Chinese Folk Songs for Music Teachers
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    • Nursery Rhymes >
      • Dǎ Huā Pāi (Clapping Together)
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      • Duì Huáng Xiè (Yellow Crab Song)
      • Huá Chuán Gē (The Paddling Song)
      • Jīn Suǒ, Yín Suǒ (Gold Lock, Silver Lock)
    • Nursery Rhymes Continued >
      • Mài Mài Duō, Chī Guǒ Guo (Come Together, Let's Eat Candy)
      • Mù Tóng Yáo (The Shepherd Boy Song
      • Suān Méi Tāng (The Plum Drink)
      • Suǒ nà pèi lǎ bāg (Suona Plays with the Trumpet)
      • Xīng Xīng Duō, Wá Wa Duō (Many Stars, Many Children)
    • Even More Nursery Rhymes! >
      • Yī Yā Yāo (Rowing Song)
      • Yōu Yáo Lán (Rocking the Cradle)
      • Zhuó Mù Niǎo (Woodpecker)
      • Lā Dà Jù (Pulling the Big Saw)
      • Xiǎo Hào Zī, Shàng Dēng Tái (Little Mouse Climbing the Oil Lamp)
      • Xiǎo Xiǎo Zī, Zuò Mén Duēn Er (Little Boy Sitting on the Door Step)
    • Yǒng é (To Goose)
    • Shàng Xué Gē (Going to School)
    • Du Shu Lang (The Little Schoolboy)
    • Diū Shǒu Juàn (Drop the Handkerchief)
    • Xiǎo Yàn Zi (Little Swallow)
  • Regional Folk Songs
    • Kang Ding (Sichuan Province)
    • Xiǎo hé tǎng shuǐ (Flowing River)
    • Wa Ha Ha (Xinjiang Province)
    • Zai Na Yao Yuan De Di Fang (Xinjiang Province)
    • Yí Méng Shān Xiǎo Diào (YiMeng Mountain)
    • Biān Huā Lán (Weaving Flower Baskets)
    • Xiān qǐ le nǐ dē gài tóu lǎi (Xinjiang Province)
    • Biān Huā Lán (Weaving Flower Baskets)
    • Jiāo Chěng Shān (Shanxi Province)
    • Shí Dòu Dòu (Shanxi Province)
  • Popular Classics
    • Hǎo Dà Yì Kē Shù​​ (Great Big Tree)
    • Shì Shàng Zhǐ Yǒu Mā Mā Hǎo (Mom is the best in the World)
    • Mō Lì Huā (Jasmine Flower)
    • Chóng ér fēi (Fireflies)
    • Nán Wàng Jīn Xiāo (Unforgettable Night)
    • Wǒ Hé Nǐ(You and Me)
  • About

Lā Dà Jù
(Pulling the Big Saw)
Traditional Chinese Nursery Rhyme
​Music by Xu Hong Shuai

The melody of this Chinese nursery rhyme highlights high do.  There are opportunities to talk about Beijing opera and listen to some examples. 

Pinyin Version

Lā dà jù,
ch
ě dà jù,
l
ǎo lao jiā mén kǒu chàng dà xì.
Ji
ē guī nǔ, qǐng nǔ xù,
​xi
ǎo wài sūn yě yào qù.
​

English Translation

Pulling the big saw
Pushing the big saw
In front of Grandmother’s door
There is someone singing opera.
Bring over your daughter, invite your son-in-law Your little grandchild is also going.


Chinese Text

拉⼤大锯,扯⼤大锯,
姥姥家⻔门⼝口唱⼤大戏。
接闺⼥女女,请⼥女女婿,
​⼩小外孙也要去。

 

Print Translations

pulling_the_big_saw.pdf
File Size: 84 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Audio

Notation

lā_dà_jù.pdf
File Size: 138 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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The Chinese Folk Music Project is a resource for english-speaking music teachers to teach their students chinese songs in a culturally responsive way. This project is made possible with the support of the Confucius Institute in Edmonton.
  • Home
  • Ancient Poems
    • Xiāng Sī (Thinking of Each Other)
    • Dēng guàn què lóu (Climbing Stork Tower)
    • Jìng Yè Sī (Quiet Night Thoughts)
    • Fù Dé Gǔ Yuán Cǎo Sòng Bié (Farewell on an Ancient Plain)
  • Songs and Games
    • Nursery Rhymes >
      • Dǎ Huā Pāi (Clapping Together)
      • Dǎ Qiáo Mài (Threshing the Buckwheat)
      • Duì Huáng Xiè (Yellow Crab Song)
      • Huá Chuán Gē (The Paddling Song)
      • Jīn Suǒ, Yín Suǒ (Gold Lock, Silver Lock)
    • Nursery Rhymes Continued >
      • Mài Mài Duō, Chī Guǒ Guo (Come Together, Let's Eat Candy)
      • Mù Tóng Yáo (The Shepherd Boy Song
      • Suān Méi Tāng (The Plum Drink)
      • Suǒ nà pèi lǎ bāg (Suona Plays with the Trumpet)
      • Xīng Xīng Duō, Wá Wa Duō (Many Stars, Many Children)
    • Even More Nursery Rhymes! >
      • Yī Yā Yāo (Rowing Song)
      • Yōu Yáo Lán (Rocking the Cradle)
      • Zhuó Mù Niǎo (Woodpecker)
      • Lā Dà Jù (Pulling the Big Saw)
      • Xiǎo Hào Zī, Shàng Dēng Tái (Little Mouse Climbing the Oil Lamp)
      • Xiǎo Xiǎo Zī, Zuò Mén Duēn Er (Little Boy Sitting on the Door Step)
    • Yǒng é (To Goose)
    • Shàng Xué Gē (Going to School)
    • Du Shu Lang (The Little Schoolboy)
    • Diū Shǒu Juàn (Drop the Handkerchief)
    • Xiǎo Yàn Zi (Little Swallow)
  • Regional Folk Songs
    • Kang Ding (Sichuan Province)
    • Xiǎo hé tǎng shuǐ (Flowing River)
    • Wa Ha Ha (Xinjiang Province)
    • Zai Na Yao Yuan De Di Fang (Xinjiang Province)
    • Yí Méng Shān Xiǎo Diào (YiMeng Mountain)
    • Biān Huā Lán (Weaving Flower Baskets)
    • Xiān qǐ le nǐ dē gài tóu lǎi (Xinjiang Province)
    • Biān Huā Lán (Weaving Flower Baskets)
    • Jiāo Chěng Shān (Shanxi Province)
    • Shí Dòu Dòu (Shanxi Province)
  • Popular Classics
    • Hǎo Dà Yì Kē Shù​​ (Great Big Tree)
    • Shì Shàng Zhǐ Yǒu Mā Mā Hǎo (Mom is the best in the World)
    • Mō Lì Huā (Jasmine Flower)
    • Chóng ér fēi (Fireflies)
    • Nán Wàng Jīn Xiāo (Unforgettable Night)
    • Wǒ Hé Nǐ(You and Me)
  • About