Learn Chinese song, learn mandarin song: 何日君再来 he ri jun zai lai When will you come back again by 邓丽君Teresa Teng (Deng lijun): song, lyrics, pinyin, English translation and biography

I updated this song on June 4, 2015.

【怀念邓丽君】何日君再来 1985 NHK演唱会
何日君再来
Hérì jūn zài lái
When will you come back again
or
When will the gentleman come back again?

The song was highly popular and controversial due to the different interpretations and political readings of its hidden meaning. If interested, do a Google search on it.

邓丽君
Dèng Lìjūn
Teresa Teng

好花不常开　好景不常在
hǎo huā bù cháng kāi 　hǎo jǐng bù cháng zà
Wonderful flowers won’t blossom constantly; beautiful scenery won’t exist all the time.

好(good)花(flower)不(not)常(constantly)开(open)　好(good)景(scenery)不(not)常(often)在(exist)

愁堆解笑眉　泪洒相思带
chóu duī xiè xiào méi 　lèi sǎ xiāngsī dài
Misery piled on those eyebrows that were meant to dissolve sorrow with smiles. Tears shed and brought along yearning.

愁(sorrow)堆(piled up)解(solve)笑(smile)眉(eyebrow)　泪(tears)洒(spray)相思(longing)带(bring along)

今宵离别后　何日君再来
jīn xiāo líbié hòu 　hérì jūn zài lái
After parting tonight, when will you come back again?

今(today)宵(night)离别(to leave (on a long journey) / to part from sb )后(after)　何(what)日(day)君(you/gentleman)再(again)来(come)

喝完了这杯　请进点小菜
hē wánle zhè bēi 　qǐng jìn diǎn xiǎocài
Finish drinking this cup, then please taste some side dishes.

喝(drink)完(finish)了(past tense particle)这(this)杯(cup)　请(please)进(have)点(some)小菜(side dishes)

人生难得几回醉　不欢更何待
rénshēng nándé jǐ huí zuì 　bù huān gèng hé dāi
In life, it is hard to get intoxicated for a few times, so, not happy (now), still what are we waiting for?

人生(life)难(hard to)得(obtain)几(a few)回(time)醉(drunken)　不(not)欢(happy)更(still)何(what)待(wait)

(来来来　喝完了这杯再说吧)
(lái lái lái 　hē wánle zhè bēi zàishuō ba )
Come on, come on, come on, finish this cup, then we will resume our talk again.

(来(come)来(come)来(come)　喝(drink)完(finish)了(past tense marker)这(this)杯(cup)再(again)说(talk)吧(particle shows suggestion)

今宵离别后　何日君再来
jīn xiāo líbié hòu 　hérì jūn zài lái
After parting tonight, when will you come back again?

今(today)宵(night)离别(to leave (on a long journey) / to part from sb )后(after)　何(what)日(day)君(you/gentleman)再(again)来(come)

music …

停唱阳关叠　重擎白玉杯
tíng chàng yángguān dié 　chóng qíng báiyù bēi
Stop singing the Yangguan tunes; lift up again the white jade cup.

停(stop)唱(sing)阳关叠(a song/musical piece that is for sending people off, 叠 a tune that repeated again and again)　重(again)擎(life up)白(white)玉(jade)杯(cup)

慇勤频致语　牢牢抚君怀
yīn qín pín zhì yǔ 　láoláo fǔ jūn huái
Attentively, frequently talking to (you), and firmly consoling your heart.

慇勤(attentive)频(frequently)致(to deliver)语(words)　牢牢(firmly)抚(stroke/pet)君(you)怀(chest/bosom/heart)

今宵离别后　何日君再来
jīn xiāo líbié hòu 　hérì jūn zài lái
After parting tonight, when will you come back again?

今(today)宵(night)离别(to leave (on a long journey) / to part from sb )后(after)　何(what)日(day)君(you/gentleman)再(again)来(come)

喝完了这杯　请进点小菜
hē wánle zhè bēi 　qǐng jìn diǎn xiǎocài
Finish drinking this cup, then please taste some side dishes.

喝(drink)完(finish)了(past tense particle)这(this)杯(cup)　请(please)进(have)点(some)小菜(side dishes)

人生难得几回醉　不欢更何待
rénshēng nándé jǐ huí zuì 　bù huān gèng hé dāi
In life, it is hard to get intoxicated for a few times, so, not happy (now), still what are we waiting for?

人生(life)难(hard to)得(obtain)几(a few)回(time)醉(drunken)　不(not)欢(happy)更(still)何(what)待(wait)

哎　再喝一杯　干了吧
āi 　zài hē yì bēi 　gàn le ba
Hey! Let’s have another drink！ Cheers! (proposing a toast).

哎(hey! / (interjection used to attract attention or to express surprise or disapprobation) )　再(again)喝(drink)一(one)杯(cup)干了(to drink a toast / Cheers! (proposing a toast) / Here’s to you! / Bottoms up! / lit. dry cup)吧(particle shows suggestion)

今宵离别后　何日君再来
jīn xiāo líbié hòu 　hérì jūn zài lái
After parting tonight, when will you come back again?

今(today)宵(night)离别(to leave (on a long journey) / to part from sb )后(after)　何(what)日(day)君(you/gentleman)再(again)来(come)

Translated by Shu

About Teresa Teng:
Teresa Teng (born January 29, 1953 – May 8, 1995) (traditional Chinese: 鄧麗君; simplified Chinese: 邓丽君; pinyin: Dèng Lìjūn; Wade–Giles: Teng Li-chun; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tēng Lē-kun, Japanese: テレサ・テン), was an immensely popular and influential Chinese pop singer from Taiwan. Teresa Teng’s voice and songs are instantly recognized throughout East Asia and in areas with large Asian populations. It is often said, “Wherever there are Chinese people, the songs of Teresa Teng can be heard.” Her songs also enjoy popularity among Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Indonesian listeners.

Teng was known for her folk songs and romantic ballads. Many became standards in her lifetime, such as “When Will You Return?” (何日君再來) and “The Moon Represents My Heart” (月亮代表我的心). She recorded songs not only in her native Mandarin but also in Taiwanese, Cantonese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and English.[citation needed]

Teng, a lifelong sufferer from asthma, died in 1995 from a severe respiratory attack while on holiday in Thailand. She was 42.
Continue reading this article at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_Teng