童话 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 光良

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of Mandarin through Michael Wong's timeless hit, 'Tong Hua' (Fairy Tale). The song's clear and simple lyrics make it an excellent choice for language learners to practice pronunciation and vocabulary related to emotions and storytelling. 'Tong Hua' is special because its universal message of hope and love transcends language barriers, offering a touching and memorable way to connect with Chinese culture.

[English]

Fairy Tale Michael Wong

How long has it been since I last heard from you?

You told me your favorite story.

I’ve thought about it for so long, I’m starting to feel lost.

Did I do something wrong again?

Crying, you told me, "Fairy tales are all lies."

I can’t be your prince.

Maybe you’ll never understand, after you said you loved me,

My world lit up with stars.

I’d willingly become the angel in the fairy tale you love.

Spreading my arms, turning them into wings to protect you.

You must believe, believe we’ll be like the happy ending in a fairy tale.

Happiness and joy will be our finale.

Crying, you told me, "Fairy tales are all lies."

I can’t be your prince.

Maybe you’ll never understand, after you said you loved me,

My world lit up with stars.

I’d willingly become the angel in the fairy tale you love.

Spreading my arms, turning them into wings to protect you.

You must believe, believe we’ll be like the happy ending in a fairy tale.

Happiness and joy will be our finale.

I want to become the angel in the fairy tale you love.

Spreading my arms, turning them into wings to protect you.

You must believe, believe we’ll be like the happy ending in a fairy tale.

Happiness and joy will be our finale.

I will become the angel in the fairy tale you love.

Spreading my arms, turning them into wings to protect you.

You must believe, believe we’ll be like the happy ending in a fairy tale.

Happiness and joy will be our finale.

Let’s write our own happy ending together.

[Chinese]

tóng huà guāng liáng

wàng le yǒu duō jiǔ zài méi tīng dào nǐ

duì wǒ shuō nǐ zuì ài de gù shì

wǒ xiǎng le hěn jiǔ wǒ kāi shǐ huāng le

shì bú shì wǒ yòu zuò cuò le shí me

nǐ kū zhe duì wǒ shuō tóng huà lǐ dōu shì piàn rén de

wǒ bú kě néng shì nǐ de wáng zǐ

yě xǔ nǐ bú huì dǒng cóng nǐ shuō ài wǒ yǐ hòu

wǒ de tiān kōng xīng xīng dōu liàng le

wǒ yuàn biàn chéng tóng huà lǐ nǐ ài de nà gè tiān shǐ

zhāng kāi shuāng shǒu biàn chéng chì bǎng shǒu hù nǐ

nǐ yào xiàng xìn xiàng xìn wǒ men huì xiàng tóng huà gù shì lǐ

xìng fú hé kuài lè shì jié jú

nǐ kū zhe duì wǒ shuō tóng huà lǐ dōu shì piàn rén de

wǒ bú kě néng shì nǐ de wáng zǐ

yě xǔ nǐ bú huì dǒng cóng nǐ shuō ài wǒ yǐ hòu

wǒ de tiān kōng xīng xīng dōu liàng le

wǒ yuàn biàn chéng tóng huà lǐ nǐ ài de nà gè tiān shǐ

zhāng kāi shuāng shǒu biàn chéng chì bǎng shǒu hù nǐ

nǐ yào xiàng xìn xiàng xìn wǒ men huì xiàng tóng huà gù shì lǐ

xìng fú hé kuài lè shì jié jú

wǒ yào biàn chéng tóng huà lǐ nǐ ài de nà gè tiān shǐ

zhāng kāi shuāng shǒu biàn chéng chì bǎng shǒu hù nǐ

nǐ yào xiàng xìn xiàng xìn wǒ men huì xiàng tóng huà gù shì lǐ

xìng fú hé kuài lè shì jié jú

wǒ huì biàn chéng tóng huà lǐ nǐ ài de nà gè tiān shǐ

zhāng kāi shuāng shǒu biàn chéng chì bǎng shǒu hù nǐ

nǐ yào xiàng xìn xiàng xìn wǒ men huì xiàng tóng huà gù shì lǐ

xìng fú hé kuài lè shì jié jú

yī qǐ xiě wǒ men de jié jú

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
童话 /tʂʊ́ŋ xuɑ̂/ B1	noun - fairy tale
爱 /âi/ A1	noun - love (a feeling) verb - to love
王子 /wɑ́ŋ tsɨ́/ B1	noun - prince
故事 /kù ʂɨ̂/ A2	noun - story
天空 /tʰjɛn⁵⁵ kʰʊ̂ŋ/ A2	noun - sky
星星 /ɕiŋ⁵⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/ A2	noun - star
亮 /ljâŋ/ B1	adjective - bright; shining verb - to shine; to become bright
变成 /pjɛn⁵¹ tʂə̂ŋ/ B1	verb - to become; to turn into
相信 /ɕjɑ́ŋ ɕîn/ B2	verb - to believe; to trust
幸福 /ɕiŋ⁵⁵ fû/ B2	noun - happiness; well‑being adjective - happy; blessed
快乐 /kʰwâi lɤ̂/ B1	noun - happiness; joy adjective - happy; joyful
结局 /tɕjê̂ tɕŷ/ B2	noun - ending; conclusion
开始 /kʰâi ʂɨ̂/ A2	verb - to start; to begin noun - beginning; start
想 /ɕjâŋ/ A2	verb - to think; to miss; to want
哭 /kû/ A2	verb - to cry
错 /tsʰwɔ̂/ A2	adjective - wrong; incorrect verb - to make a mistake
可能 /kʰɤ̂ nɤ̂ŋ/ B1	adjective - possible; likely verb - may; might
愿 /ɥɛ̂n/ B2	verb - to wish; to hope
手 /ʂô/ A1	noun - hand

Key Grammar Structures

• wàng le yǒu duō jiǔ zài méi tīng dào nǐ

  ➔ Use of '了' (le) indicating a completed action and a change of state.

  ➔ The sentence means 'I've forgotten how long it's been since I last heard from you.' The '了' after '忘' (wàng - forget) and '有' (yǒu - have) indicates that the forgetting and the duration have both been completed.

• wǒ xiǎng le hěn jiǔ wǒ kāi shǐ huāng le

  ➔ Reduplication of '了' (le) to emphasize the completion of both thinking and starting to be dazed.

  ➔ This translates to 'I've thought about it for a long time, I'm starting to feel dazed.' The double '了' emphasizes the prolonged thinking and the resulting state of confusion.

• yě xǔ nǐ bú huì dǒng cóng nǐ shuō ài wǒ yǐ hòu

  ➔ Use of '也许' (yě xǔ) expressing possibility or conjecture.

  ➔ This means 'Maybe you won't understand, since you told me you loved me.' '也许' indicates the speaker is unsure if the other person will understand their feelings.

• wǒ yuàn biàn chéng tóng huà lǐ nǐ ài de nà gè tiān shǐ

  ➔ Use of '愿' (yuàn) expressing willingness or desire.

  ➔ This translates to 'I wish to become the angel in the fairytale that you love.' '愿' expresses a strong desire to transform into something the beloved person cherishes.