聽媽媽的話 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周杰倫

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and Jay Chou's 'Listen to Mom's Words' is a perfect starting point for Mandarin learners. The song's clear narrative and heartfelt lyrics about family offer a touching insight into Chinese culture's emphasis on filial piety. The mix of slower-paced verses and a catchy chorus makes it accessible for beginners to practice their listening and pronunciation in a fun and meaningful way.

[English]

Little friend, do you have many questions?

Why are others reading comics over there?

While I'm learning to draw, talking to the piano.

Others are playing games, but I'm leaning against the wall, memorizing my ABCs.

I said I want a big airplane,

but I got an old tape recorder instead.

Why should I listen to my mom's words?

When you grow up, you'll start to understand this.

As I grew up, I began to realize

why I run faster than others and fly higher than others.

In the future, everyone will read the comics I draw.

Everyone will sing the songs I write.

You can't see the hardships of mom; the warm recipes are in her heart.

When you have time, hold her hand more often, dream together while holding hands.

Listen to your mom's words, don't let her get hurt.

I want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

Beautiful white hair, sprouting in happiness.

Angel's magic, warm and kind.

In your future, music will be your ace.

Use your ace to fall in love, sigh, I don't want to lead you astray.

Still, listen to your mom's words, wait a bit before falling in love.

I know the path you will take, but mom knows better than I do.

You will start to write things in your classmates' backpacks.

But I suggest you write, "Mom, I will study hard."

How could "study hard" come from my mouth?

I don't want you to lose, so I want to teach you to study hard.

The sweater mom knitted for you, you should keep it well.

Because when Mother's Day comes, I want to tell her I still have it.

By the way, I will meet Chow Yun-fat.

So you can brag to your classmates that the gambling god will be your dad.

I can't find the love letters I wrote in childhood; don't give them away after you finish.

Because in a couple of days, you will find one on the playground.

You will start to like pop songs because Jacky Cheung is about to sing "Kiss Goodbye."

Listen to your mom's words, don't let her get hurt.

I want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

Beautiful white hair, sprouting in happiness.

Angel's magic, warm and kind.

Listen to your mom's words, don't let her get hurt.

I want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

As I grew up, I began to realize

why I run faster than others and fly higher than others.

In the future, everyone will read the comics I draw.

Everyone will sing the songs I write.

You can't see the hardships of mom.

The warm recipes are in her heart.

When you have time, hold her hand more often.

Dream together while holding hands.

Listen to your mom's words, don't let her get hurt.

I want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

Beautiful white hair, sprouting in happiness.

Angel's magic, warm and kind.

...

[Chinese]

小朋友你是否有很多問號

為什麼別人在那看漫畫

我卻在學畫畫 對著鋼琴說話

別人在玩遊戲 我卻靠在牆壁背我的ABC

我說我要一個大大的飛機

但卻得到一台舊舊錄音機

為什麼要聽媽媽的話

長大後你就會開始懂了這段話

長大後我開始明白

為什麼我跑的比別人快 飛的比別人高

將來大家看的都是我畫的漫畫

大家唱的都是我寫的歌

媽媽的辛苦不讓你看見 溫暖的食譜在她心裡面

有空就去多多握握她的手 把手牽著一起夢遊

聽媽媽的話 別讓她受傷

想快快長大 才能保護她

美麗的白髮 幸福中發芽

天使的魔法 溫暖中慈祥

在你的未來 音樂是你的王牌

拿王牌談個戀愛 唉 我不想把你教壞

還是聽媽媽的話吧 晚點在戀愛吧

我知道你未來的路 但媽比我更清楚

你會開始學其他同學在書包寫東寫西

但我建議你最好寫 媽媽我會用功讀書

用功讀書怎麼會從我嘴巴說出

不想你輸所以要教你用功讀書

媽媽織給你的毛衣 你要好好收著

因為母親節到時我要告訴她我還留著

對了 我會遇到周潤發

所以你可以跟同學炫耀賭神未來是你爸爸

我找不到童年寫的情書 你寫完不要送人

因為過兩天你會在操場上撿到

你會開始喜歡上流行歌 因為張學友開始準備唱吻別

聽媽媽的話 別讓她受傷

想快快長大 才能保護她

美麗的白髮 幸福中發芽

天使的魔法 溫暖中慈祥

聽媽媽的話 別讓她受傷

想快快長大 才能保護她

長大後我開始明白

為什麼我跑得比別人快 飛得比別人高

將來大家看的都是我畫的漫畫

大家唱的都是我寫的歌

媽媽的辛苦不讓你看見

溫暖的食譜在她心裡面

有空就多多握握她的手

把手牽著一起夢遊

聽媽媽的話 別讓她受傷

想快快長大 才能保護她

美麗的白髮 幸福中發芽

天使的魔法 溫暖中慈祥

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
媽媽 (māmā) /má ma/ A1	noun - mother
聽 (tīng) /tʰiŋ/ A1	verb - to listen
話 (huà) /xwa/ A1	noun - speech, words
長大 (zhǎngdà) /tʂɑŋ ta/ A2	verb - to grow up
漫畫 (mànhuà) /mán xwa/ A2	noun - comic, manga
遊戲 (yóuxì) /joʊ ʃi/ A2	noun - game
飛機 (fēijī) /feɪ dʒi/ A2	noun - airplane
歌 (gē) /kɤ/ A1	noun - song
辛苦 (xīnkǔ) /ɕin kʰu/ B1	adjective - hard, toilsome
溫暖 (wēnnuǎn) /wən nwan/ B1	adjective - warm
食譜 (shípǔ) /ʂɨ pʰu/ B1	noun - recipe
手 (shǒu) /ʂoʊ/ A1	noun - hand
夢遊 (mèngyóu) /mɤŋ joʊ/ B2	verb - to sleepwalk
白髮 (báifà) /paɪ fa/ B2	noun - white hair
幸福 (xìngfú) /ɕiŋ fu/ B1	adjective - happy, blessed
天使 (tiānshǐ) /tʰjɛn ʂɨ/ B1	noun - angel
魔法 (mófǎ) /mǒ fà/ B1	noun - magic
音樂 (yīnyuè) /in yœ/ A2	noun - music
未來 (wèilái) /weɪ laɪ/ A2	noun - future

Key Grammar Structures

• 我卻在學畫畫

  ➔ Use of the contrastive conjunction '卻' to indicate a contrast or unexpected situation.

  ➔ '卻' is a classical or literary Chinese character used here to show contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs.

• 你會開始喜歡上流行歌

  ➔ Use of '會' to indicate future possibility or tendency, combined with '開始' to express the beginning of an action.

  ➔ '會' is a modal verb indicating future likelihood or potential, while '開始' means 'to begin'.

• 媽媽的辛苦不讓你看見

  ➔ Use of '不讓' to express 'not allow' or 'prevent' someone from doing something.

  ➔ '不讓' is a verb phrase meaning 'not allow' or 'prevent', used to indicate that someone is stopped from seeing or doing something.

• 把手牽著一起夢遊

  ➔ Use of '把' to introduce the disposal object, emphasizing the action of pulling and together '夢遊' as 'sleepwalking' or 'wandering'.

  ➔ '把' is a structural particle used to focus on the disposal of the object, often translating to 'to' or 'with' in English, here indicating holding hands while wandering.

• 長大後我開始明白

  ➔ Use of '後' to indicate 'after' or 'when', combined with '長大' meaning 'grow up' to express a point in time.

  ➔ '後' is a time indicator meaning 'after' or 'later', used here with '長大' (grow up) to specify the time when the understanding begins.