{"id":11583,"date":"2015-10-01T09:30:47","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T13:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/?p=11583"},"modified":"2017-04-13T13:11:28","modified_gmt":"2017-04-13T17:11:28","slug":"chinas-national-anthem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/chinese\/chinas-national-anthem\/","title":{"rendered":"China’s National Anthem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is National Day<\/a><\/strong> (\u56fd\u5e86\u8282 – gu\u00f3 q\u00ecng ji\u00e9) in China, commemorating the day Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China back in 1949. On this day, thousands upon thousands of patriotic Chinese gather in Tiananmen Square to celebrate this important holiday. Those who are very dedicated make it to the square at sunrise to take in the flag raising ceremony. And what better way to show off your true patriotism than singing along to the national anthem<\/strong> (\u56fd\u6b4c – gu\u00f3 g\u0113)? For a little lesson in Chinese language and culture, let’s take a closer look at the song.<\/p>\n

\"Tiananmen

Tiananmen Square – the heart of China.<\/p><\/div>\n

Background Info.<\/h2>\n

China’s national anthem is called “March of the Volunteers<\/strong>” (\u4e49\u52c7\u519b\u8fdb\u884c\u66f2 – y\u00ec y\u01d2ng j\u016bn j\u00ecn x\u00edng q\u01d4). The lyrics were written by Tian Han (\u7530\u6c49), a poet and playwright. Originally, they were part of his poem called “The Great Wall<\/strong>” (\u4e07\u91cc\u957f\u57ce – w\u00e0n l\u01d0 ch\u00e1ng ch\u00e9ng) and were intended for use in a play or film. Composer Nie Er (\u8042\u8033) set the words to music while in Japan, where he would die an untimely death while swimming at the age of just 23. In June of 1949, a committee was established to choose a national anthem for the soon-to-be-formed PRC. Out of nearly 700 entries, “The March of the Volunteers” was chosen. It became the provisional anthem just days before Mao established a new China, and it would eventually become the official anthem in 1982. Interestingly enough, there was a time in between when Tian Han’s words were forbidden to be sung, as he was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. At that time, “The East is Red” served as the country’s unofficial anthem. The song’s status as the anthem was even enshrined as an amendment to the constitution in 2004.<\/p>\n

Lyrics<\/h2>\n

Although the lyrics have undergone some slight alterations throughout the years, they are now back to the original version. Here they are in Chinese, pinyin, and English:<\/p>\n

Chinese<\/h3>\n

\u8d77\u6765\uff01\u4e0d\u613f\u505a\u5974\u96b6\u7684\u4eba\u4eec\uff01
\n\u628a\u6211\u4eec\u7684\u8840\u8089\uff0c
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u7b51\u6210\u6211\u4eec\u65b0\u7684\u957f\u57ce\uff01<\/span>
\n\u4e2d\u534e\u6c11\u65cf\u5230\u4e86\u6700\u5371\u9669\u7684\u65f6\u5019\uff0c
\n\u6bcf\u4e2a\u4eba\u88ab\u8feb\u7740\u53d1\u51fa\u6700\u540e\u7684\u543c\u58f0\u3002<\/span>
\n\u8d77\u6765\uff01\u8d77\u6765\uff01\u8d77\u6765\uff01
\n\u6211\u4eec\u4e07\u4f17\u4e00\u5fc3\uff0c
\n\u5192\u7740\u654c\u4eba\u7684\u70ae\u706b\uff0c\u524d\u8fdb\uff01
\n\u5192\u7740\u654c\u4eba\u7684\u70ae\u706b\uff0c\u524d\u8fdb\uff01
\n\u524d\u8fdb\uff01\u524d\u8fdb\uff01\u8fdb\uff01<\/p>\n

Pinyin<\/h3>\n

Q\u01d0 l\u00e1i! B\u00fa yu\u00e0n zu\u00f2 n\u00fa l\u00ec de r\u00e9n men!
\nB\u01ce w\u01d2 men de xu\u00e8 r\u00f2u,
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0zh\u00f9 ch\u00e9ng w\u01d2 men x\u012bn de ch\u00e1ng ch\u00e9ng!<\/span>
\nZh\u014dng hu\u00e1 m\u00edn z\u00fa d\u00e0o li\u01ceo zu\u00ec w\u0113i xi\u01cen de sh\u00ed h\u00f2u.
\nM\u011bi ge r\u00e9n b\u00e8i p\u00f2 zhe f\u0101 ch\u016b zu\u00ec h\u00f2u de h\u01d2u sh\u0113ng.
\nQ\u01d0 l\u00e1i! Q \u01d0l\u00e1i! Q\u01d0 l\u00e1i!
\nW\u01d2 men w\u00e0n zh\u00f2ng y\u00ec x\u012bn,
\nM\u00e0o zhe d\u00ed r\u00e9n de p\u00e0o hu\u01d2, qi\u00e1n j\u00ecn!
\nM\u00e0o zhe d\u00ed r\u00e9n de p\u00e0o hu\u01d2, qi\u00e1n j\u00ecn!
\nQi\u00e1n j\u00ecn! Qi\u00e1n j\u00ecn! J\u00ecn!<\/p>\n

English<\/h3>\n

Arise, we who refuse to be slaves;
\nWith our very flesh and blood
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0let us build our new Great Wall!<\/span>
\nThe peoples of China\u00a0are at their most critical time,<\/span>
\nEverybody must roar defiance.
\nArise! Arise! Arise!
\nMillions of people become one,
\nBraving the enemy’s gunfire, March on!
\nBraving the enemy’s gunfire, March on!
\nMarch on! March on, on!<\/p>\n

Videos<\/h2>\n

Now that you’ve got the backstory and the lyrics, follow along with the video. You can even try to sing it in Chinese!<\/p>\n