Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin (月亮代表我的心）
The Full Song Commentary
There’s this song that I love called (translated): The Moon Represents My Heart or Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin (Hanyu pinyin). It was sung and popularised by the late Teresa Teng.
The Moon in the Chinese Context
Taken out of context, the moon is a moon, and is generally not considered anything special. However, in the Chinese culture the moon is much more than just “a moon”. The moon in the Chinese culture is something like the sun in the Western culture. Not the same in the literal sense, but rather, in terms of its importance and value, it’s really pretty close — e.g. Western culture uses the Sun to tell time, while the Chinese use the moon (without which there will be no Lunar New Year). And time, arguably, is of great importance to man.
Moon Represents My Heart?
But putting these cultural differences aside, was there any significance as to why the moon was used in this way to represent the heart? I’ve been looking for resources on this over the internet, but commentary on this song in English (I don’t know about Chinese) has been non-existent. That’s why I have decided to give some commentary of my own.
The Moon as a Metaphor
The very reason why I took an interest in finding out the meaning of this song was because firstly, the language used is simple — mostly words we use in everyday conversations — and therefore the lyrics are accessible for just about anyone versed in even a little bit of the Chinese language.
Secondly, I was thinking about the fleeting feelings I had for the subjects of my romantic fancy. I’ve been infatuated with girls before, only for the infatuation to steal away for a while, and return with a vengeance. At that time I thought that I was perhaps just being childish and fickle for not holding on to that feeling (of love) forever.
Then one day while thinking about the fickleness of love, this song came to mind: “the moon represents my heart.” Wait a minute… the moon?? “that’s a weird representation of a muscle,” I thought to myself.
I went out to take a look at the moon, hmm… it was a moonless night! Sheesh, some love song. On a moonless night it would be a stupid song for a lover. Then it struck me. On a moonless night, one cannot see the moon, and yet one knows the moon is there — somewhere out there, but out there somewhere. Gosh, there was more to this metaphor than meets the eye.
Night-time’s a Romantic Time
Suddenly it dawned on me why the moon was a great metaphor for love. Firstly, the moon brings to mind night, and all the associations that come with it. Some of these associations include romantic feelings from candle-light meals, feelings when one settles onto the same bed as one’s partner, or when one goes out together with a loved one for slow walks by the sea. With its connotations of night, the moon is inherently romantic.
Then comes the moon as an indicator of love. The feeling of love does not last unwaveringly day in, day out. It comes and goes, and it’s when it goes that determines who the successful couples are. The moon changes all the time, from the full-moon, to the half-moon, to the crescent moon, followed by several moonless nights — then magically, the crescent moon comes back into being, and grows to the half-moon, and finally becomes full again!
The Love Cycle
Like magic, love appears is replenished through time. And like magic, the moon appears to change through time. Bit does the moon really change over time? It’s always the same moon, it’s only how it is viewed that makes it seem different. From certain angles, the moon reflects light in a certain way, from other angles, it reflects light in other ways.
And yet love, though seemingly different, never changes. Underneath the veil of a half-moon, or crescent moon or moonlessness, there is a full moon just waiting to appear. Add to all this the significance of the moon in Chinese culture, and you get a great song.
The Moon Festival
According to a reader of mine, Angela, this song is sung on the moon festival…or autumn festival….and on that night the moon is the fullest in teh whole year [sic]. The festival mentioned here is the mid-autumn festival, or as many Chinese fondly call it, the moon-cake festival (for we all love them! and it is only during this time that they are wildly sold).
If this is so, it would provide another (and possibly originally intended) explanation. Interpret it as you will: for the purposes of practicality, you might want to use the meaning I put forth on this page. But if you do somehow manage to recall this song during the festival, then you can use that meaning instead!
To conclude, the moon metaphor is how I would represent my own feelings for someone. It isn’t that I love or don’t love you, because I do; it’s only that at some times my love is more obvious than at others.
Notes
If you are looking for Teresa Teng’s CDs or DVDs, you can try looking for them on Amazon.com
If you’re still not satisfied with what you’re looking for, I might be able to source your her CDs in Singapore. Just drop me an e-mail at teresa.teng (at) edonn.com and we might be able to work something out. Happy shopping!
English and Hanyu Pinyin Lyrics
English Translation
You ask me how deep my love for you is,
How much I really love you…
My affection is real.
My love is real.
The moon represents my heart.You ask me how deep my love for you is,
How much I really love you…
My affection does not waver,
My love will not change.
The moon represents my heart.* Just one soft kiss
is enough to move my heart.
A period of time when our affection was deep,
Has made me miss you until now.* You ask me how deep my love for you is,
How much I really love you.* ** Go think about it.
Go and have a look [at the moon],
The moon represents my heart.Repeat *
Repeat **
Hanyu Pinyin
ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen
wo ai ni you ji fen
wo de qing ye zhen
wo de ai ye zhen
yue liang dai biao wo de xinni wen wo ai ni you duo shen
wo ai ni you ji fen
wo de qing bu yi
wo de ai bu bian
yue liang dai biao wo de xin* qing qing de yi ge wen
yi jin da dong wo de xin
shen shen de yi duan qing
jiao wo si nian dao ru jin* ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen
wo ai ni you ji fen* ** ni qu xiang yi xiang
ni qu kan yi kan
yue liang dai biao wo de xinRepeat *
Repeat **
Simplified Chinese
Due to the lack of support in many browsers for Chinese characters (including mine!), I have put up the lyrics in Simplified Chinese in an image file:
Want to leave a comment on this song? Comment here!
Donn, fragments 
I know this song from unmemorable times from my first trips to Asia when I was no more than a kid. But since I did not understand Mandarim I never knew what it meant. I moved to Asia and I am studying Mandarim now so I decided to understand the lyrics of this song. I totally agree with you about your interpretations of the meaning of the metaphor of the heart/moon.
To chinese, the moon and autumm are female, according to a Dictionary of Chinese Symbols which has two pages for “Yùe”. The emperor is related to the sun as the empress is related to the moon.
Hi, you said that you moved to China and are now studying it, I just wanted to know if you want to pursue a career based in China, because I want to as well move to China for my future career, but I do not know what that will be. So I just wanted to know if you were going to have a job in China and what it would be. Please and thank you
wow i love this song…. sniffles….. it makes me think of sumone…. haha but i love this song….. and your thinkin to it all its very good too… well just wanted to drop by…. bye
I first heard this song when I was in Singapore. I did not understand the lyrics but it sounded so sad that it made me cry. It was performed during the President’s Charity by two young actresses, accompanied on the piano by no less than the First Lady of Singapore who died that year ( or the following year) The song became so special that when I left for the United States, I donated to the President’s Charity. I heard it again performed in a movie by a certain Karylle and I have been looking for the lyrics eversince. Thanks for sharing the meaning/english translation and the lyrics in Chinese of one of my favorite songs. God bless! – Che from Florida
Thanks Che. Comments like yours are what keep this site (and me) going!
This song The Moon Represent My Heart was a great love song, even thou my mp3 is just mandarin, but when i read the english translation, I know many relationship will be better, if they only understand the song. Even thou they do not understand the language. But if they listen to their hearts while plaing this song, its very nice.
Sinosplice has a nice link: http://www.sinosplice.com/weblog/archives/2005/08/10/while-searching-for-tabs
to a video of a girl playing this song. Really nice.
– Spicy mamma. Find the chicken in the chili, and other fun foods.
I love this song. I too never knew what it meant and listened to it from my Dad’s disc for years.
It’s such a beautiful song. I really need to learn Mandarin.
verse 1:
Ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen,
(You asked me how deep my love is for you) —
Wo ai ni you jifen.
(I love you to the utmost).
Wode qing ye zhen,
(My feeling is also true),
Wode ai yezhen,
(My love is also true):
Yueliang daibiao wode xin.
(The moon represents my heart).
verse 2:
Ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen,
(you asked me how deep my love is for you) —
Wo ai ni you jifen.
(I love you to the utmost).
Wode qing buyi,
(My feelings will not waver),
Wo de ai bu bian,
(My love will never change):
Yueliang daibiao wode xin.
