宋祖英 – 辣妹子 (1998)

辣妹子 is a popular song by 宋祖英 (Sòng Zǔyīng), blending folk music with modern pop elements. My Chinese teacher introduced me to it (as did others) very early on. Here’s the Chinese lyrics with English translations, pinyin and more.

Chinese lyrics for 辣妹子 (Spicy girl)

辣妹子从小辣不怕
辣妹子长大不怕辣
辣妹子嫁人怕不辣
吊一串辣椒碰嘴巴

辣妹子从来辣不怕
辣妹子生性不怕辣
辣妹子出门怕不辣
抓一把辣椒会说话

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
辣妹子辣妹子辣辣辣
辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
辣妹子辣哟辣辣辣

辣出的汗来汗也辣呀汗也辣
辣出的泪来泪也辣呀泪也辣
辣出的火来火也辣呀火也辣
辣出的歌来歌也辣歌也辣

辣妹子说话泼辣辣
辣妹子做事泼辣辣
辣妹子待人热辣辣
辣椒伴她走天下 辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
辣椒伴她走天下

辣出的汗来汗也辣呀汗也辣
辣出的泪来泪也辣呀泪也辣
辣出的火来火也辣呀火也辣
辣出的歌来歌也辣歌也辣

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
辣妹子辣妹子辣辣辣
辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
辣妹子辣妹子辣辣辣

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
辣妹子辣妹子辣辣辣
辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
辣妹子辣妹子辣哟辣辣辣

Chinese lyrics with English translation and pinyin

辣妹子从小辣不怕
Là mèi zi cóng xiǎo là bù pà
The spicy girl has never been afraid of spice since she was little

辣妹子长大不怕辣
Là mèi zi zhǎng dà bù pà là
The spicy girl, growing up, is not afraid of spice

辣妹子嫁人怕不辣
Là mèi zi jià rén pà bù là
The spicy girl, when marrying, is afraid if it’s not spicy

吊一串辣椒碰嘴巴
Diào yī chuàn là jiāo pèng zuǐ bā
Hanging a string of chili peppers, touching her lips

辣妹子从来辣不怕
Là mèi zi cóng lái là bù pà
The spicy girl has always been unafraid of spice

辣妹子生性不怕辣
Là mèi zi shēng xìng bù pà là
The spicy girl by nature is not afraid of spice

辣妹子出门怕不辣
Là mèi zi chūmén pà bù là
The spicy girl, when she goes out, is afraid if it’s not spicy

抓一把辣椒会说话
Zhuā yī bǎ là jiāo huì shuō huà
Grabbing a handful of chili peppers, they will speak

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
Là mèi zi là, là mèi zi là
Spicy girl, spicy girl

辣妹子辣妹子辣辣辣
Là mèi zi là mèi zi là là là
Spicy girl, spicy girl, spicy, spicy

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
Là mèi zi là, là mèi zi là
Spicy girl, spicy girl

辣妹子辣哟辣辣辣
Là mèi zi là yō, là là là
Spicy girl, spicy girl, oh, spicy, spicy

辣出的汗来汗也辣呀汗也辣
Là chū de hàn lái hàn yě là ya, hàn yě là
The sweat from the spice, the sweat is spicy, oh, the sweat is spicy

辣出的泪来泪也辣呀泪也辣
Là chū de lèi lái lèi yě là ya, lèi yě là
The tears from the spice, the tears are spicy, oh, the tears are spicy

辣出的火来火也辣呀火也辣
Là chū de huǒ lái huǒ yě là ya, huǒ yě là
The fire from the spice, the fire is spicy, oh, the fire is spicy

辣出的歌来歌也辣歌也辣
Là chū de gē lái gē yě là gē yě là
The song from the spice, the song is spicy, the song is spicy

辣妹子说话泼辣辣
Là mèi zi shuō huà pō là là
The spicy girl speaks fiercely

辣妹子做事泼辣辣
Là mèi zi zuò shì pō là là
The spicy girl does things fiercely

辣妹子待人热辣辣
Là mèi zi dài rén rè là là
The spicy girl treats others passionately

辣椒伴她走天下
Là jiāo bàn tā zǒu tiān xià
Chili peppers accompany her as she conquers the world

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
Là mèi zi là, là mèi zi là
Spicy girl, spicy girl

辣椒伴她走天下
Là jiāo bàn tā zǒu tiān xià
Chili peppers accompany her as she conquers the world

辣出的汗来汗也辣呀汗也辣
Là chū de hàn lái hàn yě là ya, hàn yě là
The sweat from the spice, the sweat is spicy, oh, the sweat is spicy

辣出的泪来泪也辣呀泪也辣
Là chū de lèi lái lèi yě là ya, lèi yě là
The tears from the spice, the tears are spicy, oh, the tears are spicy

辣出的火来火也辣呀火也辣
Là chū de huǒ lái huǒ yě là ya, huǒ yě là
The fire from the spice, the fire is spicy, oh, the fire is spicy

辣出的歌来歌也辣歌也辣
Là chū de gē lái gē yě là gē yě là
The song from the spice, the song is spicy, the song is spicy

