Poem Translation: Abuse and lies ...

Came across this poem by Luz Barbosa while browsing through a friend's Facebook status update. So I thought of translating it into Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, and did it.

Original poem sourced from
http://thelaststraw.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/abuse-and-lies-no-more-i-am-worth-it/

[Original English version]

"Abuse and lies … no more … I am worth it"
by Luz Barbosa

he tells me not to look that way
he tells me not to dress that way
he tells me not to talk that way
he tells me not to act that way

he tells me I better shut up or else
he tells me I am worthless
he tells me my no’s are meaningless
he doesn’t care that I don’t want to or that I am crying

he tells me he loves me
he tells me I am his and I will always be, that he owns me
he tells me no one will ever love me like he does

he tells me I am stupid
he tells me I am a hoe
he tells me I am ugly

he sucks the life out of me

I finally had enough
I could not continue to live this way
I realized these were all lies
I decided this behavior was unacceptable
I finally got out

I was young
I didn’t know any better
I kept it to myself
I was ashamed
I lived in fear

I refuse to be controlled
I refuse to be abused
I refuse to be miserable
I refuse to be a battered woman

I deserve to be safe
I deserve respect
I deserve to be loved
I deserve to be happy
I deserve to be free to be me
I deserve to be treated well

I am worth it!

=====
[Mandarin Chinese version / 普通話/華語/中文]

＂虐待与謊言。。。不要。。。我值得＂
作者: 卢斯·巴博萨

他告訴我別望那邊
他告訴我別這樣打扮
他告訴我別這樣講話
他告訴我別這樣做事

他罵我收聲如果不。。。
他罵我沒有價值
他說我的拒絕沒有意思
他不理我講不要還是我哭的眼淚

他說他愛我
他說我是他的，我永遠是他的，他擁有我
他告訴我沒有人會像他這樣愛我

他罵我笨蛋
他罵我妓女
他罵我醜樣

他拉出我的心靈

我終於不能忍受
我不可以這樣活下去
我覺悟全部是謊言
我決定這行為不可以接受
最後我出去

那時我幼小
我不知道有其他辦法
我全部藏在自己裡面
我很慚愧
我生活在恐懼中

我不要被控制
我不要被虐待
我不要被悲慘
我不要成為一個被虐待的女人

我值得安全
我值得尊重
我值得被爱
我值得幸福
我值得有自由成為真實的我
我值得被人對我好

我值得！

=====
[Spanish version / Version español]

"Abusos y mentiras ... no más ... valgo la pena"
por Luz Barbosa

él me dice que no mires por allá 
me dice que no te vistes así
me dice que no hables así
me dice que no te comportes así

él me dice ¡Cállate! si no ...
me dice que nada valgo
me dice que mis negativas no tienen significados
no le importa que no quiero o que estoy llorando

él me dice que me ama
me dice que pertenezco a él y siempre será, que él es mi dueño
me dice que nadie me encantará como él

él me dice que soy estupida
me dice que soy puta
me dice que soy fea

él saca la vida de mi cuerpo

por fin yo no podía soportarlo más
no podía seguir viviendo de esta manera
me di cuenta de que eran todas mentiras
decidí que este conducta era inaceptable
por último salió

yo era joven
no sabía lo que hacía
me guardé para mí
me daba vergüenza
vivía en el temor

yo me niego a ser controlado
me niego a ser objeto de abuso
me niego a ser miserable
me niego a ser una mujer maltratada

merezco estar seguro
merezco respeto
merezco ser amado
merezco ser feliz
merezco ser libre para ser yo
merezco ser tratado bien

valgo la pena!

Lyrics, Romanization & Translation: Marry Me Today (Jin Tian Ni Yao Jia Gei Wo) 今天你要嫁给我

Wedding Song: Marry Me Today (Jin Tian Ni Yao Jia Gei Wo)

This song is dedicated to all my friends who are going to get married. Very beautiful and meaningful lyrics, nice to listen to even for those who aren't familiar with Mandarin. English translation provided line by line. Adjust the words a bit and you could attempt an English version :)

Music Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21_0MI4OTRI

Marry Me Today (Jin Tian Ni Yao Jia Gei Wo) sung by David Tao and Jolin Tsai
今天你要嫁给我 （蔡依琳 - 陶喆）

chūn nuǎn de huā kāi dàizǒu dōngtiān de gǎn shāng
春 暖 的 花 开 带走 冬天 的 感伤
Flowers blossoming in spring takes away the winter's pain

wēifēng chuī lái làngmàn de qìxī
微风 吹 来 浪漫 的 气息
A light wind blows a breath of romance

měiyī shǒu qíngē hūrán chōngmǎn yìyì
每一 首 情歌 忽然 充满 意义
Every love song suddenly is filled with meaning

wó jiù zài cǐkè tūrán jiàn dào nǐ
我 就 在 此刻 突然 见 到 你
At this point you suddenly appear before me