(The moon represents my heart).
Chorus:
Qingqing de yige wen,
(A gentle kiss)
Yijing dadong wode xin.
(Would already move my heart).
Shenshen de yiduan qing,
(A period of deep love),
Jiao wo sinian dao rujin
(Makes me long for it till now).
verse 3:
Ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen,
(You asked me how deep my love is for you) —
Wo ai ni you jifen.
(I love you to the utmost).
Ni chu xiangyixiang,
(why don’t you think about it),
Ni chu kanyikan,
(why don’t you take a look at it):
Yueliang daibiao wode xin.
(The moon represents my heart).
Chorus:
Qingqing de yige wen,
(A gentle kiss)
Yijing dadong wode xin.
(Would already move my heart).
Shenshen di yiduan qing,
(A period of deep love),
Jiaowo sinian dao rujin
(Makes me long for it till now).
verse 3 repeated:
Ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen,
(You asked me how deep my love is for you) —
Wo ai ni you jifen.
(I love you to the utmost).
Ni chu xiangyixiang,
(Why don’t you think about it),
Ni chu kanyikan,
(Why don’t you take a look at it):
Yueliang daibiao wodexin.
(The moon represents my heart).
Ni chu xiangyixiang,
(Why don’t you think about it),
Ni chu kanyikan,
(Why don’t you take a look at it):
Yueliang daibiao wodexin.
(The moon represents my heart).
It’s 20 years ago yesterday that I was at the Tokyo concert..one of my 3 times to see Teresa Teng. I am lucky. This song is still the most beautiful and I still hear it wherever I go
hi.
i was only searching for the pinyin lyrics of this song and i found ur blog w/ the english translation. thanks.
sharing. there’s a filipino movie series that uses this song (almost) every year at the metro manila film festival. i love it more because jerry yan (F4) performed it during a concert here in manila.
this song is great….even tho i dont understand it, find it on youtube.com. an anonymous chinese girl sings it even better..
I loved this song ever since I first heard it while traveling in China (I am from US), and it has caused me to be a huge Teresa Teng fan. I have searched and found many of her CDs on eBay and have collected the best on a couple CDs of my own. I wish I could find lyrics and title translations for all of my favorites. Her voice and the way she sings is the most beautiful I have ever heard. Even though I do not understand Chinese, the way she conveys the feeling in this song, I could get the feeling of what it was about.
One other point about the moon that is relevant to the meaning of the song, in addition to the very fine explanation you have given, is the moon that I see is the same as the moon that someone else may see on the same night, even though they may be separated by a great distance.
hi im cris from philippines! somebody introduce me this song and when i heard it i began to like this song even i dont understand it before.but now i learn this song and the meaning of it i feel different,coz this song really touches my heart! GOD BLESS TO EVERYONE….
I remember my mother singing this song when I was little, but I was never able to find it until now! Thank you so much for posting a link to the mp3s. I love this song.
… my story goes like this my mom was looking for this song for a long time.She only has the memory of its chorus but doesn’t know anything about the song like its title and singer ,since my Chinese god mother gave her a cassette tape of teresa teng when she was pregnant with me the sad thing is she could not understand calligraphy written in her tape so.Every night she would listen to the song even if she doesn’t understand its meaning..when she finally want to ask the title my Chinese god mother has already left for china..when i was 19 during the movie of mano po (filipino movie which contains the story and values of filipino Chinese that was born here in our country philippines)i cannot elaborate much about the movie but at the end this song was played mom suddenly burst into tears and she said this was the song i have been looking for… so i asked my half Chinese friend the title of the song then there it is ….It is really beautiful song finnaly my mom got to play it on her i pod everyday…
anyways i forgot to thank donn thank you very much for having it translate though i have a Chinese blood still i could not understand since i studied in a catholic school but thanks to you finally i have translation for mom thanks donn thanks very much you gave my mom a very rewarding fulfillment .
thanks for explaining this and providing the pinyin. Being a chinese who doesnt speak chinese, i’ve always thought the melody was lovely, now i know the lyrics are beautiful too =)
cool site!! ^^ thank you sooo much!! your site practically saved me from my english teacher’s wrath!! I had to sing this song for my ‘Hari Muhibah’ day at school [it’s when we do stuff that involves all three races – Malay, Chinese, and Indian] and I had to sing this song!! And it was soo friggin’ last minute, coz the teacher just shoved the lyrics in my hand and was like “here, sing this for the concert tomorrow, okay?”. Well, I’m rambling. =.=;; Sorry. ^^
You rock!! ^^;; Heh.
hugs, -su.
thanks very much for donn’s great job! and it’s very surprise to me to knowing that so many foreigners are charmed by ms teresa teng! yeah! agreed with don, her voice is the most beautiful we have ever heard!!
This is one of my favorite Chinese songs of all time. I’ve heard it sung by many female artists, but the late Leslie Cheung also sang it at concert once while announcing his love for his partner, Daffy Tong. I have his version of the mp3 downloaded, but you reminded me to get the original (Teresa Teng’s) too. The lyrics are so beautiful and poetic. Though the words are “simple” they contain so many interpretations and sentimentalities that make this song so interesting in the hearts of many.
Like #10, I too was searching the internet for the lyrics to this song. I’m currently studying Mandarin and it’s one of the first songs, other than a few children songs I’ve learned and used to enhance my linguistic abilities.
Thanks for the in depth explanation as to the meaning. They say learning a language is more than just learning words, but learning a culture and the way its people think. The Chinese like many ancient societies used a lunar calendar (especially for agriculture). But I can appreciate the romantic point of view also. 🙂
P.S. Google has you ranked first. Yay!!!! 😉
lol. Thanks for your kind comments, Pei! 🙂
the song is sometimes scary when played late in the night.
Btw, your interpretation of the song is good. But, my interpretation would be something like that the moon represents something that will always be there.
Like even when you can’t see it, it’s still there. So, when Teresa Teng said that the moon represents my heart means, my heart will never change. So, it means something like, even though you don’t see it, my heart still loves you, that’s why she used the moon as a metaphor, i think.
I’ve found a english version of this song on the internet and saved in my webspace, its called The Moon Speaks for My Heart, the singer is Anders Nelsson, It sounds quite different from the original version, check it out.
[audio src="http://hk.geocities.com/anthonyzhen1/MoonSpeaks.mp3" /]
wow i love this song…. sniffles….. it makes me think of sumone…. haha but i love this song….. and your thinkin to it all its very good too… well just wanted to drop by…. bye
I first heard this song when I was in Singapore. I did not understand the lyrics but it sounded so sad that it made me cry. It was performed during the President’s Charity by two young actresses, accompanied on the piano by no less than the First Lady of Singapore who died that year ( or the following year) The song became so special that when I left for the United States, I donated to the President’s Charity. I heard it again performed in a movie by a certain Karylle and I have been looking for the lyrics eversince. Thanks for sharing the meaning/english translation and the lyrics in Chinese of one of my favorite songs. God bless! – Che from Florida
This song The Moon Represent My Heart was a great love song, even thou my mp3 is just mandarin, but when i read the english translation, I know many relationship will be better, if they only understand the song. Even thou they do not understand the language. But if they listen to their hearts while plaing this song, its very nice.
I remember my mother singing this song when I was little, but I was never able to find it until now! Thank you so much for posting a link to the mp3s. I love this song.
Thank you for the interpretation. I miss that special someone still…I’ll nver forget the love he had shared for me. Missing you Jianlin.
Thank you so much for posting this translated version! I did my PSLE in Singapore and received Chinese Tuition classes, but have become hopeless losing it all living in Australia now. This is a classic song and now I can sing along to it, thanks to you.
^_^ Samantha
This is most useful and enlightening. Have been looking for the lyrics and meaning to this wonderful, ageless tune from TT. It will stay on in the memories of all who knew her, and who happened to be fortunate enough to around during her lifetime.
