Written Chinese

10 Catchy Chinese Songs for Kids

I think we all know that a great way to learn is through song and dance. I’m sure that you remember some of the nursery rhymes and songs you learned as a child and may have even taught them to your own children! Having taught English in China, I know the power of the song even if it’s in a completely foreign tongue, often aided by actions and animation to emphasise the meaning.

WHY WE SHOULD USE CHINESE SONGS FOR KIDS

Kids Can Relate to Them

Children’s songs usually have themes or narratives that kids understand and enjoy. They often deal with animals, the world around them and subjects that children already know about. They can not only relate to these songs, but they find them fun too.

Songs Use Simple Language

Not only do songs often use simple language and structure that allows children to follow, but this also provides a good opportunity to learn new vocabulary and natural phrases.

Singing words also helps to memorise faster.

Chinese songs for kids that are translated from one language into another, such as Twinkle Twinkle and Happy Birthday, are also a great way for older kids to make the connection between language and meaning.

Words and Phrases are Repeated

In most children’s songs in Chinese and in other languages, words and phrases are repeated over and over again to help with the learning process. We do this with young children even when speaking to them, and this is especially common in spoken Chinese, when doubling nouns can make things sound cute.

Song Have a Short Playing Time

Songs for children tend to be short to cater for short attention spans. Songs that continue over two minutes tend to see kids get bored (from my experience) and distracted.

Kids Love to Sing and Dance

Most children love to sing and dance to almost anything, even if it’s not catered towards them. Children’s songs tend to have a catchy tune and a beat that they can dance around to, picking up some words as they go.

10 Chinese Songs for Kids

Here are 10 songs for kids that you can use for teaching Chinese at home or in the classroom. I’ve included simplified Chinese characters, pinyin and an English translation for each song. The English translation is not a literal translation, but rather a more natural sentence or phrase in English. You can see a literal character translation by clicking each link and visiting our Online Dictionary for a character-by-character translation.

小兔子乖乖 (xiǎo tù zi guāi guāi) Good Little Rabbit

小兔子乖乖,把门儿开开

(xiǎo tù zi guāi guāi, bǎ mén ér kāi kāi)

Good little rabbit, open the door.

快点儿开开,我要进来

(kuài diǎnr kāi kāi, wǒ yào jìn lái)

Hurry up and open the door, I want to come in.

不开不开,我不开

(bù kāi, bù kāi, wǒ bù kāi,)

No, no, I won’t open the door, 

妈妈没回来,谁来也不开

(mā ma méi huí lai, shéi lái yě bù kāi)

Mama is not home, no one can come in.

小兔子乖乖,把门儿开开

(xiǎo tù zi guāi guāi, bǎ mén ér kāi kāi)

Good little rabbit, open the door.

快点儿开开,我要进来

(kuài diǎnr kāi kāi, wǒ yào jìn lái)

Hurry up and open the door, I want to come in.

就开就开,我就开

(jiù kāi jiù kāi, wǒ jiù kāi)

I’m coming, I’m coming to open the door.

妈妈回来了,这就把门开

(mā ma huí lai le, zhè jiù bǎ mén kāi)

Mama has come home, I’ll open the door.

两只老虎 (liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ) Two Tigers

Sometimes, 耳朵 or ‘ears’ are replaced by 眼睛 ‘eyes’ in some versions of this song. 

两只老虎两只老虎 跑得快跑得快

(liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ pǎo de kuài pǎo de kuài)

Two little tigers, two little tigers, running fast, running fast

一只没有耳朵 一只没有尾巴

(yī zhī méi yǒu ěr duo yī zhī méi yǒu wěi ba)

One has no ears, and one has no tail

真奇怪 真奇怪

(zhēn qí guài zhēn qí guài)

It’s very strange, it’s very strange.

REPEAT

小手拍拍 (xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi) Clap Your Hands

小手拍拍, 小手拍拍,

(xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi, (xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi)

Clap your hands, clap your hands,

手指伸出来, 手指伸出来,

(shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái, shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out

眼睛在哪里, 眼睛在这里,

(yǎn jing zài nǎ lǐ, yǎn jing zài zhè lǐ)

Where are your eyes? Here are your eyes,

用手指出来, 用手指出来.

(yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái, yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out.

小手拍拍, 小手拍拍,

(xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi, (xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi)

Clap your hands, clap your hands,

手指伸出来, 手指伸出来,

(shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái, shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out,

鼻子在哪里, 鼻子在这里,

(bí zi zài nǎ lǐ, bí zi zài zhè lǐ)

Where is your nose? Here is your nose.

用手指出来, 用手指出来.

(yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái, yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out.

