This is a song I guess many Chinese may have heard it in their life. Well. I notice it is found in many Kungfu Movies and even my Chinese friends who cannot converse in mandarin knows this song…
Actually I found many transalation of the title, They are “A Man Of Determination” , “A Man Should Better Himself”. t personnally I think the word 自强 should mean “To Strive To Stengthen Oneself” which I think is a more accurate translation of that.
In a time of crisis now, I guess its time for everyone to strive to become stronger, so I decided to try translating the meaning of the song to english so that everyone can understand what he is trying to say.
It is interesting to know that the tune of the song actually came from a chinese folk song called The General’s Mandate” 將軍令. It was also known to be a military drill song as well. The Lyrics were written by someone called Wong Jim and it is the theme song for the movie “Once Upon A Time In China”
In this song there are many characteristics of a man that I think its quite relevent to our lives now. But in order to preserve the logic of the lyrics, I may not directly translate certian terms literally. But rather I will try to translate the implied meaning instead.
Title: 男儿当自强
Singer: Jackie Chan, George Lam and many others before
(Stanza 1)
傲气面对万重浪 ào qì miàn duì wàn zhòng làng
热血像那红日光 rè xuè xiàng nà hóng rì guāng
胆似铁打骨如精钢 dǎn sì tiě dǎ gǔ rú jīng gāng
胸襟百千丈眼光万里长 xiōng jīn bǎi qiān zhàng yǎn guāng wàn lǐ cháng
我发奋图强做好汉 wǒ fā fèn tú qiáng zuò hǎo hàn
做个好汉子每天要自强 zuò gè hǎo hàn zǐ měi tiān yào zì qiáng
热血男儿汉比太阳更光 rè xuè nán er hàn bǐ tài yang gèng guāng
(Stanza 2)
让海天为我聚能量 ràng hǎi tiān wèi wǒ jù néng liàng
去开天辟地为我理想去闯 qù kāi tiān bì de wèi wǒ lǐ xiǎng qù chuǎng
看碧波高壮 kàn bì bō gāo zhuàng
又看碧空广阔浩气扬 yòu kàn bì kōng guǎng kuò hào qì yáng
我是男儿当自强 wǒ shì nán er dàng zì qiáng
昂步挺胸大家做栋梁做好汉áng bù tǐng xiōng dà jiā zuò dòng liáng zuò hǎo hàn
用我百点热照 (*) 出千分光 yòng wǒ bǎi diǎn rè zhào chū qiān fēn guāng
做个好汉子 zuò gè hǎo hàn zǐ
热血热肠热 rè xuè rè cháng rè
比太阳更光 bǐ tài yang gèng guāng
(*)
In some lyrics, I saw the word 耀 is used instead of 照. However, I think its easier to translate if I use 照 instead, but either way it represent to give forth brilliance
The English Translation is as follows
Title: A Man Should Strengthen Himself
Singer: Jackie Chan, George Lam and many others before
(Stanza 1)
Vigorous when facing the beatings of ten thousands heavy waves
Ardent just like the rays of the red sun
Having courage like forge iron and bones as hard as refined steel
Having lofty aspirations and excellent foresight
I worked extremely hard, aspiring to be a strong and courageous man (AKA Hero)
In order to become a hero, One should strive to become stronger everyday
An ardent man shines brighter than the sun
(Stanza 2)
Allowing the sky and sea to amass energy for me
To split heaven and part the earth (To create a new world) , to fight for my aspirations
Watching the stature and grandure of jade coloured waves
at the same time watching the vastness jade coloured sky, let our noble spirit soar
I am a man and I must strive to strengthen myself.
Walking in firm steps and standing upright let us all aspire to be a pillar of the society, and to be a hero
Using our hundredfold warmth, to bring forth a thousandfold of brilliance
Be a hero
Being ardent and with strong courage
Shine brighter than the sun
Those who are curious hows the original song “The General’s Mandate” 將軍令 sounds like, here is the youtube of it
April 5, 2009 at 11:31 pm
i think this is a great song with great significance . i have always appericiated chinese people for their hard work and dedications.well do keep up the good work
April 6, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Hi Ricky
Thank you for your comments, i would love to see your comments on my other blog entries…
June 1, 2009 at 6:42 am
Excellent translation!
