一无所有” (yī wú suǒ yǒu) by 崔健 is considered China’s first rock song. Here’s a breakdown of the lyrics with pinyin and English translations.
About the song
- Released in: 1986
- Genre: Rock
- Theme: Freedom, love, struggle, personal pursuit
- Symbolism: “一无所有” (yī wú suǒ yǒu) translates to “having nothing at all” but metaphorically refers to feeling powerless or lacking control in life and relationships.
- Historical significance: Considered China’s first rock song, it became an anthem of youth frustration and social change in the late 1980s, associated with the Tiananmen Square protests (1989).
一无所有 (1986)
我曾经问个不休
你何时跟我走
可你却总是笑我
一无所有
我要给你我的追求
还有我的自由
可你却总是笑我
一无所有
噢… 你何时跟我走
噢…你何时跟我走
脚下的地在走
身边的水在流
可你却总是笑我
一无所有
为何你总笑个没够
为何我总要追求
难道在你面前
我永远是一无所有
噢…你何时跟我走
噢…你何时跟我走
告诉你我等了很久
告诉你我最后的要求
我要抓起你的双手
你这就跟我走
这时你的手在颤抖
这时你的泪在流
莫非你是正在告诉我
你爱我一无所有
噢…你这就跟我走
噢…你这就跟我走
《一无所有》 (Yī Wú Suǒ Yǒu) – “Nothing to My Name” – pinyin and English translations
我曾经问个不休
Wǒ céngjīng wèn gè bùxiū
I once asked without stopping
你何时跟我走
Nǐ héshí gēn wǒ zǒu
When will you go with me?
可你却总是笑我
Kě nǐ què zǒng shì xiào wǒ
But you always laugh at me
一无所有
Yī wú suǒ yǒu
Having nothing at all
我要给你我的追求
Wǒ yào gěi nǐ wǒ de zhuīqiú
I want to give you my pursuit
还有我的自由
Hái yǒu wǒ de zìyóu
And also my freedom
可你却总是笑我
Kě nǐ què zǒng shì xiào wǒ
But you always laugh at me
一无所有
Yī wú suǒ yǒu
Having nothing at all
噢… 你何时跟我走
Ō… nǐ héshí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh… When will you go with me?
噢… 你何时跟我走
Ō… nǐ héshí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh… When will you go with me?
脚下的地在走
Jiǎoxià de dì zài zǒu
The ground beneath me is moving
身边的水在流
Shēnbiān de shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
可你却总是笑我
Kě nǐ què zǒng shì xiào wǒ
But you always laugh at me
一无所有
Yī wú suǒ yǒu
Having nothing at all
为何你总笑个没够
Wèihé nǐ zǒng xiào gè méi gòu
Why do you keep laughing endlessly?
为何我总要追求
Wèihé wǒ zǒng yào zhuīqiú
Why must I always pursue?
难道在你面前
Nándào zài nǐ miànqián
Could it be that in front of you
我永远是一无所有
Wǒ yǒngyuǎn shì yī wú suǒ yǒu
I will always have nothing at all?
噢… 你何时跟我走
Ō… nǐ héshí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh… When will you go with me?
噢… 你何时跟我走
Ō… nǐ héshí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh… When will you go with me?
告诉你我等了很久
Gàosù nǐ wǒ děngle hěn jiǔ
Let me tell you, I have waited so long
告诉你我最后的要求
Gàosù nǐ wǒ zuìhòu de yāoqiú
Let me tell you my final request
我要抓起你的双手
Wǒ yào zhuāqǐ nǐ de shuāngshǒu
I want to grab your hands
你这就跟我走
Nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
And you will go with me now
这时你的手在颤抖
Zhè shí nǐ de shǒu zài chàndǒu
At this moment, your hands are trembling
这时你的泪在流
Zhè shí nǐ de lèi zài liú
At this moment, your tears are flowing
莫非你是正在告诉我
Mòfēi nǐ shì zhèngzài gàosù wǒ
Could it be that you are telling me
你爱我一无所有
Nǐ ài wǒ yī wú suǒ yǒu
That you love me even though I have nothing at all?
