Singing is a great way to learn a language. And nursery rhymes are one of the best way you can teach babies and toddlers the sounds of a new language. Rhythm and repetition are instrumental in learning, which is why nursery rhymes are so effective in young children’s language acquisition.
In our home, we often have music playing in the background. When my children were young, we would have a little Mandarin music playgroup, just learning how to sing these songs, and pick any instruments and play along.
Check out this blog post for our favourite Chinese children’s music. We tend to listen to Chinese children music on Spotify, and I even have a few playlists of our favourite songs on it.
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How to use Chinese Children Songs/Nursery Rhymes to teach Chinese
With songs, you can be really creative. Once you know the classics by heart, then it’s time to shake things up and make your own! That’s when the best learning takes place, when you can be a little bit silly, and own it.
For example, for the song 两只老虎 what other animals can you change the tune to? 两只老鼠 maybe? And you can switch up the “missing” body parts. And there you have a fun way to learn about animals and body parts. Go ahead. Be silly and have fun!
Classic Chinese Children Songs/Nursery Rhymes
For young Chinese learners and their parents, here are 15 classic Chinese nursery rhymes you should learn by heart.
两只老虎
No kidding, this has got to be the most famous Chinese children song. A song about two tigers who has missing body parts?! If you get pass the funny content, it’s a nice catchy tune which kids can pick up easily.
两只老虎 两只老虎
liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ
跑得快 跑得快
pǎo dé kuài pǎo dé kuài
一只没有耳朵
yī zhǐ méi yǒu ěr duǒ
一只没有尾巴
yī zhǐ méi yǒu wěi bā
真奇怪 真奇怪
zhēn qí guài zhēn qí guài
三轮车
This is a song that I get up listening to in Singapore. Back in the olden days, trishaws were the main form of transport. So while this song isn’t the most famous, I have included this as it is a nice catchy tune which brings back fond memories of my personal childhood and my home country.
三轮车跑的快，上面坐个老太太
sān lún chē pǎo de kuài, shàng miàn zuò gè lǎo tài tài
要五毛给一块，你说奇怪不奇怪
yào wǔ máo gěi yīkuài, nǐ shuō qí guài bù qí guài
小猴子吱吱叫，肚子饿了不能叫
xiǎo hóu zi zhī zhī jiào, dù zi è liǎo bù néng jiào
给香蕉他不要，你说好笑不好笑
gěi xiāng jiāo tā bù yào, nǐ shuō hǎo xiào bù hǎo xiào
当我们同在一起
当我们同在一起 在一起 在一起
dāng wǒ men tóng zài yī qǐ zài yī qǐ zài yī qǐ
当我们同在一起 其快乐无比
dāng wǒ men tóng zài yī qǐ qí kuài lè wú bǐ
你对着我笑嘻嘻 我对着你笑哈哈
nǐ duì zhe wǒ xiào xī xī wǒ duì zhe nǐ xiào hā hā
当我们同在一起 其快乐无比
dāng wǒ men tóng zài yī qǐ qí kuài lè wú bǐ
找朋友
找呀找呀找朋友
zhǎo ya zhǎo ya zhǎo péng yǒu
找到一个好朋友
zhǎo dào yī gè hǎo péng yǒu
敬个礼呀握握手
jìng gè lǐ ya wò wò shǒu
你是我的好朋友
nǐ shì wǒ de hǎo péng yǒu
一闪一闪亮晶晶
一闪一闪亮晶晶
yī shǎn yī shǎn liàng jīng jīng
满天都是小星星
mǎn tiān dū shì xiǎo xīng xīng
挂在天上放光明
guà zài tiān shàng fàng guāng míng
好像许多小眼睛
hǎo xiàng xǔ duō xiǎo yǎn jīng
一闪一闪亮晶晶
yī shǎn yī shǎn liàng jīng jīng
满天都是小星星
mǎn tiān dū shì xiǎo xīng xīng
五指歌
一二三四五
yī èr sān sì wǔ
上山打老虎
shàng shān dǎ lǎo hǔ
老虎打不到 打到小松鼠
lǎo hǔ dǎ bù dào dǎ dào xiǎo sōng shǔ
松鼠有几个 让我数一数
sōng shǔ yǒu jǐ gè ràng wǒ shǔ yī shǔ
数来又数去 一二三四五
shǔ lái yòu shù qù yī èr sān sì wǔ
五四三二一 一二三四五
wǔ sì sān èr yī yī’ èr sān sì wǔ
头, 肩膀, 膝盖脚
头，肩膀 ，膝盖脚，膝盖脚
tóu, jiān bǎng, xī gài jiǎo, xī gài jiǎo
头，肩膀 ，膝盖脚，膝盖脚
tóu, jiān bǎng, xī gài jiǎo, xī gài jiǎo
眼睛耳朵，嘴巴鼻子
yǎn jīng ěr duǒ, zuǐ bā bí zi
头，肩膀 ，膝盖脚，膝盖脚
tóu, jiān bǎng, xī gài jiǎo, xī gài jiǎo
王老先生有块地
Did you know that animals in different languages make different noises?