Was looking for a good one for quite a while
The song is really one of my favourites, and has been for several years 🙂
June 4, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Hi Eddie,
Glad you like it. feel free to look around too…
September 24, 2009 at 4:22 am
nice work buddy / ive been a fan of this song for more than a time i can remember.
October 4, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Hi Ram, I am glad to see you like this song, feel free to look around my blog
October 12, 2009 at 6:04 am
Thanks for the great translation!
Do you know who sang this mandarin version of the song?
I don’t really like the Jackie Chan version.
Thanks.
October 12, 2009 at 8:10 am
Hi Kel
From what I know, both the Cantonese and Mandarin versions are all sang by George Lam initially, later on, other notable singers like Jackie Chan sang it.. In fact I believe there must be countless others.. For that version I believe is one of the others, I cannot identify the voice in this clip.. Maybe some of my other readers may want to try
Thanks for visiting my blog, feel free to look around
October 22, 2009 at 5:07 am
The version on this page is the chorus version from the movie Once Upon A Time In China. And I think the word 好漢 or 好汉 should be translated to a “honorable man”.
November 8, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Hi Alex
Thank u for your suggestions, I actually considered to use “honorable” for 好汉 but then, I was taking, I have used strengthening himself, , which makes it look like a physical action.
And being honor can be a non physical attribute, hence, i did search through the dictionary for English equivalent for 好汉 and one of the equivalent is Hero..
October 31, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Maybe this was sung by Mr. James Wong?😊😊
February 9, 2010 at 10:53 am
In case it helps:
qiang bu should be ang bu 昂步
zhao* chu should be yao chu 耀出
re xue re chang re should be ci xue re chang re 此血热肠热 (this blood is ardent guts are strong)
March 17, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Hi Vicky
Sorry for the late response,
I have updated 昂步.
With regards to using of Yao Chu I have explained on the blog post.
With regards to
“此血热肠热” I was listerning to many of the variants of the song and many sang it as “热血热肠热” . Hence I decided to stick to that.
I was pretty busy that few months and thus could only update today. Feel free to look around my blogsite
April 22, 2010 at 2:51 am
Hi, where i can find a youtube video this song with english translation ?
April 22, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Hi Issac, the one i was using is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fRUWtuztIY
if I did not remember wrongly, the author had the translation written there as well.. but his translation is slightly different from mine..
April 27, 2010 at 12:19 am
i so much love the lyric and the song it self even though an not a Chinese…..but still
April 28, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Hi Solomon
I am glad that you like the song… you can find more translation in my site.. feel free to look around
April 28, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Thank you for posting this. I am kind of liking this song lately. Cheers 😉
April 28, 2010 at 11:38 pm
I am glad you like it nisankubur, feel free to look at the site anytime
April 30, 2010 at 5:59 pm
da original tune is more beta jeeeeez
May 2, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Hi Solomon, glad you like it.
That was how the traditional folk song sound like.. It originated from Ming Dynasty time some say.
May 8, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Hey there 🙂
I’ve used your translation in my humble blog with your link in it. I hope that you don’t mind. Just went to watch “Ip Man”, that’s why I googled for heroic movies. ha!
Thanks a lot!
May 8, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Hey Jingle.. I saw your blog… wow.. its far from humble.. I think its a very nice blog and I am honored to be featured on it.
Seems to me that u can put “pinyin” in Cantonese.. I have a blog entry of “一对对” which lacks a Cantonese Pinyin… would u be able to help me??
Yea.. unfortunately I have not been able to find any place to do Cantonese “pinyin” for use on my blog.. and I can only use “hanyu pinyin”
Yea.. and Cantonese song with Mandarin Pinyin sounds TERRIBLE .. Personally I do not know Cantonese and I cant find a website that does that.
May 10, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Thank you for this intriguing article on a strong childhood memory of mine. When I trained in Martial Arts, all the students recited an English translation of the General’s Mandate each day before class. That translation differs slightly from yours, and I’d like to offer it for academic comparison. I believe my sensei translated it himself, because I’ve never found this translation online:
With fierce courage
face the ten thousand waves.
With hot blood,
like that of the red sun’s light.
Bravery like iron,
and toughness like hard steel.
An embracing chest, thousands of yards wide,
and eyelight to see a thousand miles.
I bring forth my might
to reach for that which is strong in me:
to be a good man.
To be a good son of man,
every day strive to be strong.
Make this son of man’s blood
even brighter than the light of the sun.
