Aiduo Songs Drift from the Hakka Walled House is a nursery rhyme in the Hakka dialect created to preserve the culture of Hakka walled houses and evoke nostalgia of the hometown. Drawing on the dialect of Shixing, Shaoguan, "Aiduo," meaning "many" or "a lot," the song portrays the everyday joys of childhood in a walled house through the playful eyes of children, while incorporating the rhythms of Hakka folk songs. Through its playful use of dialect and play-infused rendition, the song is light-toned, lively and easy to sing. It introduces children to their local culture while stirring memories of hometown among those living far away, carrying forward the cultural heritage of Hakka walled houses through children's voices.
Editor's Note: Nursery rhymes are a treasured part of Lingnan's cultural heritage, capturing the region's language, traditions and childhood memories through simple yet vivid lyrics. This series presents a selection of ten original Lingnan nursery rhyme works, showcasing the creativity of contemporary lyricists while preserving the unique charm of Lingnan culture. Join us as we explore these stories, melodies and traditions that continue to inspire young generations.
圍樓飄出哎哆歌
Aiduo Songs Drift from the Hakka Walled House
作詞：楊英
Lyrics by Yang Ying
作曲：李正中、黎欣
Music by Li Zhengzhong and Li Xin
演出單位：始興縣文化館、始興縣實驗小學
Performed by Shixing County Cultural Center and Shixing County Experimental Primary School
【歌詞】
Lyrics
（伢仔：孩子；哎哆／哎哆哆：客家话语气衬词；有时也兼有“很多、好多、热热闹闹”的意味。）
客家伢仔就愛唱歌
Hakka children just love to sing.
唱起了山歌就哎哆哆
Once mountain songs begin, it is Aiduoduo.
哎哆哆餵！
Aiduoduo, hey!
哎哆哆，哎哆哆哆
Aiduoduo, Aiduoduoduo,
哎哆哆，哎哆哆哆
Aiduoduo, Aiduoduoduo.
客家伢仔就愛唱歌
Hakka children just love to sing,
唱出生活個好年頭
singing of happy days and a good life.
哎哆圍樓裡就唱山歌
Aiduo, mountain songs ring through the walled house.
圍樓飄出哎哆歌
Aiduo songs drift from the walled house.
哎~圍樓飄出哎哆歌
Hey, Aiduo songs drift from the walled house.
哎哆哆，哎哆哆哆
Aiduoduo, Aiduoduoduo,
哎哆哆，哎哆哆哆
Aiduoduo, Aiduoduoduo.
學學公雞喔喔叫
We learn to crow like roosters, cock-a-doodle-doo,
逗逗小狗搖尾巴
and tease the puppy till it wags its tail.
哎哆院裡搭起小城堡
Aiduo, we build a little castle in the courtyard.
細妹鬧得就哎哆哆
The Hakka girls romp and play, Aiduoduo.
哎~細妹鬧得就哎哆哆
Hey, the Hakka girls romp and play, Aiduoduo.
哎哆哆，哎哆哆哆
Aiduoduo, Aiduoduoduo,
哎哆哆，哎哆哆哆
Aiduoduo, Aiduoduoduo.
爬上果樹摘果果
We climb up the fruit trees and pick the fruits,
酸酸甜甜裝的滿兜兜
sweet and tart fruits fill our pockets to the brim.
哎哆花叢追著蝴蝶跑
Aiduo, we chase butterflies through the flowers.
小腳踩得就哎哆哆
Our little feet are pattering, Aiduoduo.
哎~小腳踩得就哎哆哆
Hey, our little feet are pattering, Aiduoduo.
（副歌）
(Chorus)
哎哆圍樓裡唱山歌
Aiduo, we sing mountain songs in the walled house.
山歌唱了幾谷籮
We sing enough songs to fill basket after basket.
開開心心唱山歌
We sing our mountain songs with joy.
圍樓飄出就哎哆歌
Aiduo songs drift from the walled house.
哎哆圍樓裡唱山歌
Aiduo, we sing mountain songs in the walled house,
山歌唱得樂心窩
sing till our hearts are full of joy.
嘻嘻哈哈唱不停
Laughing and giggling, we sing on and on,
圍樓飄出就哎哆歌
and Aiduo songs drift from the walled house.
Text | Zhang Xuanzhen (intern), Liu Lingzhi
