Hong Kong Tales

A Bird Fell into the Water (Cantonese)


by Hannah from Hong Kong


English Translation:
A bird fell into the water, fell into the water, fell into the water;
A bird fell into the water and was washed away.

Small Ball (Cantonese)


by Hannah from Hong Kong


This rhyme uses numbers to link the pronunciation to the beat of the song. Notice how the numbers seem to keep the beat going.

English Translation:

Small ball, banana oil, there are eleven blossoms;
one five six, one five seven, one eight, one nine,
twenty one, two five six, two five seven, two eight, two nine, thirty one;
Three five six, three five seven, three eight, three nine, forty-one;
Four five six, four five seven, four eight, four nine, fifty-one;
Five five six, five five seven, five eight, five nine, sixty-one;
Six five six, six five seven, six eight, six nine, seventy-one;
Seven five six, seven five seven, seven eight, seven nine, eighty one;
Eight five six, eight five seven, eight eight, eight nine, ninety-one;
Nine five six, nine five seven, nine eight, nine nine, one hundred and one.

Union Is Strength (Cantonese)


by Aries from Hong Kong


English Translation:
One stick of bamboo bends easily. A few sticks of bamboo will be difficult to twist.
The heart is as firm as perseverance and bravery, and strength can only be achieved by unity.
Public cooperation is not scattered or disorganized, and every burden can be resolved with ease.
Cooperation has no suspicion; everything is going well.

Counting Bugs (Cantonese)


by Layla and Kayla from Hong Kong


English Translation:
Counting bugs. The bugs fly. Deep breath. Sigh.
Touch your head. Touch your nose. Move your pinky toe.

Spinning Around the Chrysanthemum Garden (Cantonese)


by Fong Pui (Alison) from Hong Kong


English Translation:

Spinning around the chrysanthemum garden
Fried rice cakes, glutinous rice cakes
May 5th is the Dragon Boat Festival.
My mother told me to watch the Dragon boats,
But I didn’t go watch it, I want to see the chicks!
The chicks are big, I’ll bring them to be sold.
How much can they be sold for?
How many were sold?
I have a small windmill,
It spins beautifully.
Watch it spin around the chrysanthemum garden.
Watch it turn around, turn around and around.

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