Mo Li Hua 茉莉花 (Jasmine flower)
During the days of a Servas meeting in the Alps, a dear French friend taught us this song, very popular everywhere in China. She lived a good part of her life in Canton. 茉莉花 Mo Li Hua -literally translated as Jasmine Flower- is a popular Chinese folk song. The song dates back to 18th century. There are so many versions of this song depending on the region. The musical motif also appears in the opera Turandot, by Giacomo Puccini, set precisely in China.
Information:
茉莉花 (Molihua)
好一朵美丽的茉莉花
好一朵美丽的茉莉花
芬芳美丽满枝桠
又香又白人人夸
让我来将你摘下
送给别人家
茉莉花呀茉莉花
Hanyu Pinyin
Mòlihuā
Hǎo yī duǒ měilì de mòlihuā
Hǎo yī duǒ měilì de mòlihuā
Fēn fāng měilì mǎn zhī yā
Yòu xiāng yòu bái rén rén kuā
Ràng wǒ lái jiāng nǐ zhāi xià
Sòng gěi biérén jiā
Mòlihuā ya mòlihuā
In some cases, biérén (别人) is replaced with qíngláng (情郎), meaning "male lover" (boyfriend) (Wikipedia)
Jasmine flower
Literal Translation:
A good beautiful jasmine flower
A good beautiful jasmine flower
Sweet-smelling, beautiful, stems full of buds
Fragrant and white, everyone praises
Let me pluck you down
Give to someone
Jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower
Figurative Translation:
Flower of jasmine, oh so fair!
Flower of jasmine, oh so fair!
Budding and blooming here and there,
Pure and fragrant all declare.
Let me take you with tender care,
Your sweetness for all to share.
Jasmine fair, oh jasmine fair.
Jasmine flower
What a beautiful jasmine flower
What a beautiful jasmine flower
Fragrant, beautiful, the stem full of buds
Fragrant and white, everyone praises
Let me pluck you
To offer you to someone else
Jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower
Jasmine
What a beautiful jasmine
What a beautiful jasmine
Fragrant and beautiful all over the branches
People all praise your fragrant and white
Please let me pick you off
And give you to other people
Jasmine oh Jasmine
Fiore di gelsomino
Un bel fiore di Gelsomino
Un bel fiore di Gelsomino
Odoroso, bello, pieno di petali
Fragrante e bianco, compiace chiunque
Lascia che io ti colga
Ti dia a qualcuno
Fiore di Gelsomino, oh, Fiore di Gelsomino.