新年好
(Xīnnián hǎo ya)
This New Year's song is sung to the tune of "O My Darling Clementine!"
There are actions that go with this song. In order to understand the actions, you have to know the hand gestures used when wishing someone a Happy New Year in China. Young people bow to older people. But when it's friends, women wrap the right hand around the left hand (which should be loosely bent). Men wrap the left hand around the right hand (which should be in a fist). Then they wish the person a Happy New Year.
新年好
(Xīnnián hǎo ya)
Happy New Year!
Chinese New Year Song
Chinese New Year Song
(Chinese)
(English)
新年好呀! 新年好呀!
祝贺大家新年好!
我们唱歌, 我们跳舞,
祝贺大家新年好!
Happy New Year! Happy New Year!
Wish everyone a happy new year!
We sing, we dance,
Wish everyone a happy new year!
Notes
Pronunciation:
Xīnnián hǎo ya! Xīnnián hǎo ya!
zhùhè dàjiā xīnnián hǎo,
wǒmen chàng gē, wǒmen tiàowǔ,
zhùhè dàjiā xīnnián hǎo!
Game Instructions
Actions:
Lines 1, 2 & 4: Hold hands together in front of you with one hand over the other moving them front and back to the music.
How to hold your hands: Women wrap the right hand around the left hand (which should be loosely bent). Men wrap the left hand around the right hand (which should be in a fist). See image here.
Line 3: 1st put your hands up to your mouth like you're singing and then move your hands in front of you like you're dancing.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!