Chinese Folk Songs for Music Teachers
  • 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

Shì Shàng Zhǐ Yǒu Mā Mā Hǎo
(Mom is the Best in the World)

This song focuses on a child’s relationship with their mother.  Children in China learn this song at an early age.  Although Mother’s Day is not celebrated in China, the idea of honoring your mother is very important and ties in well with Mother’s Day or spring celebrations.

Pinyin Version

Shì shàng zhǐ yǒu mā mā hǎo
yǒu mā de hái zì xiàng kuài bǎo
tóu jìn mā mā de huái bào
xìng fú xiǎng bù liǎo
shì shàng zhǐ yǒu mā mā hǎo
méi mā dè hái zì xiàng gēn cǎo
lí kāi mā mā dè huái bào
xìng fú nǎ lǐ zhǎ

English Translation

Mom is the best in the world.
A child with a mother is like a precious gem.
Throw yourself into your mother’s arms
And you will find happiness.
Mom is the best in the world.
A child without a mom is like a blade of grass.
Away from your mother’s arms
Where will you find happiness?

Chinese Text

世 上 只有 妈妈 好 
有 妈 的 孩子 像 块 宝
投 进 妈妈的 怀抱
幸福 享 不 了

世 上 只有 妈妈 好
没 妈 的 孩子 像 根 草
离开 妈妈的 怀抱 
幸福 那里 找

Print Translations

shì_shàng_zhǐ_yǒu_mā_mā_hǎo_printable.pdf
File Size: 103 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Audio

Notation

shi_shang_zhi_you_ma_ma_hao_notation.pdf
File Size: 213 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