In today’s Mandarin Chinese class we learn the meaning of a popular Chinese children’s song about… hamburgers! This song appears in an episode of the popular children’s TV show Babybus, or 宝宝巴士。 The full episode in which the Baby bus hamburger song appears is downloaded to YouTube and the song appears near the start of the video.
The Baby bus Hamburger song is great for kids learning Mandarin and adults who want a fund way to pick up some useful vocab with a catchy tune.
At the very start of the video we meet a deliver-driver dog as he places a box of hamburgers in the back of his van. As the driver starts to drive off the hamburgers come alive and wonder where they are headed. Then suddenly the door of the van flies open and the box containing the four hamburgers falls out of the back of the van. As the box lands one of the babybus hamburgers complains about the pain. Realising their own delivery van has driven off one of the hamburgers points out another. The group then decide to cross the road and at minute 1.03 the song begins.
Babybus Hamburger Song
Vocabulary
Note that the Chinese characters that appear in this video are all in Traditional Chinese characters.
One – 一 yī
Two – 二 èr
Three – 三 sān
Four – 四 sì
Halt – 立定 （lìdìng）Note that the Chinese word 立定（lìdìng）is a command used in contexts where a group of a people are walking as a group. The person at the front of the group is usually the leader and when they want the group to stop for some reason they will give the order 立定 （lìdìng), which means halt. Therefore this word may be used by an officer commanding his troops on a march, a teacher leading his students on a walk, or a tour guide leading his group on a walk round a city.
Onward – 前进 （qiánjìn）This word is another command and it means onward. Again this word would be used by a leader giving directio to those under his command.
Hamburger – 汉堡 （hànbǎo）Note also the measure word 个 gè. Although, hamburgers are not a traditional Chinese food, they have become popular due to western fast food outlets like KFC and McDonalds doing business in most Chinese cities and even many towns. In recent years various Chinese fast food outlets have also started to sell their own hamburgers.
Walk – 走 （zǒu）This is a verb meaning to walk. In the song the hamburgers sing 走在路上，which means walking on the road.
Careful – 小心 （xiǎoxīn）This is usually used to advise people to be careful
Danger – 危险 （wēixiǎn）This word means danger in Chinese
Save me – 救命 jiùmìng
Run 跑 pǎo
Babybus the Hamburger song
Verse 1
The first bit of vocabulary we meet are the Chinese words for one, two, one which the Babybus Hamburgers chant and repeat as they start their march across the road.
1.04: 一二一 一二一 一二一 二立定！（yīèr yī yī èryī yīèryī èrlìdìng）
One two one, one two one, one two one, two halt！
1.12: 一二一 一二一 一二一 二前进！(yīèryī yīèr yīyī èr yīèr qiánjìn)
One two one, one two one, one two one, two Onward!
1.18: 一二三四 四个汉堡 . 一二三四走在路上(yī èr sān sì hànbǎo。yī èr sān sì zǒuzài lùshang)
One, two, three, four, four hamburgers. One, two, three, four walking on the road.
Chorus
1.28: 一个汉堡停下来说 （yīgè hànbǎo tíngxiàlái shuō）
One of the hamburgers stopped and said:
那是什么，那是什么，小心危险！（nàshi shénme nàshi ， xiǎoxīn wēixiǎn）
What’s that. What’s that, Careful Danger!
1.32: 一个圆圆汉堡说我的天 （yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuō wǒde tiān）
One round hamburger said.. My God!
一个圆圆汉堡说救命啊 （yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuō jiùmìnga）
One round hamburger said Save me!
1.38: 一个圆圆汉堡说太可怕了！（yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuì/shuō tài kěpà le）
One hamburger said too frightening!
一个圆圆汉堡说快跑快跑 （yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuō kuàipǎo kuàipǎo）
One hamburger said run quick! Run Quick!
Verse 2
1.45: 一二三四 四个汉堡 . 一二三四走在路上(yī èr sān sì hànbǎo。yī èr sān sì zǒuzài lùshang)
One, two, three, four, four hamburgers. One, two, three, four walking on the road.
1.52: 一个汉堡停下来说 （yīgè hànbǎo tíngxiàlái shuō）
One of the hamburgers stopped and said:
那是什么，那是什么，Oh Yeah！（nàshi shénme nàshi ， Oh Yeah!）
2.00: 走班马路就安全了 （zǒu bān mǎlù jiù ānquán liǎo le）
Going on the Zebra crossing will be safe
2.02: 一二一 一二一 一二一 二立定！（yīèr yī yī èryī yīèryī èrlìdìng）
One two one, one two one, one two one, two halt！
2.08: 一二一 一二一 一二一 二前进！(yīèryī yīèr yīyī èr yīèr qiánjìn)
One two one, one two one, one two one, two Onward!
2.11: 一二三四 四个汉堡 . 一二三四走在路上(yī èr sān sì hànbǎo。yī èr sān sì zǒuzài lùshang)
One, two, three, four, four hamburgers. One, two, three, four walking on the road.
Chorus 2
2.19: 一个汉堡停下来说 （yīgè hànbǎo tíngxiàlái shuō）
One of the hamburgers stopped and said:
那是什么，那是什么，小心危险！（nàshi shénme nàshi ， xiǎoxīn wēixiǎn）
What’s that. What’s that, Careful Danger!
2.25: 一个圆圆汉堡说我的天 （yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuō wǒde tiān）
One round hamburger said.. My God!
一个圆圆汉堡说救命啊 （yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuō jiùmìnga）
One round hamburger said Save me!
2.35: 一个圆圆汉堡说太可怕了！（yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuō tài kěpà le）
One hamburger said too frightening!
一个圆圆汉堡说快跑快跑 （yīgè yuán yuán hànbǎo shuō kuàipǎo kuàipǎo）
One hamburger said run quick! Run Quick!
No!