I’m currently in Chinese 2 as a high school student. My teacher requested that we learn this song so I was looking around for some extra information on the translation of it. Though I’m not very fluent in this language yet, it’s a beautiful song! The translation is almost as beautiful in English, but in my opinion, songs are always their best in the original language. I also think your interpertations of the song are quite accurate. I thank you for the insight you’ve given me for this song, I appreciate it quite a bit!
Thanks, this is a good song. I have just known it when my friend sing. She sing very well. That is reason take me to this forum. The lyric is so romantic, for example, “so soft was the kiss” and this sentences repeated many time “you ask how deeply i love you and just how great my love is”, what does it mean ? now let imagine you and your girlfriend or your boyfriend sit in a romantic place – with me, the most romantic place is in bus – and he or she turn toward you and ask this sentence or some kind like that. what happeing next, i dont know. Let enjoy your life.
Lisen and dream about that.
I have been learning chinese for a long while, and this song is not out of the range of my vocabulary. Upon studying chinese culture, I found that the moon is ‘yuan man’ or ‘bright and round’. The chinese culture really likes circular things, because it represents unity. Furthermore, the brightness, would emphasise the strength of love. So using the moon to represent your love is very effective in that it represents ths strength and ‘whole-hearted’ness of love.
I first learned of this song and of Deng Li Jun (i.e., Teresa Teng) during a month long study abroad trip to China in May 2005. I overheard a Deng Li Jun song and mentioned to one of the Chinese students how much I enjoyed her voice. She and I went shopping and I found a great CD of Teresa Teng music, including (of course) Yue liang dai biao wo de xin. When I returned to the States, I showed the CD to my sweetheart (who happens to be Singaporean), and she was startled. Her mom absolutely adores Deng Li Jun, and my sweetie fondly remembers listening to Deng Li Jun during her childhood. At any rate, I am captivated by Deng Li Jun’s tender, vulnerable voice, and Yue liang dai biao wo de xin is one of her most beautiful songs.
Um i was wondering if you can get me the piano music sheet for this song…I love this song…and i really want to play it on the piano..it is taking foever to find it..this song really have a lot of meanings to it..its soo nice and whenever i listen to it it makes me want to cry..So thats why i really want to play this song on the piano.. so please suggest any good website for me to find the paino music sheets for this particular song….thanx….it really means a lot to me…
Thanks for the translation! This is one of the songs in my fave playlist, but tho’ I’m half Chinese, I never really understood its meaning till now. Thanks again 🙂
JJ> You’re welcome 🙂
Monica> Hi there Monica,
I tried e-mailing you but the address it kept on bouncing. Anyways, I do not have the piano sheet (nor do I know where to find it). I have, however, found the guitar tab sheet. I’m not quite musically inclined, so I’m not sure if it’d even be useful to you; but from past experience listening to my elder sis play the piano, even guitar tabs might help in deciphering the notes for the piano as well. I hope you find that it does.
The link to the guitar tab sheet is: http://www.yf66.com/guitar_img/516.gif (not on my site)
If the link is dead, e-mail me and I’ll send it to you. I’ve got it
saved on my computer.
Hello Donn,
I love this song ( The moon represents my heart ) very much and really want to learn to play it on the piano.
But coudnt find the sheet anywhere.
Could you tell me please where do you or your sister get the music scores?
Will be very happy and thanks so much for your help,
Ly
hey do u still have that guitar tab sheet for the song the moon represents my heart?? if u do can u send it to me? i really would like to have it
The link above should work now…
i cant seem to get into that website
nevermind i got it thanks
thanks for the lyrics. this song was used in a filipino movie about the chinese here in the philippines. great song!
I love this song, but do not understand Mandarin.Thank you so much for your translation!
anyone has a piano sheet for this song is greatly appreciate
I grew up with this song and love it. Does anyone have the music sheet for this song. My sister want a pianist play this song in her wedding. Thanks. Please email it to vikki.ueda@yahoo.com
I don’t know why everyone insists on saying this song is called “The Moon Represents My Heart”, but it is tricky to translate in some respects.
I would go with “Moonlight” instead of “Moon”, first of all. The moon is yueqiu, and while yueliang is sometimes translated as moon, liang means “light” and I think that’s what the writer was getting at (not that I’ve asked…).
Also…”represents” is just a bad but hard to avoid translation of a really tough term to translate here. Daibiao. It does mean that “represent” in most cases, but in this case it is closer to “speaks for”, as an English version of the song used in its title. Even that isn’t really it, but it seems closer to me.
Last, I think the line goes, “you ask me how deeply I love you / how many ways do I love you”…not “how much”.
Hi croozn. Thanks for your comments, though I do have some thoughts myself on the matters you have addressed.
Firstly, I believe that the translation of yueliang, though literally meaning “moonlight”, does not convey the same poetic potency that “moon” does. “Moonlight” sounds almost too scientific, while “moon” does a better job at conjuring up romantic notions.
“Dai biao” can mean represent, or it could mean “speaks for” as you said. It’s really nitty-gritty stuff, and it might go either (or any) way. However, since this song is most popularly translated to have “represent”, I think I’d go with it.
Regarding the line “you ask me… …do I love you”, The words “ji fen” mean literally, “score”, as in “how many points”. But when translated to English, uses the western world’s take on love, where “how much do you love me?” is more prevalent than “how many ways do you love me?”.
In translating this song, I did my best to take into account the literal as well as figurative meanings, as I believe this song is like poetry, and an accurate word-for-word translation would do it no justice.
eventhough i didn’t understand this song, somehow i feel so connected to this… what a wonderful song.
you should try Vietnamese version of this song too , not so good but did make me fell for its melody for a long long time . here’s the link : http://my.opera.com/mantico/blog/b
It was remixed very well , hope u will like it 😀
I, too, have been learning Mandarin for the past two years. Even though I am Chinese, I’m just beginning to understand the ambiquity of the language which is part of its beauty. A Chinese poem could be read by ten people and each person will probably translate it differently. I’m suggesting to my class that we use this song as an easy entry song for learning Chinese. Even though many of us have trouble with the Pinyin tones, since the music is also scaled, intuitively we will be more likely to use the correct tone while trying to sing it. Also thank you such much for the guitar music sheet, I’m going to try it on my guitar and see how it sounds. Great website!!
does anyone know the original composer for the song? Thanks!
You know the Vietnamese version is a “cover” of a version of this song by David Tao. Uses the same beat though.
This song is my favourite since 2001 even without knowing complete meaning. I was moved by this song when first time i was visited china and got an special feeling with my loveone. I like to thanks for such a wonderful site which provide the lyrics with english translation and make me so happy today. Thanks.
hi!
i’m happy to hear this song but i can’t get it on baidu because i don’t understand chinese and don’t know which link click on!
(-__-)
can u send me this song directly via email,please?
if you have some time,of course!
i’m waiting for your answer,
thanks.
Donn, great job! :-O
I appreciate your translation and detailed explanation of this most beautiful song Yueliang Daibiao Wo de Xin. Like some of othe other commenters I’m currently studying Mandarin Chinese and this was one of the first songs I was introduced to.
I too was just scanning the internet to find lyrics for the songs because I’ve read other posts and commentaries and yours is the best thus far. You’ve done a good job because Google has you rated in the top 10 of their searches for this song and 4 years after the original posts you’re still getting commentaries.
Many favorite comment that someone else quoted above is, “to truly learn a language, one must learn the culture.” This song with it’s “simple” words truly reflects this statement.
P.S. Everyone has a right to their opinion but please don’t knock someone’s effort to give their interpretation. Donn isn’t claiming to be an authority so if we must criticize, please do it in such a way that you’re not attacking and tearing down.
Sorry, my first time ever commenting anything found on the internet. Phew! I must have had a lot get out of my system. 😉
Just wanna thank you for you wonderful translation 🙂
i love teresa teng.. i heard this when i was so young.. well probably more than ten years ago.. i learned what it meant finally! i’m trying hard to finish everything here in america and planning to move back to asia and study my native tongue which is mandarin.. ok, that’s it.. teresa teng still rocks!
