The Chinese mid-autumn festival, also known as the moon festival, is traditionally a time to celebrate the harvest with family. Family members would travel back home for the reunion and gather with loved ones to observe the bright full moon, have a scrumptious dinner and eat some moon cakes.
月饼有很多种.
Yuèbǐng yǒu hěnduō zhǒng.
There are many kinds of mooncakes.
传统的月饼是用面粉做成的,
Chuántǒng de yuèbǐng shì yòng miànfěn zuò chéng de,
Traditional mooncakes are made with flour,
里面有豆沙,莲蓉,或碎坚果和西瓜子.
lǐmiàn yǒu dòushā, lián róng huò suì jiānguǒ hé xīguā zǐ.
and filled with bean paste, lotus seed paste or chopped nuts and watermelon seeds.
莲蓉是用莲子做成的.
Lián róng shì yòng liánzǐ zuò chéng de.
The lotus paste is made from lotus seeds.
莲花也称为荷花.
Liánhuā yě chēng wèi héhuā.
The lotus flower is also known as héhuā.
它与睡莲不同.
Tā yǔ shuìlián bùtóng.
It’s different from the water lilly.
莲花和叶子大多从水里突出来;
Liánhuā hé yèzǐ dàduōcóng shuǐ lǐ tú chūlái;
The lotus flowers and leaves mostly protrude from the water;
睡莲的花和叶则漂浮在水面上.
shuìlián de huā hé yè zé piāofú zài shuǐmiàn shàng.
while the water lilly flowers and leaves float on the water.
莲花的花瓣大而柔软, 颜色柔和.
Liánhuā de huābàn dà ér róuruǎn, yánsè róuhé.
The petals of the lotus flowers are large, soft and pastel-colored.
它们不仅看上去美丽, 还能泡出香气扑鼻的茶.
Tāmen bùjǐn kàn shàngqù měilì, hái néng pào chū xiāngqì pūbí de chá.
Beautiful to behold, they also make a fragrant tea.
现在, 想象一下自己乘着平底船在一个大荷花池上航行,
Xiànzài, xiǎngxiàng yīxià zìjǐ chéngzhe píngdǐ chuán zài yīgè dà héhuā chíshàng hángxíng,
Now imagine yourself riding on a punt on a large lotus pond.
并唱着这首采莲歌.
bìng chàngzhe zhè shǒu cǎi lián gē.
and singing this lotus-picking song.
这首歌的歌词是韦瀚章作的.
Zhè shǒu gē de gēcí shì wèihànzhāng zuòcí.
The lyrics of this song was written by Wéi Hànzhāng.
旋律有三个不同版本.
Xuánlǜ yǒusān gè bùtóng bǎnběn.
There are three different versions of the melody.
我最喜欢陳田鶴这一版.
Wǒ zuì xǐhuān chén tiánhè zhè yī bǎn.
I like this one by Tianhe Chen the best.
夕阳斜, 晚风飘.
Xīyáng xié, wǎn fēng piāo.
The sun’s rays are slanting, and the evening breeze wafts along.
大家来唱采莲谣.
Dàjiā lái chàng cǎi lián yáo
Come let’s sing the lotus-picking song.
红花艳, 白花娇.
Hóng huā yàn báihuā jiāo.
The red flowers dazzle, the white ones charm in their delicate way.
扑面清香暑气消.
Pūmiàn qīngxiāng shǔqì xiāo.
The bracing fragrance melts the summer heat away.
你划桨, 我撑篙.
Nǐ huà jiǎng, wǒ chēng gāo.
You row, and I work the punt pole.
欸乃一声过小桥.
Ǎi nǎi yīshēngguò xiǎo qiáo.
We cross the small bridge with a cry of “Hey ho!”.
船行快, 歌声高.
Chuánxíng kuài, gēshēng gāo.
The boat glides swiftly, and we sing with a punch.
采得莲花乐陶陶.
Cǎi dé liánhuā lè táotáo.
With the flowers gathered, we’re a happy bunch.
Isn’t it fun to learn Chinese through singing a song? “Learn Chinese through Songs and Rhymes” provides 40 relevant songs and rhymes to introduce to you Chinese words, phrases, statements as well as some Chinese traditions and customs. In addition, it shows you how to make your own meaningful and grammatically correct sentences. You can get this book in paperback or eBook format from amazon.com.
中秋节快乐!
Zhōngqiū jié kuàilè!
Happy Moon Fest!
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