Let the sea and sky
for me gather energy.
Go open the sky and split the earth
for my ideal.
Look!
The green wave is high and powerful.
Look also at the vast and wide heroic energy of the sky.
I am a son of man.
I therefore should make myself strong.
With big steps and an upright chest,
each one become the beams and the pillars of this ideal.
Use the heat from my vows
to shine forth a thousand beams of radiant light.
Hot blood, hot, constantly hot
even brighter than the light of the sun.
Best,
Melissa
May 10, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Hi Melissa
I read his translation, I must say that he translated it placing more emphasis on the qualities and virtues of a martial arts practitioner. Which I see is very applicable in his lessons. He tried to use more direct literal translation than me.. I really enjoy reading his translation, and I can fully see his emphasis.
Instead of just teaching you the art, he wants you to appreciate the qualities and virtues that came together with it. I can say his is just as accurate.
For me, I am a non martial arts practitioner.. and a project manager by profession, so my translation tend to focus more on the virtues and qualities of a Individual (in a more general sense). And I do not use literal translation often because a lot of times, expression tend to lose their implied meaning when translated literally.
The typical issue when translating from one language to another is that every words has multiple meaning. Sometimes, a single word can convey more than one meaning at the same time. Hence the same word can be translated to very different sentences in another language.
This is especially thru for Chinese language, as sometimes it expresses meaning beyond the literal translation.
Anyway.. hope you really enjoyed the site, I am happy to see your comment, and very happy to see that it helps u rekindle that childhood memories.. Feel free to look at my other blog entries.. hope to see u again
July 24, 2010 at 5:46 am
Hi I was just responding to your translation about a particular part of the song.
Vigorous when facing the beatings of ten thousands heavy waves
Ardent just like the rays of the red sun
I was told that the translation for this part of the song was
“Arrogant laughs to the trouble waters, for my blood is as hot as the sun”.
Is that wrong, or does it roughly translate the same as yours when translated into chinese?
August 4, 2010 at 1:33 am
Hi Andy
Sorry for my late comments as i was busy.
“Arrogant laughs to the trouble waters, for my blood is as hot as the sun”.
is a literal translation (word for word type) of the chinese words
However, i feel that the implied meaning was something more positive. Hence I decided not to use Arrogant and hot blooded.. as they tend to sound negative despite being literal.
October 7, 2010 at 9:59 am
hi,, i like this song very much,,
ty to make it in pinyin also you translate it,,
this song make me feel like a great martial art,,
haha,, that’s my stupid think,,
but really when i hear this song i feel just like a brave man,,
and my spirit rise up,, 🙂
like this song much,,
sorry if my english not good,, ty..
October 10, 2010 at 1:22 am
Hi Dave.
Glad to have you to visit my site.. feel free to browse the other articles..
Glad you like the song..
February 7, 2011 at 4:42 am
Hi
I am a British Born chinese. and I am saved by the blood of jesus. I am male, and i was looking for the Wong fei Hong lyrics. I’m a Londoner.
Your scholarship on Bible and History, apologetics (it’s from Josh McDowell, right, Evidence that demands a verdict?) is smashing.
This chinese song is very manly, and I think the Apostle Paul would love it! It also reminds me of Henry the 5th (Shakespeare) or Hugh Latimer who said ‘Let us play the man.’
thanks for the lyric translation. also, the translation on the You-tube (with Jet Lee) is slightly different.
grace to you
KAM
February 7, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Hi Kam
Greetings in Jesus Name!
Some of the articles are based on my understanding from the book, I have read a few of Josh McDowell books as well. They are mainly extracts of sermons from my church as well as my own study of the scriptures. Was hoping to share them in a more informal method through a blog.
Thank you so much for your comment, and i hope to hear more from you soon.
In His Service
Ben
May 11, 2011 at 10:47 am
Good song, great blog, keep it up!
May 17, 2011 at 10:02 am
Hi Chris..
Thanks for visiting my site, hope to hear more from you “)
June 30, 2011 at 12:11 pm
thanks for the lyric, I like this song..
July 1, 2011 at 9:04 am
Hi there Riskisaja
It is good to know that.. thank you for your comment.. Hope to hear from you again
July 13, 2011 at 7:27 pm
ah… just yesterday I rewatched Once Upon a Time in Chine, this song is really nostalgic mmm…
July 23, 2011 at 8:56 am
haha i like all the shows in that Series too… Thank you for visiting my site
October 13, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Your translation is truly brilliant. D chinese r truly great minds. Tnk u
October 16, 2012 at 9:09 am
Thank you for your compliments.