There is this video of teresa teng on youtube under “Three Classic Chinese Songs” and the first one is so beautiful. would u happen to know the name and where i can find the english and chinese lyrics?
i hope it brings you joy to know that you were the first result on google when i looked up part of the lyrics. anyway, i like your interpretation of the song. i feel kind of the same way. happy moon festival (that sounds sort of weird)! :]
very inspiring song…i really love it so much…
this is a very lovely song… Kim Chui a half chinese half filipina recently made a video of this song since she made her own rendition of this very cute chinese song… take a look at the very cute video…
xoxo
fahrenheit
Thanks Donn.
Tho I’m chinese, my friends know I can’t speak much chinese (I know.. it’s terrible..) So, for my wedding dinner this weekend, I want to surprise everyone by singing this song. My husband-to-be will be singing this in a duet with me. He thinks it sounds good and I’m practicing hard to get my pronunciation right. I was searching high and low for someone to provide me the explanation for this song… and how I’m blessed that my friend recommended your site. Thanks again!!! Fingers crossed..
this is a inspirational song ,it’ll make sum1 cry
^^,
This song was one of my mum’s favourite, and I’ve been listening to it since I was a very young child. In school, we would be taught to play this song on the recorder. Being English/Chinese educated, I think that this song is definitely a classic not to be missed even for the English educated.
Ooh, what a nice song. I just want to say thanks for including both the Pinyin and English lyrics, I’ve been looking for them, that is very helpful, and I enjoyed reading your interpretation. ^^
shie xie donn! thank you for translating it to english.. i really love this song, i first saw its video in the local chinese network about ten years ago.. and it feels so nice listening to it.. kim yap chiu (teen star in the philippines)also revived this song and still its sounds so good.. eventhough im chinese, im just starting to learn the language(mandarin and folkien).. im hoping that within this year, i will be able to pronounce the lyrics well.. (”,)hmmp.!
Hello Donn! Accidently bumped into your website because of my very last piece of English assignment in the whole high school life which is abuot intronducing another culture. As a Chinese or Taiwanese to be precise, I am introducing the Chinese culture to classmates based on three aspects – family, power and love. Thank you for translating this lovely song into English and the comment are very useful indeed! I hope my fellow Aussie classmates will love it! Last words! I really like your website…gei ren yi zhong hen shu fu de gang jue! jia you for your study at UWA 🙂
why the song is english i need kim chui’s song the moon represents in my heart
it really,really so sad when you hear that song. When i heared it sang by Zsa Zsa Padilla here in Philippines while they’re having a taping in chine,Mano po 2. My grandma likes Chinese songs too because she can imagine our bloodline which i also have a chinesde blood. She played it when we celebrate our chinese new year….
Hi, I love that song “The moon represents my heart” especially played by Kenny G. It’s a great song, I think. The first time I listened to it was in a chinese restaurant. And by later I recognized the beautiful melody in the korean movie “Four sisters”. Great song, indeed!
Two new studies show why some people are more attractive for members of the opposite sex than others.
The University of Florida, Florida State University found that physically attractive people almost instantly attract the attention of the interlocutor, sobesednitsy with them, literally, it is difficult to make eye. This conclusion was reached by a series of psychological experiments, which were determined by the people who believe in sending the first seconds after the acquaintance. Here, a curious feature: single, unmarried experimental preferred to look at the guys, beauty opposite sex, and family, people most often by representatives of their sex.
The authors believe that this feature developed a behavior as a result of the evolution: a man trying to find a decent pair to acquire offspring. If this is resolved, he wondered potential rivals. Detailed information about this magazine will be published Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
In turn, a joint study of the Rockefeller University, Rockefeller University and Duke University, Duke University in North Carolina revealed that women are perceived differently by men smell. During experiments studied the perception of women one of the ingredients of male pheromone-androstenona smell, which is contained in urine or sweat.
The results were startling: women are part of this repugnant odor, and the other part is very attractive, resembling the smell of vanilla, and the third group have not felt any smell. The authors argue that the reason is that the differences in the receptor responsible for the olfactory system, from different people are different.
It has long been proven that mammals (including human) odor is one way of attracting the attention of representatives of the opposite sex. A detailed article about the journal Nature will publish.
moon festival is acutally mid autumn festival not autumn festival. (:
i miss teresa teng! i remember my grandmother singing this to me when i was a kid
hi miss teresa teng,, i just want you to know that i love the message and tune of your song “yue liang dao biao wo de xin” even if im only 15 yrs old and cant really relate to this love songs and cant understand mandarin or pinyin, still i love this song…………thats all thank u!!!!!!
ahmnn…this song is very meaningful..and so beautiful..even though i cant understand but i felt its so nice…thanks to ms.teresa…because she have the translation…thank you…its so nice!!
Thanks Donn for posing such an in-depth and insightful interpretation of the song — it makes me appreciate Teresa Teng’s music even more and it also makes me realize what a beautiful and amazing culture that I am a part of. (:
Teresa Teng Forever!
P.S. Do you also have a commentary on other songs by Teresa Teng such as “Tian Mi Mi” or “Jin Tian Kan Ni Zhenme Shuo”?? I would love to read them as well!
Thanks friend for posting such a gem. Teresa’s voice is like the angel’s. I really appreciate the songs had sung by this beautiful woman. Even though i can’t understand the lyrics but deep in my heart, the songs are really inspiring. I asked my co-teachers (chinese teachers) in our school about her and they gave me two thumbs-up! Aside from the featured song The Moon Represents my Heart, try also Tian Mi Mi. Teresa, you stay in my heart!
I first heard the song in a Hong Kong movie. Last month, I bought Kenny G’s album “the most romantic melodies of all time”. I love the song so much. Now I’m listening to it over and over in youtube. The music is so beautiful and the meaning touches my heart. If you’re thinking of someone. This song can really represent your heart.
I love this song so much anyone have a music sheet for piano. Please email to me at knluv4ever@yahoo.com. Thank
Hello everybody!!
I’m an italian student..I study chinese at university. One day our chinese teacher brought us one of Teresa CD’s…her songs are really beautiful but this…..is the most beautiful!!!absolutely!!and now I appriciate it more because of the english translation!Thank you!!and thanks also for the pinyin version!!
I really love Teresa…..Teresa forever!!!!!!!!
I was googling for info about Teresa Teng when I found this site. I’ve always known this song but never truly understand it meaning. Now I appreciate it more.
Thanks for the translation n analysis. I’ll forward this to my none Chinese speaking friends too. ^_^
maffy 12-18-2007
to the creator of the song she’s soooo brilliant!!!!!!!
Hi Donn,
Thanks so much for posting the English and Pinyin lyrics. I first heard this song in a Hong Kong movie starring Maggie Cheung.
I have always liked this song even though I did not know what the lyrics meant. The melody and lyrics truly speaks for my heart. The song reminds me of what love really is and how much I love my boyfriend.
Your interpretation of the lyrics helped me understand this song better. I look forward to singing this to my beloved in the future.
hi!
I love this song very much. Thank you for posting those.
However, the link to the guitar tab don’t work anymore. Could you send me by email? thank you very much.
Thank you for having this site…I love this song so much and I really appreciate you for sharing the lyrics and info about the song… I am a half chinese woman but I dont speak fluently. This song made me cry whenever I hear this, maybe because of my being romantic and the ‘chinese’ part of me…
Thanks again and more power!
Thank you for sharing this. I love your explaination also, it is very logical.
…wow…first i heard this song at my service..and then i ask myself is this a new song by kim?..and then i heard it again and i was so happy with it because if they did not sing this i will be out of love!!…i love it,it is very nice song..
This song is a really nice.First time i heard this song with my chinese friend. and i feel lonely.after a few month i have
a boyfriend and he was chinese also.i always play this when i was with him even
tough i dont understand the meaning,until i read it here.
im in love with chinese songs…im a filipino-chinese in descent..i love this song , we always hear this songin our chinese school every time we celebrate either chinese new year or mooncake festival. being performed by our fellow students in a vocal solo competition (in chinese)…we have vocal solo competition & chorale singing competition in chinese we also have folk dance competition still chinese…kudos to u! now i can share it with my friends this song that they also like to hear….”Sie Sie Haw Peng Yu!”
hello! i’m so glad you have the lyrics (both the english and the chinese one)
i really like your site! more powers!