Ducks for instance, go “quack quack” in English, but “ga ga” in Chinese. Sheeps go “baa baa” in English and “mie mie” in Chinese. I’ve always wondered why?? Surely the same animals make the same noise…
In this song, Old MacDonald is Old Mr Wang (a very popular Chinese surname).
王老先生有块地
wáng lǎo xiān shēng yǒu kuài dì
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
他在田边养小鸡
tā zài tián biān yǎng xiǎo jī
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
这里叽叽叽
zhè lǐ jī ji jī
那里叽叽叽
nà lǐ jī ji jī
这里叽那里叽
zhè lǐ jī nà lǐ jī
到处都在叽叽
dào chù dōu zài jī ji
王老先生有块地
wáng lǎo xiān shēng yǒu kuài dì
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
王老先生有块地
wáng lǎo xiān shēng yǒu kuài dì
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
他在田边养小鸭
tā zài tián biān yǎng xiǎo yā
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
这里嘎嘎嘎
zhè lǐ gāgā gā
那里嘎嘎嘎
nà lǐ gāgā gā
这里嘎那里嘎
zhè lǐ gā nàlǐ gā
到处都在嘎嘎
dào chù dōu zài gā gā
王老先生有块地
wáng lǎo xiān shēng yǒu kuài dì
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
王老先生有块地
wáng lǎo xiān shēng yǒu kuài dì
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
他在田边养小羊
tā zài tián biān yǎng xiǎo yáng
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
这里咩咩咩
zhè lǐ miē miē miē
那里咩咩咩
nà lǐ miē miē miē
这里咩那里咩
zhè lǐ miē nàlǐ miē
到处都在咩咩
dào chù dōu zài miē miē
王老先生有块地
wáng lǎo xiān shēng yǒu kuài dì
咿呀咿呀哟
yī yā yī yā yō
打电话
两个小娃娃呀, 正在打电话呀
liǎng gè xiǎo wá wá ya, zhèng zài dǎ diàn huà ya
喂,喂,喂, 你在哪里呀?
wèi, wèi, wèi, nǐ zài nǎ lǐ ya?
哎,哎,哎, 我在幼儿园
āi, āi, āi, wǒ zài yòu ér yuán
两个小娃娃呀, 正在打电话呀
liǎng gè xiǎo wá wá ya, zhèng zài dǎ diàn huà ya
喂,喂,喂, 你在做什么?
wèi, wèi, wèi, nǐ zài zuò shén me?
哎,哎,哎, 我在学唱歌
āi, āi, āi, wǒ zài xué chàng gē
拔萝卜
This is basically the song retelling the classic story of the Gigantic Turnip. It’s a great one for the kids to learn as the lyrics are repetitive and the characters appear sequentially. From the old lady 老太婆, to the girl 小姑娘, to the cat 小花猫, to the dog 小黄狗. I’m not sure why but common dogs are always referred to as Little Yellow Dog 小黄狗.
拔萝卜 拔萝卜
bá luó bo, bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔萝卜
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔不动
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá bù dòng
老太婆快快来
lǎo tài pó kuài kuài lái
快来帮我们拔萝卜
kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo
拔萝卜 拔萝卜
bá luó bo, bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔萝卜
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔不动
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá bù dòng
小姑娘快快来
xiǎo gū niáng kuài kuài lái
快来帮我们拔萝卜
kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo
拔萝卜 拔萝卜
bá luó bo, bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔萝卜
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔不动
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá bù dòng
小花猫快快来
xiǎo huā māo kuài kuài lái
快来帮我们拔萝卜
kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo
拔萝卜 拔萝卜
bá luó bo, bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔萝卜
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá luó bo
嘿呦嘿呦拔不动
hēi yōu hēi yōu bá bù dòng
小黄狗快快来
xiǎo huáng gǒu kuài kuài lái
快来帮我们拔萝卜
kuài lái bāng wǒ men bá luó bo
世上只有妈妈好
Whenever it’s Mother’s Day and I think of my mother and grandmother, I think of this song. The simple lyrics bring home a sweet and warm message. Want to know what other songs you should listen to on Mother’s Day?
