Monday, September 08, 2014

月光光, 照地堂 Bright moonlight, shining on the ground

I learnt a Cantonese children's poem when I was a wee kid - 月光光, 照地堂 - literally, bright moonlight, shining on the ground.

I was just three years old then, I think, when I could recite it in full. I still can.

I am being reminded of it today, being the Mid Autumn Festival (though the poem refers to the lunar new year eve) - the night sky tonight is so clear and the moon is so round, full and bright.

In relation to the poem, this is a lovely Cantonese lullaby, quite nicely done, in the same theme, and with the same opening.



Here are the lyrics and literal translation. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

月光光 照地堂
yut6 gwong1 gwong1 ziu3 dei6 tong4
Bright moonlight, shining on the ground

蝦仔你乖乖瞓落床
haa1 zai2 nei5 gwaai1 gwaai1 fan3 lok6 cong4
Little Shrimp [a term of endearment given to the child], you obediently go to bed

聽朝阿媽要趕插秧咯
teng1 ciu4 aa3 maa1 yiu3 gon2 caap3 yeong1 lo1
Tomorrow mother needs to quickly plant the seedlings

阿爺睇牛去上山崗 啊...
aa3 ye4 tai2 ngau4 hoei3 seong56 saan1 gong1
[Paternal] grandfather watches the cows will need to go up to the small hill, ah...

蝦仔你快高長大咯
haa1 zai2 nei5 faai3 gou1 zeong2 daai6 lo1
Little Shrimp, you'll soon grow tall and big

幫手阿爺去睇牛羊 啊...
bong1 sau2 aa3 ye4 hoei3 tai2 ngau4 yeong4
Help your grandfather watch the cows and sheep, ah...

月光光 照地堂
yut6 gwong1 gwong1 ziu3 dei6 tong4
Bright moonlight, shining on the ground

蝦仔你乖乖瞓落床
haa1 zai2 nei5 gwaai1 gwaai1 fan3 lok6 cong4
Little Shrimp, you obediently go to bed

聽朝阿媽要捕魚蝦咯
teng1 ciu4 aa3 maa1 yiu3 bou6 yu4 haa1 lo1
Tomorrow your mother needs to catch fish and shrimp

阿嫲織網要織到天光 啊...
aa3 maa1 zik1 mong5 yiu3 zik1 dou3 tin1 gwong1
[Paternal] grandmother weaves a net until daylight, ah...

蝦仔你快高長大咯
haa1 zai2 nei5 faai3 gou1 zeong2 daai6 lo1
Little Shrimp, you'll soon grow tall and big

划艇撒網就更在行
waa6 teng5 saat3 mong5 zau6 gang13 zoi6 hong4
Row the boat out to cast the net and becoming an expert

月光光 照地堂
yut6 gwong1 gwong1 ziu3 dei6 tong4
Bright moonlight, shining on the ground

年卅晚 摘檳榔
neen saa maan, caak bun long
During the Lunar New Year eve, harvest the betel nuts

五穀豐收堆滿倉咯
ng gong fung sao dui moon cong long
The abundant crops fills the granary

老老嫩嫩喜洋洋 啊...
lou lou luen luen hei yong yong
Everyone, young and old alike, is beaming with joy, ah...

蝦仔你快啲瞇埋眼咯
haa1 zai2 nei5 faai3 ti mei mai ngan lo1
Little Shrimp, quickly close your eyes

一覺瞓到大天光 啊...
yaat gao fan dou dai teen gwong
Sleep until the daylight comes, ah...

Source: Lyrics/Pin Yin (pin yin without the tones are mine) and translation

pearlie

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