Learn Chinese Weekly

去夏威夷, 去哥斯达黎加, 还是环游世界?
Qù xiàwēiyí, qù gēsīdálíjiā, háishì huán yóu shìjiè?
Go to Hawaii, go to Costa Rica, or travel around the world?

I watched the movie “Around the World in 80 Days” as a kid, and my parents had a rotating wind-up music box that played the theme tune over and over again. However, it wasn’t until recently that I became aware that there were also lyrics written for the music. I was deeply moved by the sentiment depicted in the lyrics, and of course also by Nat King Cole’s mesmerizing singing voice. So much love is expressed without mentioning the word “love” (愛 ài).

Around the World in 80 Days
composed by Harold Adamson and Victor Young

Around the world, I’ve searched for you.
I traveled on when hope was gone
To keep a rendezvous.
I know somewhere, sometime, somehow
You’d look at me
And I would see the smile you’re smiling now.

It might have been in Country Down,
Or in New York,
In Gay Paree or even London Town.
No more will I go all around the world.
For I have found my world in you.

If you would like to sing this song in Chinese, here is my translation of the lyrics.

环游世界八十天
Huán Yóu Shìjiè Bāshí Tiān
Around the World in 80 Days

踏破铁靴, 我寻找你.
Tàpò tiě xuē, wǒ xúnzhǎo nǐ.
Wearing out my iron boots, I looked for you.

游荡四方, 希望渺茫,
yóudàngsìfāng, xīwàng miǎománg,
Wandering everywhere, although with little hope,

也未曾放弃.
yě wèicéng fàngqì.
still I never gave up.

我深知总会有一天,
Wǒ shēn zhī zǒng huì yǒu yītiān,
I knew deep inside that eventually one day

你将望着我, 对着我微笑,
nǐ jiāng wàngzhe wǒ, duìzhe wǒ wéixiào,
you would look at me and smile at me,

就像今天.
Jiù xiàng jīntiān.
just like today.

未知在何处会遇见你.
Wèizhī zài hé chù huì yùjiàn nǐ.
I had no idea where I would finally meet you.

是在纽约, 是在伦敦, 还是在巴黎?
Shì zài niǔyuē, shì zài lúndūn, háishì zài bālí?
Would it have been in New York, in London, or in Paris?

今后无须再走漫山遍野 –
Jīnhòu wúxū zài zǒu mànshānbiànyě –
From now on there’s no need to walk all over the mountains and plains –

我已经找到了我的世界.
Wǒ yǐjīng zhǎodàole wǒ de shìjiè.
I’ve already found my world.

总会有一天 (zǒng huì yǒu yītiān), or 总有一天 (zǒng yǒu yītiān), is a popular expression that means “There will be a day when ….”.

总有一天我会有足够的钱环游世界.
Zǒng yǒu yītiān wǒ huì yǒu zúgòu de qián huán yóu shìjiè.
One of these days I will have sufficient money to travel around the world.

If you would like to play an easy version of this tune on the piano, please look for the music sheet under the “Free Music Sheets” tab on this blog site.

夏天快乐！
Xiàtiān! kuàilè!
Happy Summer!