世上只有妈妈好
shì shàng zhǐ yǒu mā mā hǎo
有妈的孩子像块宝
yǒu mā de hái zi xiàng kuài bǎo
投进妈妈的怀抱
tóu jìn mā mā de huái bào
幸福享不了
xìng fú xiǎng bù liǎo
世上只有妈妈好
shì shàng zhǐ yǒu mā mā hǎo
没妈的孩子像根草
méi mā de hái zi xiàng gēn cǎo
离开妈妈的怀抱
lí kāi mā mā de huái bào
幸福哪里找
xìng fú nǎ lǐ zhǎo
泥娃娃
泥娃娃 泥娃娃 一个泥娃娃
ní wá wá ní wá wá yī gè ní wá wá
也有那眉毛 也有那眼睛
yě yǒu nà méi máo yě yǒu nà yǎnjīng
眼睛不会眨
yǎn jīng bù huì zhǎ
泥娃娃 泥娃娃 一个泥娃娃
ní wá wá ní wá wá yī gè ní wá wá
也有那鼻子 也有那嘴巴
yě yǒu nà bí zi yě yǒu nà zuǐ bā
嘴巴不说话
zuǐ bā bu shuō huà
她是个假娃娃 不是个真娃娃
tā shì gè jiǎ wá wá bù shì gè zhēn wá wá
她没有亲爱的妈妈 也没有爸爸
tā méi yǒu qīn ài de mā mā yě méi yǒu bà ba
泥娃娃 泥娃娃 一个泥娃娃
ní wá wá ní wá wá yī gè ní wá wá
我做她妈妈 我做她爸爸
wǒ zuò tā mā mā wǒ zuò tā bà ba
永远爱着她
yǒng yuǎn ài zhe tā
来了一群小鸭子
来了一群小鸭子,嘎嘎嘎嘎叫
lái le yī qún xiǎo yā zi, gā gā gā gā jiào
看见池塘水清清都想往下跳
kàn jiàn chí táng shuǐ qīng qīng dōu xiǎng wǎng xià tiào
小黄鸭小黑鸭乐得眯眯笑
xiǎo huáng yā xiǎo hēi yā lè dé mī mī xiào
小白鸭小灰鸭吵着要洗澡
xiǎo bái yā xiǎo huī yā chǎo zhe yào xǐ zǎo
嘎嘎嘎不要闹,嘎嘎嘎准备好
gā gā gā bù yào nào, gā gā gā zhǔn bèi hǎo
扑通扑通往下跳,嘎嘎嘎
pū tōng pū tōng wǎng xià tiào, gā gā gā
小蝌蚪找妈妈
This is also another classic story 小蝌蚪找妈妈. I’ve always found frogs fascinating and as a child, loved this song as much as the amazing transformation of the frog as it grows from tadpoles to frog.
小蝌蚪找妈妈找到了青蛙摇摇尾巴
Xiǎo kē dǒu zhǎo mā mā zhǎo dàole qīng wā yáo yáo wěi bā
青蛙不是我妈妈, 妈妈他怎会没有尾巴
qīng wā bù shì wǒ mā mā, mā mā tā zěn huì méi yǒu wěi bā
小蝌蚪找妈妈找到了鱼儿他叫妈妈
xiǎo kē dǒu zhǎo mā mā zhǎo dào le yú er tā jiào mā mā
鱼儿摇摇他的尾巴, 孩子呀 我不是你的妈妈
yú ér yáo yáo tā de wěi bā, háizi ya wǒ bùshì nǐ de māmā
妈妈，妈妈妈妈你在哪在哪
mā mā, mā mā mā mā nǐ zài nǎ zài nǎ
妈妈，妈妈我一定要找到你呀。
mā mā, mā mā wǒ yī dìng yào zhǎo dào nǐ ya.
小蝌蚪找妈妈找到了乌龟他喊妈妈
xiǎo kē dǒu zhǎo mā mā zhǎo dào le wū guī tā hǎn mā mā
乌龟笑着告诉他, 孩子呀我不是你的妈妈
wū guī xiào zhe gào sù tā, hái zi ya wǒ bù shì nǐ de mā mā
小蝌蚪找妈妈直找得自己没了尾巴
xiǎo kē dǒu zhǎo mā mā zhí zhǎo dé zì jǐ méi liǎo wěi bā
想起见过的那青蛙, 原来呀他就是我的妈妈
xiǎng qǐ jiàn guò dì nà qīng wā, yuán lái ya tā jiù shì wǒ de mā mā
妈妈，妈妈一定要等着我呀
mā mā, mā mā yī dìng yào děng zhe wǒ ya
妈妈，妈妈我终于找到你了
mā mā, mā mā wǒ zhōng yú zhǎo dào nǐ le
妈妈，妈妈我终于找到你了
mā mā, mā mā wǒ zhōng yú zhǎo dào nǐ le
小毛驴
我有一只小毛驴我从来也不骑
wǒ yǒu yī zhǐ xiǎo máo lǘ wǒ cóng lái yě bù qí
有一天我心血来潮骑着去赶集
yǒu yī tiān wǒ xīn xuè lái cháo qí zhe qù gǎn jí
我手里拿着小皮鞭我心里正得意
wǒ shǒu lǐ ná zhe xiǎo pí biān wǒ xī nlǐ zhèng dé yì
不知怎么哗啦啦啦我摔了一身泥
bù zhī zěn me huā lā lā lā wǒ shuāi le yī shēn ní
Classic Chinese Children Songs/Nursery Rhymes YouTube Video Channels
YouTube is a great platform for classic Chinese songs for children, and some of them have subtitles as well so you can totally hold a kids’ Chinese karaoke party!
Some of our favourite Chinese children’s song channels for classic tunes are:
Additional Chinese music and podcasts you might like
Also consider listening
- to these educational Chinese podcasts
- these popular Chinese music albums