Hope to see you back to my blog soon
October 26, 2012 at 7:39 am
Does anyone have the original cantonese lyrics? i mean in cantonese characters…
October 26, 2012 at 9:44 am
I think you would know that in terms of Chinese language, the characters are interchangable, and one could read a cantonese character in mandarin although they will have sound “Gramatically incorrect”
I did a search around and i found the cantonese lyrics. It is the oringinal one sang by George Lam, you would notice that some of the words differ from the mandarin because of gramatical reasons. (Certain pharses sounds correct in cantonese but would be incorrect if one were to read it in Mandarin). Unfortunately i am not able to put the Romanaized Cantonese into here as I have no idea where to get it.
I have bold the the differences in chinese characters for interest sake
傲气傲笑万重浪
热血热胜红日光
胆似铁打骨似精钢
胸襟百千丈眼光万里长
誓奋发自强做好汉
做个好汉子每天要自强
热血男子热胜红日光
让海天为我聚能量
去开辟天地为我理想去闯
(碧波高涨)
又看碧空广阔浩气扬
即是男儿当自强
强步挺胸大家做栋梁做好汉
用我百点热耀出千分光
做个好汉子
热血热肠热
热胜红日光
让海天为我聚能量
去开辟天地为我理想去闯
(碧波高涨)
又看碧空广阔浩气扬
即是男儿当自强
强步挺胸大家做栋梁做好汉
用我百点热耀出千分光
做个好汉子
热血热肠热
热胜红日光
做个好汉子
热血热肠热
热胜红日光
February 2, 2013 at 3:54 am
Amazing post. The most inspiring song in the world for me. I can listen to it every day and it represents the Kung Fu training in a so exact and deep way. (at least for me…)
thanks for such an excelent post!
February 2, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Hi Emilio..
thank you for dropping by and thank you for enjoying the translation. I hope the translation will help you better understand the song
Hope to hear more from you one day 🙂
February 6, 2013 at 1:05 am
Sure you will !! Thanks for replying and for the lyrics, of course it helps to understand more the spirit which is abstract but so clear on the music itself. Greetings! 😉
February 16, 2013 at 4:11 am
Sure you will!
Every day before Kung Fu /Tai Chi Chuan classes I hear this song and remember about the translation, great music, great lyrics.
thanks!!
March 22, 2013 at 4:30 am
I’m from South Africa, I come from the nation called amaZulu which is a very large and well respected nation. This song has really inspired me and has changed the way I see things as man, at first I did not understand the lyrics, up until I saw the English translation of the song. Ever since I was a kid back in the 90s this song has had that special place in me, from the flow, right to the lyrics, and I think Jackie Chan was really good on the lyrics. Whenever I play it I get what we in isiZulu call (Ugqozi) meaning self conscience or ambition to strive for excellence, even though our ancestors did not now anything about kung fu, wushu, kedo etc, but I think the song really pushes you to become strong in whatever we do as men. Sometimes I cry when I play this song and I think deep on what I have not yet achieved in life.
I really wish this song never fades away, our children and our grand children and generations to should learn from this song, what really takes to become a man of honour and be respected like shifu Wong Fei Hong, RIP.
March 24, 2013 at 2:11 pm
Good Day Muzi
Thank your for your comments. I like the lyrics of the song as well.. I was reading about the Isizulu call, is it like war cry? Actually the original song “The General’s Mandate” is a military drill song as far I ask I know.
Great to see your comments and hope to hear more from you one day.
March 23, 2013 at 2:53 am
My friend… Congratulations and thank you.
For the inciative, your comentary and translation.
It’s an outstanding song.
Regards from Brazil.
March 24, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Hi there Friend
Thank you for your comments. I am glad you like the translation and commentary.
I have translated a few more songs on my blog and feel free to read them in your free time.
