聽媽媽的話 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 周杰倫

Lyrics & Translation

Learn Mandarin through the heartfelt story of Jay Chou's 'Listen to Mother's Words.' This song offers a glimpse into the universal theme of a mother's love and the value of filial piety, expressed through a unique blend of rap and pop. Its conversational lyrics and clear narrative make it an engaging way to pick up new vocabulary and understand cultural values, all while enjoying one of Mandopop's most iconic songs.

[English]

Kids, do you have lots of questions?

Why is everyone else reading comics over there?

While I’m drawing and talking to the piano.

Others are playing games, but I’m leaning against the wall studying my ABCs.

I said I wanted a big airplane.

But I got an old tape recorder instead.

Why do we have to listen to mom’s words?

You’ll understand these words when you grow up.

As I grow older, I start to see.

Why I run faster and fly higher than others.

Soon everyone will be looking at the comics I drew.

Everyone will be singing the songs I wrote.

Mom’s hard work isn’t visible to you; her heart holds warm recipes.

Whenever you have free time, hold her hand more often, walk hand in hand dreaming together.

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

Want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

Beautiful white hair beginning to sprout with happiness.

Angel’s magic, warm and gentle.

In your future, music will be your winning card.

Use your trump card to fall in love—ah, I don’t want to spoil you.

Better to listen to mom’s words, wait until later to fall in love.

I know your future path, but mom knows even better.

You’ll start writing all sorts of things in your schoolbag like your classmates.

But I suggest you focus on studying hard like I do.

How can studying hard come out of my mouth?

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

Mom knits you sweaters, take good care of them.

Because on Mother’s Day, I want to tell her I still keep it.

Oh right, I’ll meet Chow Yun-fat someday.

Then you can show off to your classmates that the God of Gamblers is your dad.

I can’t find the love letters I wrote as a child, so don’t give them away once you finish writing.

Because in a couple of days, you’ll find it on the playground.

You’ll start liking pop songs because Jacky Cheung is preparing to sing “Kiss Goodbye.”

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

Want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

Beautiful white hair beginning to sprout with happiness.

Angel’s magic, warm and gentle.

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

Want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

As I grow older, I start to see.

Why I run faster and fly higher than others.

Soon everyone will be looking at the comics I drew.

Everyone will be singing the songs I wrote.

Mom’s hard work isn’t visible to you.

Her heart holds warm recipes.

Whenever you have free time, hold her hand more often.

Walk hand in hand dreaming together.

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

Want to grow up quickly so I can protect her.

Beautiful white hair beginning to sprout with happiness.

Angel’s magic, warm and gentle.

...

[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) /tiŋ/ A1	verb - to listen
漫畫 (mànhuà) /màn xwa/ A2	noun - comic book, manga
鋼琴 (gāngqín) /káŋ tɕʰin/ A2	noun - piano
遊戲 (yóuxì) /jǒʊ ɕi/ A2	noun - game
長大 (zhǎngdà) /ʈʂǎŋ ta/ A2	verb - to grow up
明白 (míngbái) /miŋ paɪ/ B1	verb - to understand adjective - clear; obvious
辛苦 (xīnkǔ) /ɕín kʰu/ B1	adjective - hard, toilsome, laborious
溫暖 (wēnnuǎn) /wə́n nwǎn/ B1	adjective - warm
未來 (wèilái) /wèi lái/ B1	noun - future
天使 (tiānshǐ) /tʰjén ʂɻ̩/ B1	noun - angel
魔法 (mófǎ) /mǒ fa/ B2	noun - magic
幸福 (xìngfú) /ɕiŋ fu/ B1	adjective - happy, blessed
戀愛 (liàn'ài) /ljên ài/ B2	verb - to be in love, to have a love affair
建議 (jiànyì) /tɕjên i/ B2	verb - to suggest, to recommend

Key Grammar Structures

• 我卻在學畫畫

  ➔ Contrast structure using '卻' to indicate unexpected or contrasting action

  ➔ The word **'卻'** (què) introduces contrast, showing that while others do one thing, the subject does something different.

• 長大後你就會開始懂了這段話

  ➔ Use of '後' (hòu) with a temporal marker to indicate 'after' or 'when' and the modal '會' (huì) to express future ability or intention

  ➔ The phrase combines **'後'** to indicate a point in time after which something happens, and **'會'** to show future ability or likelihood.

• 把手牽著一起夢遊

  ➔ Use of 把 (bǎ) as a preposition to introduce the object on which the action is performed, combined with a verb phrase

  ➔ The **'把'** structure introduces the object '手' (hand), and the verb '牽著' (holding) shows the action performed on the object.

• 想快快長大 才能保護她

  ➔ Use of 想 (xiǎng) to express desire, and 才能 (cáinéng) indicating the ability to do something after the desire is fulfilled

  ➔ The phrase combines **'想'** (want to) indicating desire and **'才能'** (only then can) showing that the ability or action depends on the prior desire or condition.