The Hakka-dialect nursery rhyme "I'm a Gap-Toothed Kid" is created to preserve and pass on Hakka culture through kids' songs. Cleverly adapted from a traditional rhyme, it vividly portrays the playful figure of a child with missing front teeth. Distinguished by its blend of Mandarin and Hakka vocals, the song also creatively incorporates elements of jazz, giving it a humorous and upbeat style. Celebrating the value of hard work, it has become a viral hit among children of overseas Chinese descent who are learning Hakka.
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.涯係缺牙耙
I'm a Gap-Toothed Kid
詞曲：陳善寶、梁姍姍
Lyrics and music by Chen Shanbao and Liang Shanshan
演唱：江尚儒
Performed by Jiang Shangru
【歌詞】
[Lyrics]
我一顆一顆乳牙換新牙
One by one, my baby teeth make way for new ones.
媽媽說我就要長大啦
Mom says I'm growing up.
不要笑我缺了牙
Don't laugh at my missing teeth.
我會像那小樹慢慢發芽
I'll sprout and grow, just like that little tree.
騎著單車
Riding my bicycle,
行到樹下
I make my way beneath a tree
遇到還細識得個胖冬瓜
and meet "Chubby Winter Melon," a friend I've known since I was little.
番薯換到個大西瓜
I trade a sweet potato for a big watermelon.
想來笑去就牙射射
The thought makes me grin, flashing my gap-toothed smile.
缺牙耙種冬瓜
The gap-toothed kid plants winter melons.
阿公喊涯戴鬥嫲
Grandpa tells me to put on my bamboo hat.
上山落田涯唔怕
I'm not afraid to head uphill or down to the fields.
扎扎做事人人誇
I work hard and earn everyone's praise.
涯係缺牙耙
I'm a gap-toothed kid!
缺牙耙種冬瓜
The gap-toothed kid plants winter melons.
瓜冇黃割來嘗
Before the melon turns yellow, I cut it open to taste.
瓜冇大割來賣
Before it grows big, I harvest it to sell.
賣倒錢學打棉
With the money I earn, I learn to card cotton.
棉線斷學打磚
The cotton thread snaps, so I learn to make bricks.
磚斷節學打鐵
The bricks crack, so I learn to forge iron.
鐵生擼學刣豬
The iron rusts, so I learn to butcher pigs.
豬賒本學做粉
I lose money raising pigs, so I learn to make rice noodles.
粉皮短學做碗
The rice sheets turn out too short, so I learn to make bowls.
碗底深學做針
The bowls turn out too deep, so I learn to make needles.
針眼細學做細
The needle's eyes are too small, so I go out to work.
做細苦又懶唔當去過番
Work is hard and I'm lazy; I'd rather head overseas to make a living.
媽媽採茶
Mom picks tea leaves,
爸爸種瓜
while Dad grows melons,
日出又到日頭斜
from sunrise till the sun hangs low.
勤勞致富靠自家
We work hard and rely on ourselves to prosper.
會華會算會當家
We plan ahead, budget wisely and know how to run a household.
缺牙耙種冬瓜
The gap-toothed kid plants winter melons.
阿公喊涯戴鬥嫲
Grandpa tells me to put on my bamboo hat.
上山落田涯唔怕
I'm not afraid to head uphill or down to the fields.
扎扎做事人人誇
I work hard and earn everyone's praise.
人子細細本事多
Though I'm little, I've got plenty of skills.
還細就會唱山歌
Though I'm still young, I already know how to sing Hakka folk songs.
麻子細細噴噴香
Tiny sesame seeds are wonderfully fragrant.
黃豆細細圓叮噹
Tiny soybeans are nice and round.
爸爸教涯莫怕苦
Dad teaches me not to fear hardship.
媽媽教涯愛勤奮
Mom teaches me to work hard.
認真讀書唔會差
If I study hard, I won't fall behind.
扎扎做事人人誇
I work hard and earn everyone's praise.
Text | Zheng Yiling (intern), Liu Lingzhi
