Chinese Song Translation 《掀起了你的盖头来》

[思考题]

Over the past 6 months I've taken an avid interest in Chinese language songs as a productive means of studying and supplementing my Mandarin.

With friends' encouragement, I have undertaken the posting of English translations of both widespread classics and some of my personal favorites.

My interest does not lie in literal, word for word translation. Certain words and phrases, though poignant in their native Mandarin context,

sound ambiguous or halting in English. Rather I aim to express the feeling of each song -- as if the lyrics were as natural to sing in translated

English as they were in the original Chinese. I am not avoiding literal interpretation, so much not allowing it to interfere with the tone or

underlying concepts of each song.

While I encourage any questions, 'quires and qualms, my hope is that rather than simple criticism, we instead make constructive suggestions with specific examples.

My initial words are not the end all, but rather the instigation of further creation.

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Chinese Song Translation 《掀起了你的盖头来》 - Lift up your veil.

For an online recording of the song click HERE

Another classic folk song.

掀起了你的盖头来....................Lift up you veil

让我看你的眉毛......................Let me see your eyebrows

你的眉毛细又长呀....................Your eyebrows are thin and slender

好像那树梢弯月亮....................Just like a quarter moon

你的眉毛细又长呀....................Your eyebrows are thin and slender

好像那树上的弯月亮..................Just like the curve of a half-moon

掀起了你的盖头来....................Lift up your veil

让我看你的眼睛......................Let me see you eyes

你的眼睛明又亮呀....................Your eyes are bright and shiny

好像那秋波一模样....................Like a glimmering star

你的眼睛明又亮呀....................Your eyes are bright and shiny

好像那秋波一模样....................Like a glimmering star

掀起了你的盖头来....................Lift up your veil

让我看你的脸儿......................Let me see your face

看看你的脸儿红又圆呀.................Your face is rosy and full

好像那苹果到秋天....................Like a rose in bloom

你的脸儿红又圆呀....................Your face is rosy and full

好像那苹果到秋天....................Like a rose in bloom

A simple and playful love song about a groom as he lifts up the veil of his bride.

To the grooms delight a beautiful women is revealed.

TRANSLATORS NOTE:

From nciku:

盖头 [gàitou]

1. 1. noun A red silk veil used to cover the head of a bride in a traditional wedding. Also called 盖巾

HISTORICAL NOTE:

From www.travelchinaguide.com/:

"Many unmarried young people could not see and were unfamiliar with each other till their wedding day".

For more information on ancient Chinese marriage customs click HERE