Like most of us here, we love this song, we love this singer, but we don’t know lyrics well & we have no clue what the whole song mean.
I grew up hearing Chinese songs around when my parents were happily married then I was separated from my father when they were divorced & I moved to the US. I no longer had interest in Chinese music whatsoever. I hadn’t talked or kept in touch w/ my father for 15 yrs after my last visit to Thailand. When I came back from his funeral (2006), I kept listening to Deng Li Jing’s CD’s for I felt closer to him. Not knowing their lyrics & meaning well enough to sing & understand, I turned my back to Chinese music afterwards.
Now, a friend on internet e-mailed me this song “Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin” on Valentine’s Day. I’m determined this time to learn lyrics and meaning, especially this sweet one! Listen to her music, it brings back childhood memories & joy. I am glad that a lot of people feel the same way, and I really appreciate that I found your site. Thank you!
Thank you for the translation to this song and for the hanyu pinyin version. My sister is marrying a Chinese man and I want to surprise them with singing this song at their wedding reception. I followed the link to the guitar tabs sheet music, but I don’t know Chinese at all to be able to know what to do to download the material. Would it be possible for you to email it to me? I’d greatly appreciate it. Also, if anyone has the piano sheet music, I’d greatly appreciate that as well. Thank you!! My email address is embelt@aol.com
great!
I start appreciating this music when Jerry Yan sung it with Teresa Teng! Great combination of voices.. very relaxing.
I decided to run the idea by my sister, and she loves the song so much, she wants to sing it to her fiance at their rehearsal dinner. So, I’m in search of the sheet music that has the instrumental section and a vocal section; and an instrumental/karaoke track. Can anyone help me? I’ve called the local karaoke stores and have been searching the internet – no luck so far often because I can’t read the Chinese websites. Any help would be greatly appreciated! The wedding is a month away!
thanks for the lyrics….i heard this song from jerry yan during HK concert with F4.
Thank you for this article! This is the first Chinese song I’m learning, but I hope to learn more. I’m living in Shanghai, so I guess I should start practicing!
i love this song.. i first heard it in a taiwanese drama.. was it love contract?.. i can’t remember..
hi donn its me again i really² ♥ ds song….if i have a time machine
i really really hope to see teresa teng on the past and tell him to take a rest and not to go to her concert to thailand(i think) since she has an attack of asthma… if she is still living now i am very sure she will be a big all time hit singer… but GOd has a reason why this happens to her… by the way i only 16 and i think if i grew up i have a plan to go to her place in cementery…. teresa teng if you are reading this i hing i can only say to you the moon represents my heart to you as a fan of yours….
Hi Donn… I play this song on my guitar… quite ez..
C Em
ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen
F C
wo ai ni you ji fen
Am
wo de qing ye zhen
F
wo de ai ye zhen
D7 G7
yue liang dai biao wo de xin
C Em
ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen
F C
wo ai ni you ji fen
Am
wo de qing bu yi
F
wo de ai bu bian
G C
yue liang dai biao wo de xin
C Em
* qing qing de yi ge wen
F C
yi jin da dong wo de xin
C Em
shen shen de yi duan qing
F G
jiao wo si nian dao ru jin
C Em
ni wen wo ai ni you duo shen
F C
wo ai ni you ji fen
Am
wo de qing ye zhen
F
wo de ai ye zhen
G C
yue liang dai biao wo de xin
Am
ni qu xiang yi xiang
F
ni qu kan yi kan
G C
yue liang dai biao wo de xin
Am
ni qu xiang yi xiang
F
ni qu kan yi kan
G C
yue liang dai biao wo de xin
Ooooh!!! I love this song. Both melody and lyric are beautiful. Has anyone have this song sung by Karylle?? Can you share it with me?? Send to:braino29@yahoo.com if you please ^^. thank you so much!!!
My mother used to sing this song. it’s nice, I’m trying to download it but i can’t find where -.-
Unfortunately you have mistranslated. The Chinese is not ‘The moon represents my heart’. It is in the subjunctive, so should be ‘The moon represent my heart’, or more elegantly, ‘May the moon represent my heart.’
As far as I can tell, what you have “may the moon represent my heart” is not quite that accurate. The song is more a statement of “look, the moon represents the heart” as opposed to “may the moon represent my heart” which sounds almost hopeful.
I suppose your definition may hold in the “scientific” sense, but in the “artistic” sense, the subjunctive doesn’t quite make it for this song.
Oh really?
The lyric could be paraphrased as ‘Well if you have doubt about my love for you, then go and look at the moon and may the moon represent my heart’. The moon is taken an object on which you swear your feelings on, rather like the Bible in the law courts of the West, which represent telling the truth and if you don’t then you are damned. The moon is true and the Bible is true, and for ‘is’ read ‘be’.
It is rather unfortunate that many written work in the Chinese language have only been translated partially correctly which cause even more chaos in the secondary literature, as different people try to impose their interpretation on the original work not realising that the translation was itself wrong.
Interpretations are as many the number of people out there Chan. And the funny thing is, I don’t see how much my translation really differs from yours. I’m reading it, and finding that the idea behind it is essentially the same!
The paraphrased lyric that you quoted was different from mine by just two words: “and may”.
I find that this song is much like poetry, where each reader gets a little bit of a different meaning, depending on where he or she is in his or her life.
If this was a written piece of legislation I would be worried if the translation was a little off tangent. But it’s just a song for God’s sake (or the moon’s sake). Chill! (And no, I stil don’t think my interpretation’s off.)
I hope that you can trust that my interpretation of this song really isn’t just a babel-fish translation, I’m a native speaker of mandarin myself (living in Singapore my whole life, with a mandarin-speaking girlfriend, and working in an almost mandarin-only workplace.
BUT, all said and done, I do see where you’re coming from, and I do appreciate your comments (though I would have appreciated it more if you had thanked me for the hard work in translating it!) Your interpretation isn’t wrong, but I don’t really buy it.
Sigh, it’s unfortunate how much work we translators put in to help pass the beauty of songs to the masses and become so unappreciated in the end, causing chaos in our hearts and minds, not realising that interpretations are never really right or wrong, but only that thinking makes it so.
Okay, I’m feeling a little mean now, so I think I had better stop. But like any other human being, I’m just being defensive as my work has just been attacked! I’ll get over it soon, and we’ll see how it goes from there Chan!
Hey Donne, thanks for translating it. I do not doubt you are a native Mandarin speaker, but I am talking about English and an ‘s’ can make all the difference to the meaning.
i have been looking for the english version of the moon represent my heart… hip hop version or rock version is there any?hope u can help me… its my hubby’s favorite song and we have been searching for that version .. he heard it on IFM 93.9.. pls help me..tns
i just wanna say that i really love this song so much it was given by my korean friend and i listened to it and start to like the song until its been my vitamin that every morning i should play it before going to work… and after a year i have met a chinese businessman whom the song is the one we have in common… he sings it and he was so suprised that i was able to accompany him and he was so happy to hear that it is my favorite song too. love this song it has a love magic on it!
hi donn,
thank you so much for the pinyin lyrics, english translation and even the simplified chinese characters! it’s very much appreciated 🙂
my parents were absolutely thrilled to have the simplified chinese, so you really made their day! (and as a non-mandarin speaker, learning mandarin, mine too!)
this song is trully special for me..
my ex sang this song for me, as he luved me..
n frankly, i still luv him damn much..
i wish he’s always happy in the heaven..
c ya sumday my dear josh..
I am alos looking for a (simple) notation, because I would like to play this song on my (PanArt) Hang. I don’t know if it works, because the Hang has only 8+1 tone, but I would like to try it. If some could send me the notation to hang_zum_trommeln@silent-runner.de THX
actually, i really like this song when i first heard this song for the first time in the movie. eventhough i do not understand what its really mean but i love the melody. i tried hard to find this song because i’m cannot read and speak mandarin. so, its a little bit tough and upset to get this beautifol song. i do really love this song eventhough i’m in new generation.
actually, i really like this song when i first heard this song for the first time in the movie. eventhough i do not understand what its really mean but i love the melody. i tried hard to find this song because i’m cannot read and speak mandarin. so, its a little bit tough and upset to get this beautifol song. i do really love this song eventhough i’m in new generation.