噢… 你这就跟我走
Ō… nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh… You will go with me now
噢… 你这就跟我走
Ō… nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh… You will go with me now
🎸 Vocabulary List for 一无所有
| Chinese | Pinyin | English meaning | Example sentence (with pinyin & translation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 曾经 | céngjīng | once; in the past | 我曾经住在北京。 (Wǒ céngjīng zhù zài Běijīng. – I once lived in Beijing.) |
| 问 | wèn | to ask | 我可以问你一个问题吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yí gè wèntí ma? – Can I ask you a question?) |
| 何时 | héshí | when (formal) | 你何时回家？ (Nǐ héshí huíjiā? – When will you go home?) |
| 跟 | gēn | to follow; with | 你愿意跟我走吗？ (Nǐ yuànyì gēn wǒ zǒu ma? – Are you willing to go with me?) |
| 笑 | xiào | to laugh; to smile | 她笑得很开心。 (Tā xiào de hěn kāixīn. – She is laughing happily.) |
| 一无所有 | yī wú suǒ yǒu | to have nothing at all | 他失去了工作，变得一无所有。 (Tā shīqùle gōngzuò, biàndé yī wú suǒ yǒu. – He lost his job and had nothing left.) |
| 追求 | zhuīqiú | to pursue (dreams, goals, love) | 他一直在追求自己的梦想。 (Tā yīzhí zài zhuīqiú zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng. – He has always been pursuing his dreams.) |
| 自由 | zìyóu | freedom | 人人都希望拥有自由。 (Rénrén dōu xīwàng yǒngyǒu zìyóu. – Everyone hopes to have freedom.) |
| 脚下 | jiǎoxià | under the feet | 脚下的路很难走。 (Jiǎoxià de lù hěn nán zǒu. – The road underfoot is difficult to walk.) |
| 地 | dì | ground; earth | 地上有很多落叶。 (Dìshàng yǒu hěn duō luòyè. – There are many fallen leaves on the ground.) |
| 水 | shuǐ | water | 我每天喝很多水。 (Wǒ měitiān hē hěn duō shuǐ. – I drink a lot of water every day.) |
| 流 | liú | to flow | 河水在安静地流着。 (Héshuǐ zài ānjìng de liúzhe. – The river water is flowing quietly.) |
| 追求 | zhuīqiú | to pursue | 她一直在追求幸福。 (Tā yīzhí zài zhuīqiú xìngfú. – She has always been pursuing happiness.) |
| 永远 | yǒngyuǎn | forever | 我们的友谊永远不会改变。 (Wǒmen de yǒuyì yǒngyuǎn bù huì gǎibiàn. – Our friendship will never change.) |
| 等 | děng | to wait | 请等我五分钟。 (Qǐng děng wǒ wǔ fēnzhōng. – Please wait for me for five minutes.) |
| 抓 | zhuā | to grab; to seize | 她抓住了我的手。 (Tā zhuāzhùle wǒ de shǒu. – She grabbed my hand.) |
| 双手 | shuāngshǒu | both hands | 他用双手抱着孩子。 (Tā yòng shuāngshǒu bàozhe háizi. – He is holding the child with both hands.) |
| 颤抖 | chàndǒu | to tremble | 他的声音在颤抖。 (Tā de shēngyīn zài chàndǒu. – His voice is trembling.) |
| 泪 | lèi | tears | 她的眼里充满了泪水。 (Tā de yǎn lǐ chōngmǎnle lèishuǐ. – Her eyes are full of tears.) |
| 爱 | ài | to love | 我爱我的家人。 (Wǒ ài wǒ de jiārén. – I love my family.) |
Interpretation of 一无所有
Cui Jian’s song 一无所有 is a powerful anthem about longing, pursuit, and the feeling of having nothing (一无所有). The lyrics express the singer’s deep 追求 for love and freedom (自由), yet he is constantly met with laughter (笑) and doubt.
At the beginning of the song, the singer asks his beloved, “你何时跟我走?” (“When will you go with me?”), showing his desire for a shared journey. However, she only responds with 笑, dismissing him as someone with nothing to offer. Despite this, he continues to chase his dreams, determined to prove that material wealth is not the only measure of value.
As he walks, he feels the earth moving beneath his feet (脚下的地在走), and he sees the flowing water (身边的水在流), symbolizing the passage of time and change. Yet, no matter how much he pursues his ideals, he is still seen as someone with 一无所有. This reflects a common struggle – why does society value material success over 自由 and emotional depth?
By the climax of the song, he decides to take action: “我要抓起你的双手，你这就跟我走。” (“I will grab your hands, and you will go with me.”). At this moment, the woman’s hands 颤抖, and tears (泪) begin to flow. It is a turning point—perhaps she finally understands his passion, or maybe she feels the weight of his 追求. In the end, love and connection prove stronger than material wealth, and she realizes she loves him even though he has 一无所有.
This song is not just about love; it is a symbol of the yearning for something greater – 自由, dreams, and the fight against societal expectations. It became an anthem for a generation seeking change, and even today, its message resonates deeply.
Very interesting… will check this song out.
This makes me feel old