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Say Hi
I suppose we’ll start at the beginning of everything. When you meet someone, whether for the first time or the ninth, you would want to say Hi. So Hi, in Hmong, is Nyob zoo.
Let’s break it down.
Nyob
Nyob, in its simplest form, means to be, to stay, to live. Here, it is used in the context of to be.
There are three parts I’m going to address in the pronunciation of each word, the consonants at the beginning, the vowel in the middle, and the tone at the end.
- The way you pronounce ny is pretty basic. Think of the words canyon, or union. Take the ny in canyon, and ni in union, and you have the beginning of nyob.
- The o sounds just like the English short o. But if that is tough, then the aw is also similar enough for comparison. So think of words like flaw, thaw, and paw, and use that as the basis for pronouncing nyob.
- Now, for the b at the end. This is a tonal indicator. The best way I can think of right now to make sure you capture the correct tone is to just have you listen and repeat. So here is the audio clip again for the whole phrase.
Zoo
Zoo means good or well. Adding nyob to the beginning, you get the literal translation of be well.
- When you think of how to pronounce the z in Hmong, think of the word azure, or leisure, and take that z or s and apply it here.
- Oo is pronouned like the English ong, except you want to make it sound like the long o, not the short o.
- Lastly, the fact that it doesn’t have a letter at the end to cap off the tone does not mean that it is toneless. It is simply an indicator that this is a word with a neutral tone. Here is the phrase in its entirety again.
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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
Hmong English Yav tag los In the past Koj thiab kuv You and I Txawj sib hlub Knew how to love Txawj sib hais Knew how to talk Wb yeej nyob tshab tuj nrig We were happy [1] Tsis tau xav tias yuav muaj hnub no Never thought there would be today Txawm wb tsis tau ua ke Even though we couldn’t be together Kuv zoo siab rov tau ntsib koj I’m happy to see you again Koj puav nyob tshav ntuj nrig Are you happy Li thaum koj nyob hauv kuv lub xub ntiag Like you were when you were in my arms? Sib hlub ib zaug los tsis tau yuav Loved once, but couldn’t have[2] Txhob tu siab rauv wb lub neej Don’t be sad about our life Rau siab khwv rau yus tus kheej Keep toiling for yourself [3] Tsis tau hlub los tsuav tau los sib pom dua ib zaug Couldn’t love but at least can see each other one more time. Txij hnub no koj thiab kuv From now on, you and I Yuav sib nrug yuav sib ncaim Will separate, will depart Koj puas tshuav ib los lus hais Do you have anything to say Tsam kuv mus ua lub neej nyob tsaus ntuj nti In case I go and live a life of darkness? Txawm wb tsis tau ua ke Even though we couldn’t be together Kuv zoo siab rov tau ntsib koj I’m happy to see you again Thov kom koj nyob luag li ntxhi Hope that you will smile Li thaum koj nyob hauv kuv lub mi xub ntiag As you did when you were in my arms Ua cas koj ho quaj Why do you weep? Txawm kua muag nrog Even though tears fall Los txhob pwb leej twg pom Don’t let anyone see Txawm kuab muag ntws Even though tears flow Los cia nws ntws twj ywm Let them fall silently Txhob tu siab rau wb lub neej Don’t be sad about our life Rau siab khwv rau yus tus kheej Keep toiling for yourself Tsis tau hlub los tsuav tau los sib pom dua ib zaug Couldn’t love, but at least we can see each other one more time. Sib hlub ib zaug los tsis tau yuav Loved once, but couldn’t have Txhob tu siab rauv wb lub neej Don’t be sad about our life Rau siab khwv rau yus tus kheej Keep toiling for yourself Tsis tau hlub los tsuav tau los sib pom dua ib zaug Couldn’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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Mus Zoo Koj Mog – Yasmi ft. Ali Chang
This is probably one of those songs that I never get tired of after multiple listens. It’s slow, it’s meandering, and just overall very wistful in nature. I really like it when a song can elicit that kind of emotion from me.