小手拍拍, 小手拍拍,

(xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi, (xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi)

Clap your hands, clap your hands,

手指伸出来, 手指伸出来,

(shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái, shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out,

嘴巴在哪里,嘴巴在这里,

(zuǐ bā zài nǎ lǐ, zuǐ bā zài zhè lǐ)

Where is your mouth? Here is your mouth.

用手指出来, 用手指出来.

(yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái, yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out.

小手拍拍, 小手拍拍,

(xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi, (xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi)

Clap your hands, clap your hands,

手指伸出来, 手指伸出来,

(shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái, shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out,

耳朵在哪里, 耳朵在这里,

(ěr duo zài nǎ lǐ, ěr duo zài zhè lǐ)

Where are your ears? Here are your ears.

用手指出来, 用手指出来.

(yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái, yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out.

小手拍拍, 小手拍拍,

(xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi, (xiǎo shǒu pāi pāi)

Clap your hands, clap your hands,

手指伸出来, 手指伸出来,

(shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái, shǒu zhǐ shēn chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out,

眉毛在哪里, 眉毛在这里,

(méi mao zài nǎ lǐ, méi mao zài zhè lǐ)

Where are your eyebrows? Here are your eyebrows.

用手指出来, 用手指出来.

(yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái, yòng shǒu zhǐ chū lái)

Put your finger out, put your finger out.

拔萝卜 (bá luó bo) Pull the Radish

拔萝卜、拔萝卜

(bá luó bo, bá luó bo)

Pull the radish, pull the radish.

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔萝卜

(bá luó bo)

Pull the radish

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔不动

(bá bú dòng)

It won’t come up,

老太婆

(lǎo tài pó)

Old lady,

快快来

Kuài kuài lái)

Come here quickly, 

快来帮我们拔萝卜

(kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo)

Quickly, come and help us pull up the radish.

拔萝卜、拔萝卜

(bá luó bo, bá luó bo)

Pull the radish, pull the radish.

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔萝卜

(bá luó bo)

Pull the radish

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔不动

(bá bú dòng)

It won’t come up,

小姑娘

(xiǎo gū niang)

young girl, 

快快来

Kuài kuài lái)

Come here quickly, 

快来帮我们拔萝卜

(kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo)

Quickly, come and help us pull up the radish.

拔萝卜、拔萝卜

(bá luó bo, bá luó bo)

Pull the radish, pull the radish.

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔萝卜

(bá luó bo)

Pull the radish

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔不动

(bá bú dòng)

It won’t come up,

小黄狗

(xiǎo huáng gǒu)

Little yellow dog,

快快来

Kuài kuài lái)

Come here quickly, 

快来帮我们拔萝卜

(kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo)

Quickly, come and help us pull up the radish.

拔萝卜、拔萝卜

(bá luó bo, bá luó bo)

Pull the radish, pull the radish.

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔萝卜

(bá luó bo)

Pull the radish

嗨吆嗨吆

(hāi yāo hāi yāo)

Hey, hey

拔不动

(bá bú dòng)

It won’t come up,

小花猫

(xiǎo huā māo)

Little kitten,

快快来

Kuài kuài lái)

Come here quickly, 

快来帮我们拔萝卜

(kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo)

Quickly, come and help us pull up the radish.

REPEAT

数鸭子 (shù yā zi) Counting Ducks

门前大桥下

(mén qián dà qiáo xià)

Under the bridge in front of the gate,

游过一群鸭  

(yóu guò yī qún yā)

a group of ducks are swimming

快来快来数一数

(kuài lái kuài lái shǔ yī shǔ)

Come on and count

二四六七八。  

(èr sì liù qī bā)

two-four-six-seven-eight.

嘎嘎嘎嘎真呀真多呀

(gā gā gā gā zhēn ya zhēn duō ya)

Quack quack, there are so many ducks.

数不清到底多少鸭,

(shǔ bù qīng dào dǐ duō shao ya)

There are too many ducks to count,

数不清到底多少鸭,

(shǔ bù qīng dào dǐ duō shao ya)

There are too many ducks to count.

赶鸭老爷爷

(gǎn yā lǎo yé ye)

Grandpa overtakes the ducks, 

胡子白花花

(hú zi bái huā huā)

With his shiny white beard,

唱呀唱着家乡戏

(chàng ya chàng zhe jiā xiāng xì)

Singing local songs,

还会说笑话

(hái huì shuō xiào huà)

And telling jokes,

小孩小孩快快上学校,

(xiǎo hái xiǎo hái kuài kuài shàng xué xiào)

Children quickly go to school, 

别考个鸭蛋抱回家

(bié kǎo gè yā dàn bào huí jiā)

don’t take a duck egg home,

门前大桥下

(mén qián dà qiáo xià)

Under the bridge in front of the gate,

游过一群鸭  

(yóu guò yī qún yā)

a group of ducks are swimming

快来快来数一数

(kuài lái kuài lái shǔ yī shǔ)

Come on and count

二四六七八。  

(èr sì liù qī bā)

two-four-six-seven-eight.