September 27, 2013 at 5:55 pm
A very awesome blog post. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. I was exactly searching for. Thanks for such post and please keep it up. I am really surprised with this topic. Keep up the good work and post more here reading.http://www.songsify.com
January 2, 2014 at 3:30 pm
You are welcome. I hope to see more of your visit soon. There are still lots of song translation posted
October 12, 2013 at 1:49 pm
hello tben , i am a couch working in an village elementary school in East Java-Indonesia, i am train the children there to mastery volley ball game , sometime i was so down when my children cannot achieved some skills,but whenever i hear this great song , my frustration fade away and i re-obtained my spirit – yes it’s right the most important thing is spirit ,…thank so much for upload this meaning full content….this year our school stand as 3rd champion in the district (kecamatan) level volleyball championship , and this song contribute to our success , 1 gain thank you so much
January 2, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Hello Sigit.
Wow.. I am glad that the song managed to teach the children spirit. I hope that the lessons would help the children grow up to be strong and responsible adults too
December 15, 2013 at 11:00 pm
i really like the song it encourage everyone to be brave or to strong..
i like also the singer mr. Jackie Chan he really looks like my father.. i miss my dad anyway 9 years already since he left us.. so when i here this song i remember my dad how he encourage me not to give up.. he also like this song 🙂
January 2, 2014 at 3:26 pm
Hi Stephanie..
Glad you like the song.. Lets continue to remain strong… Happy new year to you 🙂
February 15, 2014 at 10:00 pm
It is interesting that I found the lyrics on your website on the fifth anniversary of the date of your very first post, and almost to the hour as well! it must surely mean something to me. (BTW, I’m a martial artist who practice every day, 365 days a year, for the last 25 years).
Thanks for the brilliant translation, the history, and the lyrics to the song, which means a lot to me!
Marcus, New Zealand
February 17, 2014 at 7:55 am
Hi Marcus
I am glad to see your comment on the 5th anniversary too.. Thank you for visiting my site and I hope the Lyrics inspire you as It did inspire me 🙂
March 6, 2014 at 4:20 am
thanks bro for d great job u did during d translation…despite d fact dat i’m a nigerian…coupled wit the fact dat i wasn’t even born yet wen d film was really made….i truely and thorougly enjoyed it more than most nigerian made film… The lyrics made me understand life even more…its really encouraging… I sometimes even wish i could learn the chinese language…i really cherish the chinese culture tradition because its lyk the twin or let me say complement of the cultural tradition i came from(YORÙBÁ)…thumb up bro good job on that…its really worth cramming to me but i can’t possibly do that just because of the way they pronounce the word nd the spelling…but none the less, it teaches how to be great and firm standing which in yorùbá, it means (àforítì…and ìkóra eni ní ìjánu).. Thank once again bro…God will continue to strengthen you… Catch you later…BYE!!! *winks*
March 6, 2014 at 10:18 am
Hi Ridwan
Thank you for your comment. hmm I read a but about the Yoruba culture sometimes ago. I am surprised that I really run into a Nigerian. I am glad your liked the lyrics. Hope to hear from you soon
November 28, 2014 at 5:25 pm
I love this song since years ago. Give me spirit when I’m down.
For my own record, I copied the lyrics to my blog at here:
http://www.jollychirpy.com/lyrics-of-%e7%94%b7%e5%84%bf%e5%bd%93%e8%87%aa%e5%bc%ba-a-man-should-strengthen-himself/
For sure, I put a link back to this post.
But if it is not allowed by you (hopefully not), please inform me and I’ll delete my post.
November 28, 2014 at 8:03 pm
Hi There.. I am ok with you copying the lyrics. Thank you for advertising my blog on your site
March 5, 2015 at 12:05 am
Where web can i download nan er dang zi qiang tq
March 25, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Hi Alex,
I believe there are quite a lot of them around on youtube and other sites. Unfortunately I do not have one to recommend at the moment.
June 8, 2015 at 9:59 am
My son is a Canadian Born Chinese. He does read nor speak Chinese. He loves this song. Does anyone have a “singable” english version? I heard that an elementary teacher in China has translated a “singable” english version
Obviously, some of the meaning will be compromised.
Thanks
June 8, 2015 at 11:49 am
Hi Peter
Yes indeed I believe a singable version would definitely have its meaning compromised. I have did quite a few translation of songs and I think it would be very difficult to have one that is completely translated into another language. The only few that I know of are simple children hymns. But those songs uses a much simpler vocabulary.
Unfortunately I do not know of any singable versions in English yet. But I would keep a lookout. If I find one I will be glad to post a link on this page for you.
June 8, 2015 at 12:04 pm
thanks
January 19, 2016 at 5:28 am
I love this song!
