This Cantonese nursery rhyme draws inspiration from Foshan's playful Cantonese tongue twister "Duck or Goose?" and incorporates everyday local expressions into a simple, catchy melody. The first half of the lyrics depicts children in a waterside community playing happily by the river with ducks and geese, while the second half encourages them to study hard and contribute to the development of their hometown. Retaining the charm of traditional Cantonese nursery rhymes, the song is well-suited for school performances and group singing, helping pass on Lingnan folk traditions and Cantonese culture.
鴨定鵝
Duck or Goose?
作詞：潘湘惠、鄧耀邦
Lyrics by Pan Xianghui and Deng Yaobang
作曲：潘湘惠
Music by Pan Xianghui
編合唱：柯小盧
Choral arrangement by Ke Xiaolu
演唱：佛山市少兒合唱團
Performed by Foshan City Children's Choir
【歌詞】
[Lyrics]
鵝鵝鵝，鵝仔鵝孫鵝定鴨，
Goose, goose, goose, goslings all: goose or duck?
鴨鴨鴨，鴨仔鴨孫鴨定鵝。
Duck, duck, duck, ducklings all: duck or goose?
鵝鵝鵝，鵝仔鵝孫鵝定鴨，
Goose, goose, goose, goslings all: goose or duck?
鴨鴨鴨，鴨仔鴨孫鴨定鵝。
Duck, duck, duck, ducklings all: duck or goose?
蝦仔門前有條河，河邊養咗鴨同鵝啊囉，
A river runs by the little boy's door; ducks and geese by the shore, ah-lo!
蝦仔每天返學囉，鴨仔鵝仔喺佢身邊過，
The little boy goes to school each day; ducklings and goslings pass his way.
蝦仔門前有條河，河邊養咗鴨同鵝啊囉，
A river runs by the little boy's door; ducks and geese by the shore, ah-lo!
蝦仔每天返學囉，鴨仔鵝仔喺佢身邊過，
The little boy goes to school each day; ducklings and goslings pass his way.
嘎嘎嘎嘎跳落水，嘎嘎嘎嘎跌落河，
Quack-quack-quack-quack, splash into the water; quack-quack-quack-quack, tumble into the river.
蝦仔岸上笑呵呵，嘎嘎嘎嘎河上過。
The little boy laughs on the shore; quack-quack-quack-quack, they pass by.
嘎嘎嘎嘎跳落水，嘎嘎嘎嘎跌落河，
Quack-quack-quack-quack, splash into the water; quack-quack-quack-quack, tumble into the river.
蝦仔岸上笑呵呵，嘎嘎嘎嘎河上過。
The little boy laughs on the shore; quack-quack-quack-quack, they pass by.
鵝鵝鵝，鵝仔鵝孫鵝定鴨，
Goose, goose, goose, goslings all: goose or duck?
鴨鴨鴨，鴨仔鴨孫鴨定鵝。
Duck, duck, duck, ducklings all: duck or goose?
鵝鵝鵝，鵝仔鵝孫鵝定鴨，
Goose, goose, goose, goslings all: goose or duck?
鴨鴨鴨，鴨仔鴨孫鴨定鵝。
Duck, duck, duck, ducklings all: duck or goose?
鴨仔鴨仔跳落水，鵝仔鵝仔跌落河，
Ducklings, ducklings, splash into the water; goslings, goslings, tumble into the river.
蝦仔岸上笑呵呵，鵝仔鵝仔河上過。
The little boy laughs on the shore; goslings, goslings, glide by.
鴨仔鴨仔跳落水，鵝仔鵝仔跌落河，
Ducklings, ducklings, splash into the water; goslings, goslings, tumble into the river.
蝦仔岸上笑呵呵，鵝仔鵝仔河上過。
The little boy laughs on the shore; goslings, goslings, glide by.
蝦仔每天長大囉，學習文化建設祖國，
As the little boy grows day by day, he studies hard to help build our country.
啊，陪你長大囉。
Ah, growing up by your side.
蝦仔每天努力囉，建設家鄉創成果。
The little boy works hard each day, helping his hometown grow and thrive.
青山綠水有你同我。
Green hills, clear waters, with you and me.
蝦仔門前有條河，河邊養咗鴨同鵝啊囉，
A river runs by the little boy's door; ducks and geese by the shore, ah-lo!
蝦仔每天返學囉，鴨仔鵝仔喺佢身邊過，
The little boy goes to school each day; ducklings and goslings pass his way.
鵝鵝鵝，鵝仔鵝孫鵝定鴨，
Goose, goose, goose, goslings all: goose or duck?
鴨鴨鴨，鴨仔鴨孫鴨定鵝。
Duck, duck, duck, ducklings all: duck or goose?
鵝鵝鵝，鵝仔鵝孫鵝定鴨，
Goose, goose, goose, goslings all: goose or duck?
鴨鴨鴨，鴨仔鴨孫鴨定鵝。
Duck, duck, duck, ducklings all: duck or goose?
啊囉........
Ah-lo...
Text | Zheng Yiling (intern), Liu Lingzhi