Hello to all lovers of this song,
I just recorded a bossa nova version of this song for my new jazz CD in Shanghai three weeks ago (will be out probably at the end of this year). Now I did some research about the composer and lyricist of this song for the CD booklet. Most websites credit the song with Teresa Teng herself, but what I found is: composition: Sun Yi (孙仪) – lyrics: Tang Ni (汤尼). Another source I found simply said: traditional Chinese song…
Since I need exact information (in case it’s a traditional song, I could earn some of the royalties for the arrangement, otherwise the money goes to those who merit it) – could someone please confirm or give more detailed info about the creators of this wonderful song? Thanks in advance, Jens Bunge
Thanks for your interpretation of this wonderful song. Now I know what it means. I missed the beauty of her voice. I listen to her a lot jogging and driving. She would always be in my heart.
Hey! I love this song too…the first time I heard then after I can sing it… I love this song…
I really missed Teresa Teng! This is one of her signature song but I really love every song she sing. Check out this version though by Ms. Yuquan Chen, she kind of unknown but in my opinion she is much better than any of the known professional singer.
Thank you very much for your English translation and romanised Chinese as well as the Chinese characters of this evergreen song. I truly appreciate what you have done. Would you have the time to do the same for other Terese Teng’s songs?
Hi crystal. Unfortunately I do not have the time to do her other songs. I did this song because it appealed to me a lot at that time — it is a lovely song. 🙂
And thank you for your appreciation! I appreciate YOUR comments too! It always brings a smile to me whenever I see that I’ve managed to help in some way 😉
Thank you Donn. It is my pleasure to let you know how much I appreciated what you have done. Great work.
My son really love this song. eventhough he dnt understands whats this song all about. he really likes to listen this song
Such a great song if only it was performed more often.
Hello, =)
I just finished watching Moonlight resonance (Heart of greed 2) and the song that was sung by everyone was this song. i never knew wheat the lyrics were before. Its so sweet. this song was always familiar to me since i was a kid but i never could’ve found out what it was called. Thankyou so much for the lyrics! ^_^
My children love this song so much since they were toddlers. It calm them down whenever they become rascals. Teresa Teng’s been with my family for 4 generations now, (my amah, mama, me and my kids now) and plan to pass it to the next one too. One of the greatest and beautifyl sng ever created, and that’s why it last. 🙂
Hello, can you send me the guitar tab for guitar solo for this lovely song by Teresa Teng? Appreciate your help. Thank you very much.
I’m almost done with my new CD, which includes a bossa nova version of this song. You can listen to the version, which is sung by Shanghainese vocalist Zhang Le, on http://www.myspace.com/shanghaiblue. Following the suggestions from this website, I entitled it “The Moon Speaks For My Heart” (instead of “The Moon Represents My Heart”).
Enjoy!
Jens Bunge
Hi, I’m very interested with this song. Is there someone who has the music sheet for this? I saw guitar cords but i’ve been trying to look for a music sheet but to no avail. pls. share if you have one. thanks
你好
SO SWeety this song
and so famous
thx for lyrics
i’have it by heart
谢谢
what i can only say is that this song made me so obsessed with Mandarin, and now I am learning gradually..this song also made a big teresa teng fan..and now, just reading your interpretation of the song, i think i fell even more in love with it..this is the most moving song i have ever heard…thank you for your lovely yet analytical explanation of the song..
mmm… this is teresa tengs most famous song… youll hear it in every taiwanese and hong kong tv drama, and ppl in korea, japan, taiwan, australia, hong kong, indonesia, malaysia and EVEN mainland china know it, even tho teresa teng music was banned in mainland china because shes taiwanese.
there are about 40 other of her songs that are just as good or better tho, and ALL her songs are GREAT nothing like u hear today… since she died in 1995 from athsma
but this one is special… especially for ppl from taiwan and hong kong… since she was so supportive to everything from army ppl, bussinesses, democracy and protecting from china.. EVERYTHING in those two countries
Is there a easy way for me to print out a piano sheet for “The Moon Represent My Heart”? Can I get a specific link to it so it’ll be easier.
Donn…….That is awesome, what you did with “The Moon Represents My Heart”, translating it to English and the pinyin wordings.
That is so helpful to overseas Chinese like myself who are unfortunately Chinese language-challenged.
When you have the time, if you could do the same for another Teresa song called “Love in the Snow”, which is “Xue Zhong Qing”, that would be beyond awesome.
Kung Hei Fat Choy to you, my brother.
Tony. (Canada)
Donn…..I was just scrolling down your page of comments here and saw what J. Chan and croozn had to say about your translation. I just have to say that J Chan doesn’t make any sense at all with his mention of the subjunctive. How does he justify using “represent” which makes it a plural form of the verb while the subject, “the moon” is singular? And croozn’s suggestion of moonlight entirely misses the mark! A literal translation of moonlight would destroy the spirit of the song since moonlight is fleeting and the moon is constant….which is the whole idea the song conveys. I would be the first to tell you the word “represents” in a song title is a little jarring to the senses because its sound is neither poetic or lyrical, but under the circumstances, I find it hard to come up with an alternative to it, so I can gladly live with that. To discuss the translation and ignore the song would be like pointing a finger at the moon and looking at the finger, and so you miss all that heavenly glory, as Bruce Lee said in Enter the Dragon. But a little discussion is good if it will help us to understand anything better, so many thanks to our brothers J Chan and croozn for their honest input.
Thank you.
Tony
hi..im from Peru and im in love with this song… the first time the i heard this song i didnt understand a word, but makes me cry 😦 is incredible how a medoly makes you feel the mean of one song…thanks for the translation and sorry for my english…
like you at the first time i couldn´t understand the tittle of this song, but you make me think about that… 谢谢！！
新年快乐！
心想， 事成！
In this song, you are asked to look at what the moon is like.
It is “real” , like moon, and
it is “eternal”, like moon, and
the moon is also looked beautiful, pleasant, gentle and lovely … something to be appreciated, and keep looking at of course.
So is the heart it represents.
Ancient Chinese likes moon and wrote many poems and stories about it. And lovers think of each other whenever they see the moon, the only thing they can see in common everywhere, even when thousands of miles apart.
Cheers, to all lovers, and lovers of the moon.
Thank you so much for your translation. When I was taking a Chinese language class our teacher played us this song and had us learn the words. It was so beautiful and inspirational… Thank you for the song and translations
Hi I come across this site,
But just to let all of u know that Deng LiJun was not the original singer for this song. But Deng LiJun a very good singer and she can try singing any chinese song that make everyone think she was the original singer. I suddenly missed her songs so much one month before she passed away in 1995 that I put all her CDs in my car stereo. If she still around, we probably have more of her songs to appreciate….Greatest female chinese singer of the century
This song has facinated me for a long time. I think the beauty lies in its honest simplicity. I’ve been chatting with several Students in China for about 2 years and that’s how I stumbled across it for the first time. I think I have it in about 30 different renditions. One thing that really bothered me was that nobody seems to have made an attempt to come up with a singable version in any language except Chinese. Well, I tried ! For those that just want to sing along and not want to deal with Chinese here is a version that’s as close as I could come up with.
My Attempt at a singable version
You’re asking me, if I love you
How lasting will it be?
My desire is real,
My love is also real
The moon will help you see.
You’re asking me, if my love’s true
How lasting will it be?
My thoughts will never fade
My love will never change
The moon will help you see.
Your Kiss has touched my heart
Why should I pretend?
I’ve missed you till this day
My love will never end
You’re asking me, if I love you
How lasting will it be?
You should think a while
Simply take a look
The moon will help you see.