Jolin ->
chūn nuǎn de huā xiāng dàizǒu dōngtiān de jī hán
春 暖 的 花 香 带走 冬天 的 饥 寒
Flowers blossoming in spring takes away the bitter cold of the winter

wēifēng chuī lái yìwài de àiqíng
微风 吹 来 意外 的 爱情
A light breeze blows unexpected love [our way]

niǎo ér de gāo gē lā jìn wǒmen jùlí
鸟 儿 的 高 歌 拉 近 我们 距离
Birdsong draws us closer to each other

wǒ jiù zài cǐkè tūrán àishàng nǐ
我 就 在 此刻 突然 爱上 你
At this point I suddenly fall in love with you

tīng wǒ shuō
听 我 说
Listen to me

shǒuqiānshǒu gēn wǒ yīqǐ zǒu
手牵手 跟 我 一起 走
[Let's] hold hands, walk together with me

chuàngzào xìngfú de shēnghuó
创造 幸福 的 生活
and create a happy life [together]

zuótiān nǐ láibùjí
昨天 你 来不及
Yesterday you did not arrive on time

míngtiān jiù huì kěxī
明天 就 会 可惜
it would be a shame tomorrow

jīntiān jià gěi wǒ hǎo ma
今天 嫁 给 我 好 吗
so will you marry me today?

RAP ->
Jolin in the house
D.T. in the house
Jolin in the house
D.T. in the house (Come on)
Jolin in the house
D.T. in the house
Our love in the house (Sweet sweet love)

xià rì de rèqíng dǎdòng chūntiān de lǎnsǎn
夏 日 的 热情 打动 春天 的 懒散
Summer's kindness shifts spring's idleness

yáng guāng zhàoyào měimǎn de jiātíng
阳光 照耀 美满 的 家庭
Sunshine illuminates the beauty of the family

měiyī shǒu qíngē dōu huì gōu qǐ huíyì
每一 首 情歌 都 会 勾 起 回忆
Every love song will bring up memories

xiǎng dàngnián wǒ shì zěnme rènshi nǐ
想 当年 我 是 怎么 认识 你
[I] think about how I met you that year

Jolin ->
dōngtiān de yōushāng jiéshù qiūtiān de gūdān
冬天 的 忧伤 结束 秋天 的 孤单
Grief in winter finishes autumn's loneliness

wēifēng chuī lái kǔ lè de sīniàn
微风 吹 来 苦 乐 的 思念 (I'm missin'you)
The breeze blows by withered yearning (I'm missin' you)

niǎo ér de gāo gē chàng zhe búyào biélí
鸟 儿 的 高 歌 唱 着 不要 别离
The birdsong makes me not want to leave

cǐ kè wǒ duōme xiǎngyào yōngbào nǐ
此刻 我 多么 想要 拥抱 你
I immediately desire your hug

tīng wǒ shuō
听 我 说
Listen to me

shǒuqiānshǒu gēn wǒ yīqǐ zǒu
手牵手 跟 我 一起 走
[Let's] hold hands, walk together with me

guo zhe anding de shēnghuó
過 著 安定 的 生活
and live a peaceful life

zuótiān nǐ láibùjí
昨天 你 来不及
Yesterday you did not arrive on time

míngtiān jiù huì kěxī
明天 就 会 可惜
it would be a shame tomorrow

jīntiān nǐ yào jià gěi wǒ
今天 妳 要 嫁 給 我
so you shall marry me today

tīng wǒ shuō
听 我 说
Listen to me

shǒuqiānshǒu wǒmen yīqǐ zǒu
手牽手 我們 一起 走
[Let's] hold hands and walk together

ba nǐ yīsheng jiao gei wǒ
把 妳 一生 交 給 我
surrender yourself completely to me

zuótiān búyào huitou
昨天 不要 回頭
Don't look back [to yesterday]

míngtiān yào dào baishou
明天 要 到 白首
we'll grow old [in the years to come]

jīntiān nǐ yào jià gěi wǒ
今天 妳 要 嫁 給 我
marry me today

RAP ->
Hey hey, uh uh

dingdong
叮噹
Ding dong

tīng zhe lǐtáng de zhōngshēng
听 着 礼堂 的 钟声
listening to the church bells ring

wǒmen zài shàngdì he qīnyǒu miànqián jiànzhèng
我们 在 上帝 和 亲友 面前 见证
God and our friends will all be here to witness us [get married]

zhè duì nán nǚ shēng jiùyào jié wèi fūqī
这 对 男 女 生 就要 结 为 夫妻
This man and woman shall now get married as husband and wife

búyào wàng le zhè yīqiè shì duōme de shénshèng
不要 忘 了 这 一切 是 多么 的 神圣
Do not forget just how sacred [marriage] is

nǐ yuànyì shēngsǐ kǔ lè yǒngyuǎn hé tā zài yīqǐ
你 愿意 生死 苦 乐 永远 和 她 在 一起
You will for better for worse be with her together

