“猴哥” (Monkey Brother) by 张伟进 (Zhāng Wěijìn) is a popular Chinese song released in 1998. Here are the Chinese lyrics, English translations with pinyin and more.
The well-known song “猴哥” draws inspiration from the legendary figure of Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. The song is a tribute to Sun Wukong’s heroic qualities, his bravery and his untamable spirit. It is the opening theme of the well-known animated series “西游记” that was released in 1999 and tells the story of Sun Wukong in 52 episodes.
Table of Contents
Chinese lyrics for 猴哥 (1998)
猴哥猴哥
你真了不得
五行大山压不住你
蹦出个孙行者
猴哥猴哥
你真太难得
紧箍咒再念
没改变老孙的本色
拔一根毫毛
吹出猴万个
眨一眨眼皮
能把鬼识破
翻个跟斗十万八千里
抖一抖威风山崩地也裂
哪里有难都想你
哪里有险都有哥
身经百战打头阵
惩恶扬善心如佛
你的美名万人传
你的故事千家说
金箍棒啊永闪烁
扫清天下浊
Chinese lyrics with English translation and pinyin
猴哥猴哥
Hóu gē hóu gē
Monkey Brother, Monkey Brother,
你真了不得
Nǐ zhēn liǎo bù dé
You are truly incredible.
五行大山压不住你
Wǔ xíng dà shān yā bù zhù nǐ
The Five Elements Mountain can’t hold you down,
蹦出个孙行者
Bèng chū gè Sūn Xíngzhě
Out comes Sun Wukong (the Monkey King).
猴哥猴哥
Hóu gē hóu gē
Monkey Brother, Monkey Brother,
你真太难得
Nǐ zhēn tài nán dé
You are truly rare.
紧箍咒再念
Jǐn gū zhòu zài niàn
Even if the Tightening Spell is recited again,
没改变老孙的本色
Méi gǎi biàn lǎo Sūn de běn sè
It won’t change the true nature of Old Sun (Sun Wukong).
拔一根毫毛
Bá yī gēn háo máo
Pull out a single hair,
吹出猴万个
Chuī chū hóu wàn gè
Blow out a thousand monkeys.
眨一眨眼皮
Zhǎ yī zhǎ yǎn pí
Flick your eyelids,
能把鬼识破
Néng bǎ guǐ shí pò
And you can see through ghosts.
翻个跟斗十万八千里
Fān gè gēn dǒu shí wàn bā qiān lǐ
Somersault a hundred thousand miles,
抖一抖威风山崩地也裂
Dǒu yī dǒu wēi fēng shān bēng dì yě liè
Shake with a little force, and mountains collapse, earth cracks.
哪里有难都想你
Nǎlǐ yǒu nán dōu xiǎng nǐ
Wherever there’s difficulty, they think of you,
哪里有险都有哥
Nǎlǐ yǒu xiǎn dōu yǒu gē
Wherever there’s danger, you are there.
身经百战打头阵
Shēn jīng bǎi zhàn dǎ tóu zhèn
Battle-tested, leading the charge,
惩恶扬善心如佛
Chéng è yáng shàn xīn rú fó
Punishing evil, promoting good, with a heart like Buddha’s.
你的美名万人传
Nǐ de měi míng wàn rén chuán
Your beautiful name is spread by thousands,
你的故事千家说
Nǐ de gù shì qiān jiā shuō
Your story is told in thousands of homes.
金箍棒啊永闪烁
Jīn gū bàng a yǒng shǎn shuò
The Golden Cudgel shines forever,
扫清天下浊
Sǎo qīng tiān xià zhuó
Clearing the world of its filth.
