一点一滴 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 不是土豆_

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of Mandarin Chinese through "一点一滴" (Yi Dian Yi Di) by 不是土豆_. This touching song, with its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics, offers a wonderful opportunity to improve your language skills while learning to appreciate the little things in life. Explore themes of love, gratitude, and the enduring power of small acts of kindness, all while immersing yourself in the lyrical beauty of Mandarin.

[English]

You let love, little by little, gather into a river

Flowing in my heart every moment

You don’t say much

But always warm my heart

When it rains, you remind me to stay strong

You don’t have much

But it’s enough to spend a lifetime on

You taught me to live honestly

Your smile isn’t many

But always lights up my confusion

Though time flies, it’s never been wasted

What you give isn’t much

But every bit is a promise

Happiness is always full around us

You let love, little by little, gather into a river

Flowing in my heart every moment

You don’t ask for much, just hope I’m happy

A kindness like a drop of water, engraved forever

You let love, little by little, gather into a river

Flowing in my heart every moment

Those content and joyful memories are deeply engraved

I will remember them for a lifetime

You don’t say much

But always warm my heart

Though time flies, it’s never been wasted

What you give isn’t much

But every bit is a promise

Happiness is always full around us

You let love, little by little, gather into a river

Flowing in my heart every moment

You don’t ask for much, just hope I’m happy

A kindness like a drop of water, engraved forever

You let love, little by little, gather into a river

Flowing in my heart every moment

Those content and joyful memories are deeply engraved

Only after the dust settles do I truly understand

I will remember them for a lifetime

[Chinese]

你让爱一点一滴汇成河

在心底时时刻刻流淌着

你的话不多

却总能温暖心窝

雨下的时候提醒我要振作

你有的不多

却够一生挥霍

教会我诚实生活

你的笑不多

却总能点亮困惑

时光虽如梭不曾蹉跎

你给的不多

每个都是承诺

幸福它永远满座

你让爱一点一滴汇成河

在心底时时刻刻流淌着

你要求的不多只希望我快乐

滴水之恩要铭刻

你让爱一点一滴汇成河

在心底时时刻刻流淌着

那些知足常乐回忆里深刻

我会一辈子记得

你的话不多

却总能温暖心窝

时光虽如梭不曾蹉跎

你给的不多

每个都是承诺

幸福它永远满座

你让爱一点一滴汇成河

在心底时时刻刻流淌着

你要求的不多只希望我快乐

滴水之恩要铭刻

你让爱一点一滴汇成河

在心底时时刻刻流淌着

那些知足常乐回忆里深刻

铅华洗尽才懂得

我会一辈子记得

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
爱 /ài/ A1	noun - love
心 /xīn/ A1	noun - heart
河 /hé/ A2	noun - river
流淌 /liútǎng/ B1	verb - to flow
温暖 /wēnnuǎn/ B1	verb - to warm adjective - warm
承诺 /chéngnuò/ B2	noun - promise
快乐 /kuàilè/ A2	adjective - happy
记得 /jìde/ B1	verb - to remember
幸福 /xìngfú/ B1	noun - happiness
记得 /jìde/ B1	verb - to remember

Key Grammar Structures

• 你让爱一点一滴汇成河

  ➔ Causative verb "让" (ràng)

  ➔ The verb "让" (ràng) is used to indicate that someone or something causes or allows an action to happen. It often translates to "to let," "to make," or "to allow." In this sentence, "你"让"爱..." means "You make love..." or "You let love...".

• 在心底时时刻刻流淌着

  ➔ Continuous action/state with "在...着" (zài...zhe)

  ➔ The structure "在" + place/time + verb + "着" (zài...zhe) indicates an action that is ongoing or a continuous state. Here, "在"心底...流淌"着" means "flowing continuously in the heart."

• 却总能温暖心窝

  ➔ Conjunction "却" (què) for contrast + "总能" (zǒng néng) for "always able to"

  ➔ "却" (què) is a conjunction used to express a contrast or a turn in thought, similar to "but" or "however." "总能" (zǒng néng) combines "总" (zǒng, always) with "能" (néng, can/be able to), meaning "always able to." Here, "却"总能"温暖心窝" means "but always able to warm the heart."

• 雨下的时候提醒我要振作

  ➔ Temporal clause "...的时候" (de shíhou) + "提醒...要..." (tíxǐng...yào...)

  ➔ The structure "...的"时候"" (de shíhou) forms a temporal clause, meaning "when..." or "at the time of...". "提醒"..."要"..." (tíxǐng...yào...) means "to remind someone to do something," where "要" (yào) indicates a necessity or suggestion.

• 你有的不多

  ➔ "V + 的 + Adj" structure (descriptive complement)

  ➔ The structure "Verb + 的" + Adjective" is used to describe the extent or manner of an action or state. Here, "有"的"不多"" means "what you have is not much" or "you don't have much." "的" connects the verb "有" (to have) to the adjective "不多" (not much).

• 时光虽如梭不曾蹉跎

  ➔ Conjunction "虽" (suī) + negation "不曾" (bù céng)

  ➔ "虽" (suī) is a formal conjunction meaning "although" or "even though." "不曾" (bù céng) is a formal negation indicating "never" or "have not ever." Together, they form a concessive clause, meaning "Although time flies like a shuttle, it has never been wasted."

• 滴水之恩要铭刻

  ➔ Classical possessive "之" (zhī) + modal verb "要" (yào)

  ➔ "之" (zhī) is a classical Chinese particle often used to indicate possession or a modifying relationship, similar to "的" (de) in modern Chinese, but often found in fixed phrases or more formal contexts. "要" (yào) is a modal verb expressing necessity or obligation ("must," "should"). Here, "滴水"之"恩" means "the kindness of a drop of water."

• 只希望我快乐

  ➔ Adverb "只" (zhǐ) for restriction/emphasis

  ➔ The adverb "只" (zhǐ) means "only" or "just," emphasizing a limitation or sole condition. Here, it restricts the hope to just "my happiness," meaning "only hope that I am happy."

• 铅华洗尽才懂得

  ➔ Adverb "才" (cái) for "only then" / late realization

  ➔ The adverb "才" (cái) indicates that an action or event happened "only then" or "not until" a certain condition was met, often implying a delay or a realization that comes later. Here, it means "only after the superficial glamour has faded (did I) understand."