ɕʰi̯ou/ B2	noun - long time; eternity
喉 (hóu) /xǒu̯/ B1	noun - throat
雪 (xuě) /ɕɥœ/ A1	noun - snow
风云 (fēng yún) /fɤŋ y̌n/ B2	noun - wind and clouds; turbulent situation
故人 (gù rén) /ɡû rə̌n/ B2	noun - old friend
青山 (qīng shān) /t͡ɕʰiŋ ʃán/ B1	noun - green mountains
白首 (bái shǒu) /pǎi ʃòu/ B2	noun - white hair; old age
年少 (nián shào) /njɛn ʂâʊ/ A2	adjective - young
银枪 (yín qiāng) /ǐn t͡ɕʰi̯aŋ/ B1	noun - silver spear
风流 (fēng liú) /fɤŋ li̯ǒʊ/ B2	adjective - romantic and unconventional
风雪 (fēng xuě) /fəŋ ɕɥœ/ B1	noun - snowstorm
乱世 (luàn shì) /lwân ʂî/ B2	noun - turbulent times; chaotic world
烽火 (fēng huǒ) /fɤŋ xwɔ̀/ B2	noun - beacon fire; war

Key Grammar Structures

• 我自关山点酒千秋皆入喉

  ➔ Self‑starting preposition “自” + place + verb

  ➔ The word ""自"" indicates that the action starts from the mentioned place: "I, ""自"" the Guanshan, pour wine."

• 更有沸雪酌与风云某

  ➔ Adverbial “更” + existence verb “有” for addition

  ➔ The phrase ""更有"" means “moreover there is”, adding another element: “there is also boiling snow…”.

• 我是千里故人青山应白首

  ➔ Modal verb “应” + verb to express expectation/should

  ➔ The word ""应"" functions as a modal meaning “should” – "the green mountains ""应"" grow white with age".

• 年少犹借银枪逞风流

  ➔ Adverb “犹” + verb meaning “still / yet”

  ➔ The adverb ""犹"" adds the nuance of “still” – “even when young, I still borrow a silver spear…”.

• 瞧得乱世一般嶙峋瘦

  ➔ Result complement structure “Verb + 得 + Adj.”

  ➔ The pattern ""瞧得"" + adjective shows the result of looking: "looks (so) chaotic…".

• 塞外硝烟未断黄云遍地愁

  ➔ Negative adverb “未” + verb to express “not yet”

  ➔ ""未"" shows that the smoke “has not yet ceased”: 未断.

• 踏过飞沙拔剑斩仇寇

  ➔ Experiential complement “Verb + 过” indicating completed action

  ➔ ""踏过"" means “stepped over” – an action already performed.

• 天命轻狂应似孤鸿游

  ➔ Comparison structure “应似” (should be like)

  ➔ The phrase ""应似"" conveys a comparison: “destiny should be like a lone wild goose”.