Sing Scandinavian Song “Winde Weh’n” in Chinese

With our feathered friends flitting among the tree branches, there is no mistaking that a renewed vitality is in the air. Is there also a sense of joy springing from your heart? Perhaps also a general feeling of love, somthing akin to “this yearning burning in me” (as Mozart put it in The Marriage of Fiagaro)?

One way of giving an outlet of the feeling of love is to express it in a song. The Scandinavian song “Winde Weh’n” (sung in German) aptly captures the sincere love of a sailor in a mesmerizing melody and simple words. For the occasion of Valentine’s Day, I’ve translated it into Chinese below.

风儿飘，船儿摇，
Fēng er piāo, chuán ér yáo,
The wind blows, the boat rocks,

徐徐往远方。
xúxú wǎng yuǎnfāng.
slowly going into the distance.

那水手心中最亲爱的人，
Nà shuǐshǒu xīnzhōng zuì qīn’ài de rén,
The dearest person in the sailor’s heart,

在岸边泪汪汪。
zài àn biān lèi wāngwāng.
stays weeping on the shore.

那水手心中最亲爱的人，
Nà shuǐshǒu xīnzhōng zuì qīn’ài de rén,
The dearest person in the sailor’s heart,

在岸边泪汪汪。
zài àn biān lèi wāngwāng.
stays weeping on the shore.

莫悲傷, 甜臉龐，
Mò bēishāng, tián liǎnpáng,
Don’t you cry, lovely eyes.
(Don’t be sad, lovely face.)

快把淚擦干。
Kuài bǎ lèi cā gān.
Wipe your sad tears dry.

惦着我和那欢乐的时光，
Diànzhe wǒ hé nà huānlè de shíguāng,
Think of me and the happy times we had,

等我回到你身旁。
děng wǒ huí dào nǐ shēn páng.
and wait ’til I’m by your side.

惦着我和那欢乐的时光，
Diànzhe wǒ hé nà huānlè de shíguāng,
Think of me and the happy times we had,

等我回到你身旁。
děng wǒ huí dào nǐ shēn páng.
and wait ’til I’m by your side.

金银财宝, 一满箱，
Jīn yín cáibǎo, yī mǎn xiāng,
Silver and gold, a whole chestful,

看我载回来。
kàn wǒ zài huílái.
watch me bring it back.

丝绸和珠宝，琳琅满目，
Sīchóu hé zhūbǎo, línlángmǎnmù,
Silk and jewels, dazzling to the eye,

样样都献给你。
yàng yàng dōu xiàn gěi nǐ.
and all these I give to you.

丝绸和珠宝，琳琅满目，
Sīchóu hé zhūbǎo, línlángmǎnmù,
Silk and jewels, dazzling to the eye,

样样都献给你。
yàng yàng dōu xiàn gěi nǐ.
and all these I give to you.

The Chinese word for lovers is 情人 (qíngrén).

情人节快乐!
Qíngrénjié kuàilè!
Happy Valentines Day!