Lyrics
Original Hmong English Translation Yasmi: Ntes niaj ntau xyoo los lawm Yasmi: Many years have passed Koj tseem yog tus neeg qub You are still the same person Hlub koj thawj kuv nplooj plawv Loved you with all my heart Ua yog toog pom txhua hnub Dreamed of you every day Lub sij hawm no nws txawv And now, it’s different Koj muaj poj niam mi nyuam You have a family Ntsib koj kuv zoo siab kawg Meeting you, I’m so happy Xav hu los tsis tsa suab Wanted to call out, but didn’t raise my voice Ntuj mi leej nus tus kuv hlub Heaven, brother, my loved one [1] Ali: Ntuj mi leej muam tus kuv tshua Ali: Heaven, sister, my cherished one [2] Yasmi and Ali: Sim mi neej no mus zoo koj mog Yasmi and Ali: In this precious life, farewell. Ali: Txhia niaj puas xyoo los lawm Ali: A hundred thousand years ago, Koj yog kuv tus hluas nkauj You were my girlfriend Tsis tau koj ua txij nkawm Couldn’t have you to be a couple, Mob tshaj plaws koj puas paub Hurt so much, did you know Lub caij lub nyoog nws txawv The time has changed Koj tseem sawv hauv kuv siab You still stand in my heart Tuag ciaj nyob tsis yog chaw Dead or alive, not in the right place Xav pw rawv koj xub ntiag Wanted to stay in your arms. Yasmi: Ntuj mi leej nus tus kuv hlub Yasmi: Heaven, brother, my loved one Ali: Ntuj mi leej muam tus kuv tshua Ali: Heaven, sister, my cherished one Yasmi and Ali: Sim mi neej no mus zoo koj mog Yasmi and Ali: In this precious life, farewell. Yasmi and Ali Yasmi (foreground) and Ali (background) Mus zoo koj mog Farewell! Wb txoj hmoo tsis txog Our fates didn’t meet Mus zoo koj mog Farewell! Koj tsis txhob nyob tos tos Don’t wait Kuv lawm mog for me anymore. Ali and Yasmi Ali (foreground) and Yasmi (background) Mus zoo koj mog Farewell! Wb txoj hmoo tsis txog Our fates didn’t meet Mus zoo koj mog Farewell! Koj tsis txhob nyob tos tos Don’t wait Kuv lawm mog for me anymore.
[1] “Tus kuv hlub” is literally translated as “one whom I love.”
[2] Similarly, “tus kuv tshua” is “one whom I cherished.”
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Leej Muam Dai Siab
This song is kind of catty, and I kind of love it. It works for my petty little heart. 😁
Plus, contrasting voices and nostalgia.
Lyrics
Verse 1 Dang
Leej muam dai siab
Sister of my heart,
Koj mus nyob sab ntuj twg
which part of the world did you go to?
Ua cash nub no
Today, why did
Koj ho tshwm hauv fev
you suddenly show up on Facebook?
Koj noog kuv tias
You asked me
Puas kam ua koj phooj ywg
if I would be your friend.
Kuv twb xav tias
I thought
Koj mus tau lub neej zoo
you had a good life.
Los koj tus fev
On your Facebook,
Nws tias koj single
it said that you are single.
Es koj tus txiv
And your husband,
Nws mus rau qhov twg lawm
where did he go?
Xav nrog koj tham
Want to talk to you,
Los tau ua twj ywm
but have to do nothing.
Ntshai ib tsam
Afraid that
Kuv poj niam ho paub
my wife might know.
Chorus
Ntsia koj daim duab
Look at your picture
Tseem pom koj luag ntxhi
and see you smiling.
Nco txog thaum ib
Remember long ago
Thaum coj koj mus ua si
when I took you out.
Ntuj teb tag hmo
At night,
Koj nyob hauv kuv xub ntiag
you were in my arms.
Wb txoj kev hlub
Our love
Uas nws twb tu los ntev
that ended long ago.
Leej muam dai siab
Sister of my heart.
Verse 2 Jay
Leej muam dai siab
Sister of my heart,
Es koj nyob li cas
how are you doing?
Thauv ntawv
Back then,
Hlub hlub los nim tsiv tau
Loved you so much but couldn’t have you.
Lub kua muag
Tears
Twb poob rau koj ntau zaus
fell for you many times.
Muab xav los mas
Come to think of it,
Tsis tsim nyog wb bua phooj ywg
we shouldn’t be friends.
Txij hnub ntawd los
Since that day,
Kuv twb ua tau ib siab
I was able to let go.
Kuv twb muab
I left
Txhua yam ntawm wb tso ca
everything with us behind.
Kheev lam thaum ntawd
If back then
Es kuv cia li xaiv koj
I had chosen you,
Ntshe hnub no
Maybe today
Kuv twb single li koj
I would have been single like you.
Chorus Dang
Chorus Jay
Notes
- Leej muam dai siab is literally translated as “sister hung heart” but that doesn’t make sense. The better phrasing is probably “sister who holds my heart,” but that’s really long, so “sister of my heart” it is.
- Leej muam is “sister.” In Hmong, it is the respectful way for a man to address a woman who is unrelated to him.
- This song is a nod to this phenomenon (if it can be called as such) in the hmong community where older folks are getting onto Facebook and reconnecting with family and friends and past lovers after a long time and across great distance. Shenanigans can and did happen. There are implications within the song that the relationship could be rekindled if given the chance.