Puas Tshav Ntuj Nrig – CheeNou & Kong Chue


In English, the name means something along the lines of “Is there sunshine?” Or “Is it sunny?” This is not used to ask about the day, but the state of the person’s life at that time.

Pronouns are one of those things that are often left out but can be inferred. In these songs, often words like “we” and “I” are left out completely. In English, I’ve brought them in sometimes, but often I leave them out too. It just depends on how it sounds when I translate them over.

This translation is not even close to adequate in conveying the emotions of the song.

Lyrics

HmongEnglish
Yav tag losIn the past
Koj thiab kuvYou and I
Txawj sib hlubKnew how to love
Txawj sib haisKnew how to talk
Wb yeej nyob tshab tuj nrigWe were happy [1]
Tsis tau xav tias yuav muaj hnub noNever thought there would be today
Txawm wb tsis tau ua keEven though we couldn’t be together
Kuv zoo siab rov tau ntsib kojI’m happy to see you again
Koj puav nyob tshav ntuj nrigAre you happy
Li thaum koj nyob hauv kuv lub xub ntiagLike you were when you were in my arms?
Sib hlub ib zaug los tsis tau yuavLoved once, but couldn’t have[2]
Txhob tu siab rauv wb lub neejDon’t be sad about our life
Rau siab khwv rau yus tus kheejKeep toiling for yourself [3]
Tsis tau hlub los tsuav tau los sib pom dua ib zaugCouldn’t love but at least can see each other one more time.
Txij hnub no koj thiab kuvFrom now on, you and I
Yuav sib nrug yuav sib ncaimWill separate, will depart
Koj puas tshuav ib los lus haisDo you have anything to say
Tsam kuv mus ua lub neej nyob tsaus ntuj ntiIn case I go and live a life of darkness?
Txawm wb tsis tau ua keEven though we couldn’t be together
Kuv zoo siab rov tau ntsib kojI’m happy to see you again
Thov kom koj nyob luag li ntxhiHope that you will smile
Li thaum koj nyob hauv kuv lub mi xub ntiagAs you did when you were in my arms
Ua cas koj ho quajWhy do you weep?
Txawm kua muag nrogEven though tears fall
Los txhob pwb leej twg pomDon’t let anyone see
Txawm kuab muag ntwsEven though tears flow
Los cia nws ntws twj ywmLet them fall silently
Txhob tu siab rau wb lub neejDon’t be sad about our life
Rau siab khwv rau yus tus kheejKeep toiling for yourself
Tsis tau hlub los tsuav tau los sib pom dua ib zaugCouldn’t love, but at least we can see each other one more time.
Sib hlub ib zaug los tsis tau yuavLoved once, but couldn’t have
Txhob tu siab rauv wb lub neejDon’t be sad about our life
Rau siab khwv rau yus tus kheejKeep toiling for yourself
Tsis tau hlub los tsuav tau los sib pom dua ib zaugCouldn’t love, but at least can see each other one more time.

[1] “Tshav ntuj nrig” is more like “sunny” or “bright daylight” but used in this context it is more aligned with happiness.

[2] This is more like “We were able to love but we couldn’t get married.” It would be an awkward English translation.

[3] “yus tus kheeb” is more like “one’s self” not “yourself.”


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