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
Là mèi zi là, là mèi zi là
Spicy girl, spicy girl

辣妹子辣妹子辣辣辣
Là mèi zi là mèi zi là là là
Spicy girl, spicy girl, spicy, spicy

辣妹子辣 辣妹子辣
Là mèi zi là, là mèi zi là
Spicy girl, spicy girl

辣妹子辣妹子辣哟辣辣辣
Là mèi zi là mèi zi là yō, là là là
Spicy girl, spicy girl, oh, spicy, spicy

Vocabulary list

1. 辣 (là) – Spicy, hot (in terms of food or personality)
2. 妹子 (mèi zi) – Girl, young woman (informal)
3. 从 (cóng) – From
4. 小 (xiǎo) – Small, little, young
5. 不怕 (bù pà) – Not afraid
6. 长大 (zhǎng dà) – Grow up
7. 嫁人 (jià rén) – To get married
8. 吊 (diào) – To hang (something)
9. 串 (chuàn) – A string, bunch (often used for items like skewers or peppers)
10. 碰 (pèng) – To touch, to bump
11. 嘴巴 (zuǐ bā) – Mouth
12. 从来 (cóng lái) – Always, from the beginning (often used in a negative sense like “never”)
13. 生性 (shēng xìng) – Nature, temperament
14. 出门 (chūmén) – To go out, leave home
15. 抓 (zhuā) – To grab, to seize
16. 把 (bǎ) – A measure word for handfuls or objects grasped in a hand
17. 会 (huì) – Can, will (ability or possibility)
18. 说话 (shuō huà) – To speak, to talk
19. 泼辣 (pō là) – Fierce, bold, outspoken (often used to describe someone’s behavior or speech)
20. 做事 (zuò shì) – To do things, to work
21. 待人 (dài rén) – To treat others
22. 热 (rè) – Hot, warm, passionate
23. 伴 (bàn) – To accompany, partner with
24. 走天下 (zǒu tiān xià) – To travel the world, to conquer the world
25. 汗 (hàn) – Sweat
26. 泪 (lèi) – Tears
27. 火 (huǒ) – Fire
28. 歌 (gē) – Song

Key phrases & expressions

Interpretation of “辣妹子” (Là mèi zi) by 宋祖英 (Sòng Zǔyīng)

In this song, “辣妹子” (là mèi zi), or “Spicy Girl,” the term “辣” (là), meaning spicy, is used as a metaphor to describe a woman who is bold, confident, and unapologetically herself. The “辣妹子” is not afraid of challenges and is strong in character, much like the intense sensation of spice in food.

The song also highlights her 不怕 (bù pà – not afraid) of spice in relationships, even when it comes to 嫁人 (jià rén – getting married), showing that she seeks a partner who matches her intensity and boldness. She is 泼辣 (pō là – fierce and bold) not only in how she speaks but also in her actions, as expressed in 说话泼辣辣 (shuō huà pō là là – speaks fiercely) and 做事泼辣辣 (zuò shì pō là là – does things fiercely).

The song uses imagery like 汗 (hàn – sweat), 泪 (lèi – tears), and 火 (huǒ – fire) to describe how everything about this woman’s life is infused with intensity and passion. Even when she faces challenges, the 汗 (sweat), 泪 (tears), and 火 (fire) that come from her experiences are 辣 (spicy) – they are passionate and strong, reflecting her fiery character.

By the end of the song, the repetition of 辣辣辣 (là là là – spicy, spicy, spicy) emphasizes the core idea: this woman is bold, fiery, and full of life, unafraid to stand out and face the world with confidence.

Chinese summary

《辣妹子》这首歌通过“辣”来形容一个大胆、无畏的女孩。歌词中反复强调辣妹子从小就不怕辣（辣不怕），她在生活中无所畏惧。辣椒象征着她的勇气和强烈的个性。她不仅在说话（说话泼辣辣）和做事（做事泼辣辣）上表现得很果敢，面对困难时，汗、泪、火也都充满激情和力量。整首歌通过辣辣辣（spicy, spicy, spicy）的反复表现了她的热情和坚强，传达了一个自信、勇敢的女性形象。

1. 通过 (tōng guò) – Through, by means of
2. 形容 (xíng róng) – To describe
3. 无畏 (wú wèi) – Fearless
4. 反复 (fǎn fù) – Repeatedly, repeatedly emphasizes
5. 无所畏惧 (wú suǒ wèi jù) – Fearless, without fear
6. 象征 (xiàng zhēng) – To symbolize
7. 强烈 (qiáng liè) – Intense, strong
8. 个性 (gè xìng) – Personality
9. 果敢 (guǒ gǎn) – Determined, decisive, brave
10. 面对 (miàn duì) – To face, confront
11. 困难 (kùn nán) – Difficulty, challenge
12. 泪 (lèi) – Tears
13. 火 (huǒ) – Fire (symbolizing passion or strong emotion)
14. 激情 (jī qíng) – Passion, enthusiasm
15. 力量 (lì liàng) – Strength, power