Hi Jeff, nice translation but I find your comments mildly offensive. Don’t want to “deal with” Chinese? It’s a Chinese song. Chinese is something you learn, not “deal with”.
Hello thanks for giving a lyric tranlation english and chinese i like this song since 1995 , but i dont the know tiltle coz im not realy good in chinese. coz im Filipina i always hear sounds the chinese people in the philippines come from singapore, God bless you ….. thanks for the management of this sites she is wondeful song…….
hello, all i can say is this music was the best…
hope you will make many music just like this, this song have so much meaning heddin …
i really love the music sooo much…
Thank you for this web-page! I ran across this song by accident on You Tube, and shared it with my fiancee in Hong Kong. She informed me it was her favorite song, and Teresa Teng her favorite artist.
It meant a lot to me to have some sense of the meaning of the words in English. Thank you so very much!
This song will now become officially “our song”.
im so inlove with this song… feel like cryin everytime i hear it.. btw, is there a dance / pop version?
Hi Ivy Ido not know of any dance or pop version, perhaps some else can help. It is a coincidence but my friend calls herself Ivy as well. Best wishes
Gary
Just googling for this song lyrics and accidentally found your page. The melody and Teresa’s voice of this song is kind of nostalgic for me, I heard this songs 30 more years ago.
Thanks for a very good English translation (including inspiration of true meaning) and Hanyu Pin Yin image. Very nice work.
The link for the pictures for the lyrics in simplified Chinese is not working. It’s missing a ‘h’ at the very beginning. I added the ‘h’ and downloaded the file.
Thanks very much, it’s helping me improve my Chinese.
Thanks for that. I’ve updated the link. It should be working now 🙂
You are the next running up for the Nobel prize. The all world need this song 🙂
I feel in love with a young lady in China. She told me this was her favarite song. I just want to say Thank you for your translation of the song.
Ifell in love with a chinese girl also[Li Rong ] but i all her Ivy, this
song really tells what i feel. Thanks for the web site
thank you for sharing. i love david tao’s cover of this song.
I fell in love this song when my nan pengyou introduced it to me. I am currently studying Mandarin with the Confucius Institute and your entry made me fall in love with the song and language even more.
Hello,
Could anyone tell me where could I get the music sheets from this lovely song? I love it so much and want to play it on the piano.
Thanks so much for helping!
My email: gong_ly@yahoo.de
I first heard this song in the 80’s but like other English educated Hua Qiao, have no idea what it meant even though it had a lovely melody. You also taken the trouble to provide some context to your translation which makes it so much more meaningful to those who are not literate in Mandarin. So now I can even sing along and understand exactly what was meant by each line! Thank you Donn for providing excellent tranlation of the lyrics to English and providing the Pinyin version.
This song is really beautiful…eventhough i’ve heard it many times(weddings,party,reunion) i can’t help listening to it again
it reminds me of someone who cared and loved me
mushi i hope you’ll forgive me. . .
no matter how i wish for your return
you’re now happy of your life. . .
i still love you. . .
You all cannot imagine how honoured I am to have helped in your enjoyment of this song. Thank you all for your wonderful comments, it makes my day, everyday.
i’m so glad i’ve found this translation! i wouldn’t know about this song if khalil fong hadn’t covered it in his timeless album, but when i first heard it i was instantly hooked. i don’t know chinese but i knew that this song was something special. thanks for this translation & your commentary on the song. it’s helped me have an even deeper meaning (& appreciation) for the lyrics. 🙂
❤
i only want to learn the song on the piano !!!!!
hahaha.. I know this song for a very long time but I never understand the meaning until i know youtube. I am a Chinese though, but never been to a Chinese school..lol. How I wish I can work in China.. for a short time..
i’d love the piano sheet music
hai..last week my friend played this song in cc..we love this song..but dnt know the meaning..think the meaning are sweet as the music and the voice..wooww…then now we know..it was sooo deepppp..sweet..lovely and cute..hehe..Don,thnx for the lyrix and the meaning…song for everyone that i very love..(“,)
look at the moon n you will find me…..(((((00))))) so sweet…!!!
This song is a classic, I grew up listening to it and I love Teresa Teng. This song is timeless, it’s one of my favorite songs and even my cousin who’s only in her first year of middle school knows this song. Whenever I walk into a restuarant and they’re playing a sonb by Teresa Teng it brings a smile to my face. 😀
DONN<,,,,
thanks a lot for this link..i am happy and proud to know one of the beautiful song ever created.. this song would last..i know,,
KHID
DONN<,,,,
thanks a lot for this link..i am happy and proud to know one of the most beautiful song ever created.. this song would last..i know, thanks for giving the time and effort posting this. i simply delighted,,
khid..
thanks for providing us the lyrics of the song..now i am very willing to learn more about mandarin although im a filipino..hehehe..salamat..
I first heard this song in Taiwan when I was kid. I haven’t figured out the translation until a few years ago, and it made me love the song more. It’s so pretty, and YES I heard it played during the Moon Festival – in fact it was where I discovered it!
Oh man… was just reading the comments after a long hiatus… just want to say a big THANK YOU for all your wonderful, wonderful comments. Makes me really proud 😉
I really searched for this song.. I love this song..
gracias totales, teresa teng,que Dios en su sagrados brasos,te acurreque y te tenga en lo mejor de ese universo angelical,que tu voz ahoa cante con el resto de las voces angelicales,gracias amiga se que ya no estas ,pero se que al decir tu nombre me escucharas,gracias totales.manuel from costa rica central america.port limon.
I was looking for a translation online to a verse that I wasn’t certain of. Reading your post, I remember going through the same thinking process about the moon metaphor. I used to think it was a cheesy song that did not make a lot of sense, then I heard this version, and understood it the way you so perfectly worded it. Thanks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6gbRka8BTo&feature=player_embedded
Very interesting. I know this tune from Ireland but the words are different for Chinese. I like the metaphor of the moon.
When we sing in mandarin, the character “de”(的) should be pronounced like “D” (“di” in pinyin) . Well, not all the time. When that character is singed softly, it is “de”,such as here “yi jin da dong wo de xin”. That’s a convention.
just wanted to share this:
Donn, first off, I want to congratulate you on your fine translation. I am actually not good at Mandarin, but may I suggest my own more liberal and less literal interpretation of the song. Of course 多多教育 if I have got this appeal for correction right as I am not Mandarin educated.
You ask me how deeply I love you
You ask me to what extent my love is for you
My feelings for you are real
My love for you is true
The moon speaks for my heart
You ask me how deeply I love you
You ask me to what extent my love is for you
My feelings for you will not waver
My love for you will not change
The moon speaks for my heart
A tender kiss
Has captivated my heart
A moment of deep affection
Has made me miss you all along
You ask me how deeply I love you
You ask me to what extent my love is for you
Go think about it
Go have a look around ( at the moon)
The moon speaks for my heart
Slight corrections, to better reflect the nuances involved?
My feelings for you are real
My love for you is also true
My feelings for you will not waver
My love for you will also not change
ohmyyyyy, I love this song so much! When I first heard this song I didn’t understand Chinese. But this song is truly, truly beautiful that this made me wants to learn the languange… All Chinese people should be proud to have this song.<3
although all songs in asia are usually about love or dreams (what makes them appeal differently) i believe this song is about sincere feelings about ones love. this song is sung with a delicate slow moving beat that makes your heart beat when some one sings it to you thats why i love this song although im a strange person who cant feel love and never will i can understand songs better than i can understand english o.O even though there not in my native language ^^ and a response to the comment above the chinese people dont need to be proud about this song because they already are ^^
i like this…. 😀 🙂
i love this song its very relaxing… its nice to know here that many people adored this song..:)
saya suka lagu ni sangat.
I have written an ode to Deng Li Jun–Teresa Teng and have great affection for this song. But in the ode, I use the expression, “The moon is the mirror of my heart.” In my mind, “mirror’ is truer and more poetic than “represents.”
The Moon Reflects My Heart?
The English language isn’t best for poetry. Perhaps it is because of it grammar or format. Not to say that your translation is bad, I don’t get the same affection reading it’s English version of the song, and I am fluent in English.