January 20, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Hi Bethany
I loved it as much too. Thank you for your comments 🙂
February 7, 2016 at 7:17 pm
Hello there i was wondering if you know the translation of another song Jackie Chan sang, Who Am I?
March 10, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Hi Lis
Actually i read your comments since early febuary, I am just manage to get the lyrics of the song today.
I will be working ont he trnaslation. You should be able to see it soon
March 18, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Hi Lis
Here are the translation you have requested
March 9, 2016 at 7:13 am
I like this theme song from the movie “Once Upon a Time in China” by Jet Li. Even though I don’t understand the lyrics, the way I hear the song is very passionate and sincere. What comes to my mind is “weird” whenever I listen to this song. It’s like Chinese people fighting their right or freedom to their country. That’s why I searched the meaning of this lyrics. Thanks, & well done!
March 10, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Thank you for your kind comments.. I like the song very much as well. I am happy that now you could appreciate the lyrics of the song
March 10, 2016 at 7:45 pm
is there a version that I can sing in english?
I can speak and write Chinese but my son can not. He likes this song and want to sing it in english,
Thanks
March 13, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Unfortunately i have not found a good version that can be sung in english. As i shared in an earlier comment with Peter. I will try my best to fin done.
March 18, 2016 at 4:49 pm
[…] This blog post came as a result of a request from the user Lis P. who posted a comment on my blog entry Lyrics of 男儿当自强 […]
July 23, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Thank you so much for the lyrics and translation! I hope you don’t mind that I use it for a youtube video, I’ll post your link in the description box (if not, I just won’t upload it). I know that there are videos of the Cantonese version with Chinese/English subtitles and pinyin. But none of the Mandarin version (not including Jackie Chan version).
August 1, 2016 at 11:09 am
Hi there, I would be ok if you would use it. Thank you
November 23, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Learning Mandarin In China
Lyrics of 男儿当自强 (A Man Should Strengthen Himself) | The Hesitant Prize Fighter
January 18, 2017 at 12:32 am
[…] I am a man and I must strive to strengthen myself. Walking in firm steps and standing upright let us all aspire to be a pillar of the society, and to be a hero Using our hundredfold warmth, to bring forth a thousandfold brilliance Be a hero Being ardent and with strong courage Shine brighter than the sun” – “A Man Should Strengthen Himself” […]
January 19, 2017 at 12:55 pm
Thank your for the link
April 2, 2017 at 11:28 pm
Made my sunday morning ;)!!!
April 2, 2017 at 11:29 pm
made my sunday morning!!
April 3, 2017 at 11:07 pm
Thank you for your kind comments . it made my Monday evening too 🙂
April 3, 2017 at 11:24 pm
I speak and write Chinese. I want a translation that my son can sing. It doesn’t have to be exact.
But it my son must be able to sing it in English
April 6, 2017 at 11:25 pm
Unfortunately i never found a good singable english version of the Song and I did not want a singlish version of that song.. hahha
Among the comments I think Melissa shared a version, but i do not think its singable.
June 11, 2017 at 5:28 pm
[…] https://tben.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/lyrics-of-%E7%94%B7%E5%84%BF%E5%BD%93%E8%87%AA%E5%BC%BA-a-man-… […]
June 24, 2017 at 6:51 am
Reblogged this on Quantum Prana – The Dark Matter Guitar and commented:
Wonderful and deep lyrics from a Chinese folk song.
December 9, 2017 at 10:21 am
That is a great translation!
You did an explendid job giving the lyric a more relatable meaning for the day-to-day person. I would like to ask you about the meaning of 汉子. Is it the same as the word ‘man’, or does it have a different meaning? I see that it shares the same han from 汉语, ‘chinese language’. So, does it mean that 汉 means specifically a chinese man?
December 12, 2017 at 7:09 pm
Thank you for your kind comments
With regards to your question. A single Chinese character can carry multiple meanings the word 汉 itself carries for 4 meaning
1. Han ethnic group
2. Chinese (language)
3. the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
4. Man
Sometimes the meaning is determined by the surround words. (Some Chinese phrases are 2-4 words).
When the word 汉语 means the Chinese language (Literally Han Language)
while 汉子 is translated as “man”.
I like to use the Chinese dictionary in http://www.mdbg.net as it will help you identify the phrase and give you the meaning of the phrase pretty accurately.
Thank you for your comments and hope to hear from you again one day.