àixī tā zūnzhòng tā ānwèi tā bǎohù zhe tā
爱惜 她 尊重 她 安慰 她 保护 着 她
Love her, respect her, comfort her and protect her

liǎng rén tóngshí jiànlì qǐ měimǎn de jiātíng
两 人 同时 建立 起 美满 的 家庭
A couple together creates a happy family

nǐ yuànyì zhèyàng zuò ma? Yes I do
你 愿意 这样 做 吗? Yes I do
Are you willing to do this? Yes I do

tīng wǒ shuō
听 我 说
Listen to me

shǒuqiānshǒu yīlu dào jintou
手牽手 一路 到 盡頭
[Let's] hold hands together to the end

ba nǐ yīsheng jiao gei wǒ
把 妳 一生 交 給 我
surrender yourself completely to me

zuótiān yi shi guoqu
昨天 已 是 過去
Yesterday was the past

míngtiān gengduo huíyì
明天 更多 回憶
tomorrow will be full of memories

jīntiān nǐ yào jià gěi wǒ
今天 妳 要 嫁 給 我
marry me today

jīntiān nǐ yào jià gěi wǒ, jīntiān nǐ yào jià gěi wǒ, ...
今天 妳 要 嫁 給 我, 今天 妳 要 嫁 給 我, ...
marry me today, marry me today, ...

Sources:

http://www.chinese-tools.com/songs/song/65/jiageiwo.html
Mandarin lyrics with hanyu pinyin romanization and English notes when you move your mouse cursor over the lyrics. It also shows you which Chinese words are one on their own or combinations of two or more characters. However, some lines have been left out.

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/david_tao/marry_me_today.html
English translations of the song lyrics.

http://geci.st020.cn/129470.htm
Traditional Chinese version of the lyrics.

If Khalil Fong 方大同 Had Four Brothers

1. If Khalil Fong (方大同) had four brothers, they'd be Khalid, Khairul, Khairy, and Khamis Fong.

2. His Chinese name being fong daai tung 方大同, they'd be dai yat 第一, bou teun 宝顿, hong lok 康乐, and lin sing 连成 (daai tung fa yun 花园 = Taman Taynton, dai yat fa yun 第一花园 = Taman Pertama, bou teun fa yun 宝顿花园= Bolton Garden (Taman Midah), hong lok fa yun 康乐花园 = Taman Connaught, lin sing fa yun 连成花园 = Taman Lensen).

3. Malaysians would understand Point No. 1 subconsciously.

4. Those who know the Chinese names of established residential areas in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (吉隆坡蕉赖) would understand Point No. 2.

How I Write Chinese On The Computer

I use CantoInput, developed by John Burket for this purpose. You can input using Yale or Jyutping romanization for Cantonese, or Hanyu Pinyin for Mandarin. Its "vocabulary" includes commonly used Cantonese characters in addition to the usual Mandarin character set.

Personally I find this system the most suitable for myself as it allows input in Cantonese. Only thing is that you've gotta familiarize yourself with the Yale romanization system. Fortunately the Yale system was designed for English speakers so the learning curve isn't steep at all.

You can find out more about CantoInput at http://cantoinput.wordpress.com/

How to Say "Please Give Me His Book" in Chinese

There are at least three ways to say "Please give me his book" in Chinese. Depends whether you're talking Mandarin, Cantonese or Classical Chinese.

Mandarin: 请给我他的书 qǐng gěi wǒ tā de shū
It's the same in both spoken and written Mandarin. The Cantonese pronunciation of these words would be "chíng kāp ngó tā dīk syū".

Cantonese: 唔该畀佢本书我 m ̀ gōi béi kéui bún syū ngó
That's how it's said in spoken Cantonese. The formal written version of Cantonese follows exactly the Mandarin grammar and Mandarin vocabulary, but pronounced in Cantonese. However, nobody says "chíng kāp ngó tā dīk syū" in real life. Everyone says "m ̀ gōi béi kéui bún syū ngó in real-life situations.

Classical Chinese: 求尔予我其书
Mandarin pronunciation: qiú ěr yǔ wǒ qí shū
Cantonese pronunciation: kàu yí yú ngó kèi syū
Nobody talks to each other in Classical Chinese anymore. It's only used in ancient literature and quotations from the classics. Since nobody remembers exactly how people pronounced those words 2000 years ago, everyone today uses their own dialect pronunciation when reading Classical Chinese. Ever thought of ordering a pizza in Classical Chinese?