Spring is in the air with rain and blooming flowers. This season reminds me of a world well-known Chinese folk song-“Jasmine Flower” (茉莉花).
Jasmine Flower 茉莉花
This song was created during the Qing Dynasty (18th Century). There are several regional versions of the song. The more well-known one is from Jiangsu Province and the lyrics are displayed in both Mandarin (with Pinyin) and English translation in this blog. This song originally sings for the beautiful love and affection between males and females. More than that, this song became one of the first Chinese folk songs to become widely known outside China. Its melody was played in big events like the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. It has also been adapted by western artists like Giacomo Puccini in his opera Turandot (1926) or Kenny G. in his saxophone pieces.
(Reference: Wiki Mo Li Hua Page)
Besides, this song has a pleasant and soothing melody, concise and beautiful lyrics, which is perfect for either native Chinese speakers or Mandarin learners to enjoy and sing.
Hǎo yī duǒ měi lì de mò li huā
好一朵美丽的茉莉花 (Such a beautiful jasmine flower)
Hǎo yī duǒ měi lì de mò li huā
好一朵美丽的茉莉花 (Such a beautiful jasmine flower)
Fēn fāng měi lì mǎn zhī yā
芬芳美丽满枝桠 (Sweet-smelling, beautiful, stems full of buds)
Yòu xiāng yòu bái rén rén kuā
又香又白人人夸 (Fragrant and white, everyone praises)
Ràng wǒ lái jiāng nǐ zhāi xià
让我来将你摘下 (Let me pick you down)
Sòng gěi bié rén jiā
送给别人家 (Give to someone)
Mò li huā yā mò li huā
茉莉花呀茉莉花 (Jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower)
Hot Word Of The Day:
English: Beautiful
Mandarin: 美丽(的) měi lì (de)
Spanish: precioso
Read It. Say It. Immerse It.