Key vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 猴哥 | hóu gē | Monkey Brother (a title for the Monkey King) |
| 了不得 | liǎo bù dé | Incredible, amazing |
| 五行 | wǔ xíng | Five Elements (in Chinese philosophy) |
| 大山 | dà shān | Big mountain |
| 五行大山 | wǔ xíng dà shān | Five Elements Mountain |
| 压 | yā | To press, to suppress |
| 蹦 | bèng | To jump, to leap |
| 孙行者 | Sūn Xíngzhě | Sun Wukong (The Monkey King) |
| 紧箍咒 | jǐn gū zhòu | The Tightening Spell (a magical spell) |
| 本色 | běn sè | True nature, original character |
| 拔 | bá | To pull, to pluck |
| 毫毛 | háo máo | Hair (used figuratively here for a single hair) |
| 吹 | chuī | To blow, to puff |
| 眨 | zhǎ | To blink, to wink |
| 眼皮 | yǎn pí | Eyelid |
| 识破 | shí pò | To see through, to detect |
| 跟斗 | gēn dǒu | Somersault, tumble |
| 威风 | wēi fēng | Mighty, imposing manner |
| 山崩 | shān bēng | Mountain collapse |
| 地裂 | dì liè | Earth cracking |
| 难 | nán | Difficulty, trouble |
| 险 | xiǎn | Danger |
| 身经百战 | shēn jīng bǎi zhàn | Battle-tested, experienced in many battles |
| 打头阵 | dǎ tóu zhèn | To lead the charge |
| 惩恶 | chéng è | To punish evil |
| 扬善 | yáng shàn | To promote good |
| 心如佛 | xīn rú fó | Heart like Buddha’s (pure and compassionate) |
| 美名 | měi míng | Beautiful name, good reputation |
| 传 | chuán | To spread, to pass on |
| 故事 | gù shì | Story |
| 千家 | qiān jiā | Thousands of homes |
| 金箍棒 | jīn gū bàng | The Golden Cudgel (Sun Wukong’s weapon) |
| 闪烁 | shǎn shuò | To shine, to sparkle |
| 扫清 | sǎo qīng | To sweep clean, to clear |
| 天下 | tiān xià | The world, under heaven |
| 浊 | zhuó | Impure, dirty |
Key expressions
| Chinese | Pinyin | English Meaning & Example |
|---|---|---|
| 了不得 | liǎo bù dé | Incredible, amazing. Example: 你真的了不得！– You’re truly amazing! |
| 五行大山 | wǔ xíng dà shān | The Five Elements Mountain (symbol of being trapped). Example: 他不会被五行大山困住。– He won’t be trapped. |
| 本色 | běn sè | True nature, original character. Example: 他始终保持本色。– He stays true to himself. |
| 紧箍咒 | jǐn gū zhòu | Tightening Spell (symbol of control/restraint). Example: 孙悟空依然不愿服从。– He still refused to obey. |
| 拔一根毫毛 | bá yī gēn háo máo | Pull out a hair (magical power). Example: 他能召唤出无数猴子。– He can summon many monkeys. |
| 山崩地裂 | shān bēng dì liè | Mountains collapse, earth cracks (great force). Example: 他的愤怒引起山崩地裂。– His anger shakes everything. |
| 身经百战 | shēn jīng bǎi zhàn | Battle-tested, very experienced. Example: 他能应对自如。– He handles everything with ease. |
| 惩恶扬善 | chéng è yáng shàn | Punish evil, promote good. Example: 营造和谐社会。– Build a harmonious society. |
| 金箍棒 | jīn gū bàng | Golden Cudgel |
Interpretation
The song “猴哥猴哥” is a tribute to Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from Journey to the West. It celebrates his incredible strength, unyielding spirit, and heroic deeds. The song highlights his powers, like pulling hairs to create clones and his unchangeable nature despite the Tightening Spell (紧箍咒). It also emphasizes his righteousness, as he punishes evil and promotes good. Sun Wukong’s legendary status is reflected in his fame and his Golden Cudgel (金箍棒), which symbolizes his strength. Ultimately, the song portrays him as a powerful, righteous and eternal hero who cannot be confined by any force.
Chinese summary
这首歌《猴哥猴哥》是对孙悟空的赞美，歌颂了他非凡的力量、不屈的精神和英雄事迹。歌中提到孙悟空拥有强大的能力，比如拔一根毫毛变出猴子，和面对紧箍咒依然保持本色。还强调了他惩恶扬善的品德，做事正义。孙悟空的金箍棒象征着他的强大力量，歌曲展现了他作为一个永恒、不受限制的英雄形象。