Hi Donn, Appreciate the english translation, so that I understand what I’m learning to sing. The explanation of the content and context in the culture is great! Comment like ” to really understand the language, one need to understand the culture” brings a whole new perspective and understanding when seen from the Chinese viewpoint. A lot of english ed. take it literally and regard such symbol as paganistic.
This is a really good song. I’m sining it in Chinese class tomorrow because it’s a slow song and it was easiest to be able to say the prnounciations and lyrics. Now that I know what i’m singing about I can get into it a little more. It’s a good song and she has a really pretty voice
Hi, may I know if you have the compilation cd – 月亮代表我的心 經典轉? It’s a 3-in-1 cd collection. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks.
Hi Benson, sorry, I don’t have the compliation CD. Youmight want to try Chinatown though, I’ve seen quite a number of shops selling her CDs (but then again, it’s been a while since I’ve been there…)
i love this post. Thank you for writing it with such enthusiasm. This song is going to be sung in my inter cultural play Our Man in Beijing showing at the famous indie company La Mama theatre in Melb, Aust. I was just browsing for the lyrics for this song for our female lead and stumble upon your website. What a lucky find. Then i noticed it was set up in 2003. If you read this Donn Lee, please get in touch with me. I am the artistic director of the Australasian Chinese Theatre in Aust and really would love to talk to you. Your post is simply awesome showing passion, attention to detail and above all, your depth of feeling. I am wondering what you end up doing as a career.
Thank you, Donn!
I’m a singer who just arrived in China and of couse, I have to learn a Chinese song. The people I’m working with pointed that song- I loved the melody ever since I’ve heared it. I was hoping to find what’s the meaning of the lyrics and CHARAAAM- I crushed on your analysis! GREAT and helpful for a foreigner who’s willing to get closer to the Chinese soul!
Once again- thanks.
Hi Donn,
Thanks for your beautiful translation. I’m sharing this with my friends! Hope that’s ok since it’s only among my peers. I love this song- I found out about it and Teresa on TV. She has such a magical voice. ❤ Thanks again!
Hi Alice, absolutely. Please feel free to share this site and what you’ve found here all you want! 🙂
SAYA TAU LAGU INI DARI GURU SAYA.
DAN GURU SAYA MENUGASKAN SAYA UNTUK MENCARI TAU SESUATU DIBALIK LAGU INI. TERIMA KASIH KEPADA PEMILIK BLOG KARENA TELAH MEMBANTU TUGAS SAYA 🙂
Hi Donn, I have read some of the comments and it is quite amazing how your efforts here and the song and the great Teresa Tang have touch the hearts of so many, including mine.
I have been a big fan of Teresa Tang and this song for many years and reading your translation has made me tear up. I have been married to a loving and loyal wife for 14 years and I have not always shown the love she deserves. I have felt very guilty for this. This song will remind me to show her more love.
BTW, my 1 year old daughter loves this song as well. Kim Chiu’s version (on youtube) is what I mostly play for her.
Thank you!
Ty Lim from Chicago, IL
@Ty thanks for your very kind comments 🙂
I’m amazed by your efforts to interpretate this song. To tell you the truth I’m not her (Teresa Teng) huge fan, but since my mom, and my dad her huge fan, I can’t help to being her huge fan too. This song sounds sad, yet romantic. Even my mom, and my dad dance together when they play this song, I’m really envy them!!! Thanks for Teresa Teng for her lovely song, and for Mr. Donn for your efforts to enlight me.
Sincerely,
Ricky from Indonesia
P.S. : Sorry my english was bad ><
Hi Don
Teresa Teng’s songs are very popular in Indonesia. Teresa Teng was also singing a few songs in Indonesian. I know this song (Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin) while still a child in the late 1970s and to this day the song still occupies the position as the number one mandarin song of the most famous in Indonesia.
Thank You
Lutfi from Jakarta
You Sir, you are awesome.
My very special person sang this for me yesterday, As we both are from different countries, it was difficult for me understanding the lyrics. But now I’m so happy 🙂
Thanks a lot bro.
For calling me awesome, you too are awesome 🙂
thank you for letting me know the meaning of the song
Hi Donn.
Been searching for very long time. Wanted this song but difficult keywords; clicked “wo ai ni”, others came up. Until yesterday I heard the song sung near my ear: “ni wen wo ai ni….”, I wrote it. And TARAAA, I found you! I mean your article! Awesome! (actually my heart went so warm to find this). I really really thank you for providing this title, lyrics, hanyu-pinyin, and translation plus interpretation. YOU DID THIS BEAUTIFULLY, SO WELL!
By the way, the moon is so special. Lunar new year that came from the moon is made sense. Moon-cake (yumm i love it); Chang’er and Hou Yi.
Have you any IDEA about the moon: writing, poem, video, scientific review of the moon? Actually the moon has 10 unbelieveable facts?
@Dominic, congrats on finding this song!
This is awesome! I’ve been trying to look for the lyrics for so long n it’s been my all time fav song 🙂 Even though I’m an Indian origin but whenever I hear someone sings this song, I’m so touched. After so many years, I’m able to know what’s the meaning of this song. Teresa Teng is just great, wonderful singer and her beautiful voice touches the soul… Thanks Donn! U hv done such a wonderful job 🙂
Thank you for helping me understand this song. It was shared by a friend in Taiwan and I could see she felt it deeply.
Hi Donn,
Thank you so much for sharing this with a “laowai” like me.
I am touched by the lyrics and the explanation of the moon’s representation in this song.
Listening to this song will surely help me to understand the pronunciation of the words because I’m going to study Mandarin soon.
Understanding more of the Chinese culture and “guanxi” will certainly be beneficial for my future.
All the best! 🙂
this beautiful song is the song that I often sing to my lovely Chinese wife. So to me the words and meaning are of great feeling for us. So sad that Theresa died so young, such a lovely Singer and great girl. Graham.
Are familiar with the song “Hold Hands” by Sue Rey? This is really a great melody and writing
since you such enjoy Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin, please have a listen to what might be the first recording of an English translation.
Hey Donn, thank you immensely for posting this. My 7month old loves this song and when I sing this as a lullaby he sings along with me. (It’s the only way he goes to sleep)
Naturally I had a burning curiosity to know the lyrics and the meaning. You’re in depth post totally satisfied that curiosity! Madd props sir!
Best
Dave C
Love it. Love this song.
Teresa Teng Love your voices very much thank you
I love this song especially to remind for my past time.thank for the translation
Hello donn !
Such a nice article, i love how you explain why the moon is being representative of the heart…
Well it remind me of my first Mandari teacher. He love theresa teng’s song so much, and he ever tell us what is the menaing of this song. He said that in chinese, moon is a symbol of sadness.
Thank you very much !
Lovely ????
Gosh – this is simply the best!!! Thanks for throwing the switch on this – makes complete sense now… and I will learn the song (phonetically,of course!) but with a grand appreciation of what I’m conveying… :))
Hello! did you ever find the phonetic version of the song 🙂
Hello Donn, thank you for your work.
I have written a singable version of the song in German, based on your explanations.
Ob ich Dir treu bin, fragst Du mich.
Ob meine Liebe gilt?
Ich mag Dich so.
Ich lieb’ Dich so.
Wie der Mond umkreist die Welt.
Ob ich Dir treu bin, fragst Du mich.
Ob meine Liebe gilt?
Ich bleib’ bei Dir.
Ich geh’ mit Dir.
Wie der Mond umkreist die Welt.
Ein sanfter Kuß von Dir,
hat mein Herz so tief berührt.
Ich vermisse Dich so sehr,
seit ich Dich zuletzt gespürt.
Ob ich Dir treu bin, fragst Du mich.
Ob meine Liebe gilt?
Ja, Du weißt es doch.
Sieh zum Himmel hoch.
Wie der Mond umkreist die Welt.
Thank you so much for your translations and lyrics. Because of this song,I want to learn Chinese. From Myanmar with love.
I love the melody of the song even when I first heard it… Now, I found the meaning of the song in English and it so beautiful for me….
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