找朋友 (zhǎo péng you) Find a Friend

找啊找啊找朋友

(zhǎo a zhǎo a zhǎo péng you)

Find, find, find a friend,

找到一个好朋友

(zhǎo dào yī gè hǎo péng you)

I found a good friend.

敬个礼啊握握手

(jìng gè lǐ a wò wò shǒu)

Salate and shake my hand,

你是我的好朋友

(nǐ shì wǒ de hǎo péng you)

You are my good friend,

再见

(zài jiàn)

Goodbye!

小星星 (xiǎo xīng xing) (Twinkle Twinkle) Little Star

一闪一闪亮晶晶

(Yī shǎn Yī shǎn liàng jīng jīng)

Twinkle twinkle shine so bright

满天都是小星星

(mǎn tiān dōu shì xiǎo xīng xing)

The sky is full of little stars

挂在天上放光明

(guà zài tiān shàng fàng guāng míng)

Hanging in the sky to light

好象千万小眼睛

(hǎo xiàng qiān wàn xiǎo yǎn jing)

It looks like a thousand small eyes

一闪一闪亮晶晶

(Yī shǎn Yī shǎn liàng jīng jīng)

Twinkle twinkle shine so bright

满天都是小星星

(mǎn tiān dōu shì xiǎo xīng xing)

The sky is full of little stars

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

How I wonder what you are.

三只熊 (sān zhī xióng) 3 Bears

三只熊住在一家

(sān zhī xióng zhù zài yī jiā)

Three bears live in a home

熊爸爸 熊妈妈 熊宝贝

(xióng bà ba  xióng mā ma xióng bǎo bèi)

Daddy bear, mama bear and baby bear

熊爸爸很胖

(xióng bà ba hěn pàng)

Daddy bear is very fat

熊妈妈很苗条

(xióng mā ma hěn miáo tiáo)

Mama bear is very slim

熊宝贝很可爱

(xióng bǎo bèi hěn kě ài)

Baby bear is very cute

一天一天長大著

(yī tiān yī tiān zhǎng dà zhe)

grows up every day.

虫儿飞 (chóng er fēi) Flying Insects

黑黑的天空低垂   

(hēi hēi he tiān kōng dī chuí)

The dark sky is drooping

亮亮的繁星相随  

(liàng liàng de fán xīng xiàng suí)

Bright stars follow

虫儿飞  

(chóng er fēi) 

Flying insect

虫儿飞  

(chóng er fēi) 

Flying insect

你在思念谁

(nǐ zài sī niàn shéi) 

Who are you missing?

天上的星星流泪 

(tiān shàng de xīng xing liú lèi) 

The stars in the heavens are crying

地上的玫瑰枯萎  

(dì shang de méi guī kū wěi) 

On the ground roses are wilting

冷风吹

(lěng fēng chuī)

Cold winds blow 

冷风吹

(lěng fēng chuī)

Cold winds blow

只要有你陪

(zhǐ yào yǒu nǐ péi)

As long as you are with me

虫儿飞  

(chóng er fēi) 

Flying insect

花儿睡   

(huā ér shuì) 

Flowers sleep

一双又一对才美

(yì shuāng yòu yí duì cái měi)

The pair were just beautiful 

不怕天黑

(bú pà tiān hēi) 

Not afraid of the dark

只怕心碎 

(zhǐ pà xīn suì) 

But maybe of heartbreak

不管累不累 

(bù guǎn lèi bu lèi) 

Regardless of being tired or not

也不管东南西北

(yě bù guǎn dōng nán xī běi)

And no matter in which direction 

祝你生日 (shēng rì kuài lè) Happy Birthday

Learn more about how birthdays are celebrated in China, including gifts to buy (any not to buy) and food to eat!

祝你生日快乐

(zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè)

Happy Birthday to You

祝你生日快乐

(zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè)

Happy Birthday to You

祝你幸福, 祝你健康

(zhù nǐ xìng fú, zhù nǐ jiàn kāng)

Here’s to your happiness, Here’s to your good health

祝你前途光明

(zhù nǐ qián tú guāng míng)

May your future be bright

祝你生日快乐

(zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè)

Happy Birthday to You

祝你生日快乐

(zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè)

Happy Birthday to You

祝你幸福, 祝你健康

(zhù nǐ xìng fú, zhù nǐ jiàn kāng)

Here’s to your happiness, Here’s to your good health

有个温暖家庭

(yǒu gè wēn nuǎn jiā tíng)

Here’s to your family.

Want to continue listening to Chinese songs for kids? Then check out this Spotify playlist of songs and rhymes specifically for children.


Share your own Chinese songs and nursery rhymes for children with us in the comments below!

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