Lyrics & Translation
Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and "A Little Happiness" (小幸运) by Hebe Tien is a perfect song to start your Mandarin journey. Its slow tempo and clear, emotional vocals make it easy to follow along with the lyrics. The song's narrative of youthful love and nostalgia uses vocabulary that is both beautiful and practical, touching on themes of memory, regret, and cherished moments. By learning this song, you'll not only practice your Mandarin pronunciation and vocabulary but also connect with a story that has touched the hearts of millions across Asia.
I hear the school bell ringing in the distance.
But I didn't hear your voice.
Calling out my name so earnestly.
I didn't understand love when I fell for you.
Only after parting did I realize how deeply it was etched in my heart.
Why didn't I realize that meeting you.
Was the best thing in my life.
Maybe I was too busy smiling and crying back then.
Too busy chasing the shooting stars in the sky.
People naturally forget.
Who was it that always silently protected me in the wind and rain, staying right where they were?
Turns out, you're the luck I wanted to hold onto the most.
Turns out, we were once so close to love.
That decision to stand against the world for me.
That rain you shared with me.
Scene after scene, it's all you, a pure and untainted heart.
Meeting you, what good fortune.
But I've already lost the right to be moved to tears for you.
I hope that in the sky I can't see.
You've spread your wings.
The destined one who meets you.
How lucky she will be.
Youth is a clumsy, stumbling journey.
Possessing a beauty that's only realized after the fact.
I didn't have time to thank you for giving me courage.
Allowing me to be myself again.
Maybe I was too busy smiling and crying back then.
Too busy chasing the shooting stars in the sky.
People naturally forget.
Who was it that always silently protected me in the wind and rain, staying right where they were?
Turns out, you're the luck I wanted to hold onto the most.
Turns out, we were once so close to love.
That decision to stand against the world for me.
That rain you shared with me.
Scene after scene, it's all you, a pure and untainted heart.
Meeting you, what good fortune.
But I've already lost the right to be moved to tears for you.
I hope that in the sky I can't see.
You've spread your wings.
The destined one who meets you.
How lucky she will be.
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
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雨滴 (yǔdī) /yˈdi/ B1 |
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青青 (qīngqīng) /tʃʰɪŋ tʃʰɪŋ/ B1 |
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草地 (cǎodì) /tsʰaʊ ti/ A2 |
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鐘聲 (zhōngshēng) /tʂʊŋ ʃɤŋ/ B1 |
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聲音 (shēngyīn) /ʂɤŋ in/ A2 |
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姓名 (xìngmíng) /ɕiŋ miŋ/ B1 |
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感情 (gǎnqíng) /kan tʃʰɪŋ/ B1 |
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離別 (líbié) /li pi̯ɛ/ B2 |
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刻骨銘心 (kègǔmíngxīn) /kʰɤ ku mɪŋ ɕin/ C1 |
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發現 (fāxiàn) /fa ɕi̯ɛn/ A2 |
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生命 (shēngmìng) /ʂɤŋ miŋ/ B1 |
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微笑 (wēixiào) /wei ɕjaʊ/ A2 |
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哭泣 (kūqì) /kʰu t͡ɕʰi/ B1 |
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追逐 (zhuīzhú) /ʈ͡ʂwei ʈ͡ʂu/ B2 |
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流星 (liúxīng) /ljoʊ ɕɪŋ/ B1 |
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忘記 (wàngjì) /waŋ t͡ɕi/ A2 |
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守護 (shǒuhù) /ʂoʊ xu/ B2 |
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幸運 (xìngyùn) /ɕiŋ y̯ʏn/ A2 |
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愛情 (àiqíng) /aɪ t͡ɕʰɪŋ/ A2 |
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真心 (zhēnxīn) /ʈ͡ʂən ɕɪn/ B1 |
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青春 (qīngchūn) /t͡ɕʰɪŋ ʈ͡ʂʰwən/ B1 |
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旅行 (lǚxíng) /ly ɕɪŋ/ A2 |
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感謝 (gǎnxiè) /kan ɕi̯ɛ/ A2 |
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勇氣 (yǒngqì) /jʊŋ t͡ɕʰi/ B1 |
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What does “雨滴 (yǔdī)” mean in the song "小幸运"?
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Key Grammar Structures
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我聽見雨滴落在青青草地
➔ Subject + Verb + Object + Prepositional Phrase
➔ This line uses a basic sentence structure to describe a sensory experience. "我" (I) is the subject, "聽見" (hear) is the verb, "雨滴" (raindrops) is the object, and "落在青青草地" (falling on the green grass) is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier.
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愛上你的時候還不懂感情
➔ Time Phrase + Subject + Adverb + Verb + Noun
➔ "愛上你的時候" (When I fell in love with you) is a time phrase. "還" (still) functions as an adverb modifying "不懂" (didn't understand), and "感情" (emotion/love) is the noun.
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離別了才覺得刻骨銘心
➔ Verb + 了 + 才 + Verb + Adjective
➔ The structure "了...才" indicates that something happened only *after* another action. "離別了才" (Only after separating) implies the realization came after the separation. "刻骨銘心" (unforgettable) is the adjective describing the feeling.
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為什麼沒有發現遇見了你
➔ Interrogative Adverb + Negative Adverb + Verb + Verb Phrase
➔ "為什麼" (Why) is the interrogative adverb. "沒有" (didn't) is the negative adverb, and "發現遇見了你" (discover that I met you) is the verb phrase.
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是生命最好的事情
➔ Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective + Adjective + Noun
➔ "是" (is) is the linking verb. "生命" (life) is the subject. "最好" (best) and modifier "事情" (thing), which is the noun.
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人理所當然的忘記
➔ Subject + Adverbial Phrase + Verb
➔ "人" (people) is the subject. "理所當然的" (naturally/take it for granted) is an adverbial phrase modifying "忘記" (forget), which is the verb.
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是誰風裡雨裡一直默默守護在原地
➔ Emphatic Structure (It is...that/who...) + Prepositional Phrases + Adverb + Verb + Prepositional Phrase
➔ This line uses a type of cleft sentence to emphasize "是誰" (who is it). "風裡雨裡" (in the wind and rain) is a series of prepositional phrases describing the circumstances, "一直" (always) is an adverb, "默默守護" (silently guarding) is the verb, and "在原地" (in the same place) is a prepositional phrase specifying the location.
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原來你是我最想留住的幸運
➔ Adverb + Subject + Linking Verb + Adjective + Verb + 的 + Noun
➔ "原來" (So it turns out) is the adverb. "你" (you) is the subject. "是" (is) is the linking verb. "最想留住的" (most want to keep) is an adjective phrase modifying "幸運" (luck/fortune).
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青春是段跌跌撞撞的旅行
➔ Noun + Linking Verb + Measure Word + Adjective + 的+ Noun
➔ "青春" (Youth) is noun (subject), "是" (is) is linking verb, "段" (duàn, a segment, period) is measure word, "跌跌撞撞的" (stumbling) is adjective, "旅行" (trip) is the noun.
