This song is a relic of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). The melody was adapted from an old farmer’s folk song back in 1942, and became popular when Mao Zedong’s (毛泽东) cult of personality was in full swing.
东方红,太阳升 中国出了个毛泽东 他为人民谋幸福 呼儿嗨哟 他是人民大救星 他为人民谋幸福 呼儿嗨哟 他是人民大救星
毛主席爱人民 他是我们的带路人 为了建设新中国 呼儿嗨哟 领导我们向前进 为了建设新中国 呼儿嗨哟 领导我们向前进
共产党像太阳 照到哪里,那里亮 哪里有了共产党 呼儿嗨哟 那里人民得解放 哪里有了共产党 呼儿嗨哟 那里人民得解放
东方红,太阳升 中国出了个毛泽东 他为人民谋幸福 呼儿嗨哟 他是人民大救星 他为人民谋幸福 呼儿嗨哟 他是人民大救星 大救星
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| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 东 | Dōng | surname Dong |
| 方 | Fāng | surname Fang |
| 红 | Hóng | surname Hong |
| 太阳 | tài yang | sun; sunlight; sunshine; temple (on the side of the human head) (abbr. for 太陽穴|太阳穴[tai4 yang2 xue2]) |
| 升 | shēng | to ascend; to rise; to promote; to elevate; liter; unit of dry measure for grain (= one liter or one-tenth dou 斗[dou3]); to ascend; to rise (variant of 升[sheng1]); to promote; to elevate (variant of 升[sheng1]); to ascend; to rise (variant of 升[sheng1]); to promote; to elevate (variant of 升[sheng1]) |
| 中国 | Zhōng guó | China |
| 出 | chū | to go out; to come out; to arise; to occur; to produce; to yield; to go beyond; to exceed; (used after a verb to indicate an outward direction or a positive result); classifier for…; variant of 出[chu1] (classifier for plays or chapters of classical novels) |
| 了 | le | (completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause); (bound form) clear in one's mind; to understand clearly |
| 个 | gě | used in 自個兒|自个儿[zi4 ge3 r5]; variant of 個|个[ge4] |
| 毛 | Máo | surname Mao |
| 泽 | zē | pool; (of metals etc) luster; damp |
| 他 | tā | (third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his; (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日[ta1 ri4] and 他人[ta1 ren2]) |
| 为人 | wéi rén | to conduct oneself; behavior; conduct; personal character |
| 民 | Mín | surname Min |
| 谋 | mōu | to plan; scheme |
| 幸福 | xìng fú | happiness; happy; blessed |
| 呼 | hu | to call; to shout; to exhale |
| 儿 | ér | child; son |
| 嗨 | hai | oh alas; hi! (loanword) |
| 哟 | ||
| 是 | shì | to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion); variant of 是[shi4] |
| 人民 | rén mín | the people |
| 大 | dà | big; large; great; older (than another person); eldest (as in 大姐[da4 jie3]); greatly; freely; fully; (dialect) father; (dialect) uncle (father's brother) |
| 救星 | jìu xīng | savior; liberator; emancipator; knight in shining armor |
| 主 | zhǔ | owner; master; host; individual or party concerned; God; Lord; main; to indicate or signify; trump card (in card games) |
| 席 | xī | mat; seat; banquet; (classifier) |
| 爱人 | ài ren | spouse (PRC); lover (non-PRC); CL:個|个[ge4] |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me; my |
| 们 | men | plural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals |
| 的 | de | of; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); (used after a noun, verb or adjective to… |
| 带路人 | dài lù rén | a guide; fig. instructor |
| 为了 | wèi le | for; for the purpose of; in order to |
| 建设 | jiàn shè | to build; to construct; to establish; to develop; to institute |
| 新中国 | Xīn Zhōng guó | New China (post-1949 China) |
| 领导 | lǐng dǎo | lead; leading; to lead; leadership; leader; CL:位[wei4],個|个[ge4] |
| 向前 | xiàng qián | forward; onward |
| 进 | jìn | to go forward; to advance; to go in; to enter; to put in; to submit; to take in; to admit; (math.) base of a number system; classifier for sections in a building or residential com… |
| 共产党 | Gòng chǎn dǎng | Communist Party |
| 像 | xiàng | to resemble; to be like; to look as if; such as; appearance; image; portrait; image under a mapping (math.) |
| 照 | zhào | variant of 照[zhao4]; to shine; to illuminate; according to; in accordance with; to shine; to illuminate; to reflect; to look at (one's reflection); to take (a photo); photo; as requested; as before |
| 到 | dào | to reach; to arrive; to leave for; to go to; to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point); (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point); considerate; thoug… |
| 哪 | nǎ | how; which |
| 里 | lǐ | variant of 裡|里[li3]; lining; interior; inside; internal; also written 裏|里[li3]; surname Li |
| 那里 | nà li | there; that place |
| 亮 | liàng | bright; light; to shine; to flash; loud and clear; to show (one's passport etc); to make public (one's views etc) |
| 有了 | yǒu le | I've got a solution!; to have a bun in the oven (abbr. for 有了胎[you3 le5 tai1]) |
| 得 | dé | to obtain; to get; to gain; to catch (a disease); proper; suitable; proud; contented; to allow; to permit; ready; finished |
| 解放 | jiě fàng | to liberate; to emancipate; liberation; refers to the Communists' victory over the Nationalists in 1949; CL:次[ci4] |
The East is Red, the sun is rising Mao Zedong appeared in China He is working for the People’s prosperity Hurrah! He is the People’s great savior He is working for the People’s prosperity Hurrah! He is the People’s great savior
Chairman Mao loves the People He is our guide In order to build New China Hurrah! He leads us towards advancement In order to build New China Hurrah! He leads us towards advancement
The Communist Party is like the sun Wherever it shines, there is light Wherever the Communist Party goes Hurrah! The People there receive liberation Wherever the Communist Party goes Hurrah! The People there receive liberation
The east is red, the sun is rising Mao Zedong appeared in China He is working for the People’s prosperity Hurrah! He is the People’s great savior He is working for the people’s prosperity Hurrah! He is the People’s great savior Great savior