那天心血來潮去爬山

That day, on a sudden whim, I went hiking

登山步道忽然迷了路

On the mountain trail, I suddenly lost my way

一片迷霧走到拐弯處

Through the thick fog, I reached a turning point

看到一個老翁在敲山

And saw an old man hammering at the mountain

老翁姓余今年七十了

The old man’s surname is Yu, and he’s seventy this year

每天帶著鋤頭來敲山

Every day he comes with a hoe to strike the mountain

問他沒事幹嘛來挖山

I asked why he came to dig the mountain

他說大雨沖毀舊山路

He said heavy rains had washed away the old mountain path

村人出入都要繞遠道

Villagers had to take long detours to get around

決心親手敲山把路開

So he vowed to open a road by carving the mountain himself

看看這山還沒挖一半

Looking at the mountain, not even half was done

我笑徒手開山有夠慢

I laughed—opening a mountain by hand is far too slow

眼看這山石頭土又多

With so much rock and earth ahead

到底要多久才敲得完

How long will it take to finish?

敲啊敲 敲啊敲

Bang and bang, knock and knock

大家笑我是愚公

Everyone laughs and calls me the Foolish Old Man

我說 敲山好處多

I say, there’s much good in striking the mountain

每天勞作身體好

Daily labor keeps the body strong

專心敲山沒煩惱

Focused on chiseling, there are no worries

敲啊敲 敲啊敲

Bang and bang, knock and knock

春夏秋冬轉眼過

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter pass in a blink

敲啊敲 敲啊敲

Bang and bang, knock and knock

相信終把山鑿穿

Believe that the mountain will one day be pierced through

愚公鋤頭敲啊敲

The Old Fool’s hoe keeps knocking, knocking

汗如雨下不停歇

Sweat pouring like rain, without rest

他說光說不做心難安

He says talking without doing leaves the heart uneasy

就像心底壓塊大石頭

Like a heavy boulder pressing on the chest

別人笑我是愚公

Others laugh and call me the Old Fool

痴人說夢開寶山

A dreamer speaking nonsense about opening the treasure mountain

我說敲山開路不是夢

I say carving a mountain road is no dream

前人種樹 後人能乘涼

Those before plant trees so later ones enjoy their shade

敲啊敲 敲啊敲

Bang and bang, knock and knock

大家笑我是愚公

Everyone laughs and calls me the Old Fool

我說 敲山好處多

I say, there’s much good in striking the mountain

每天勞作身體好

Daily labor keeps the body strong

專心敲山沒煩惱

Focused on chiseling, there are no worries

敲啊敲 敲啊敲

Bang and bang, knock and knock

春夏秋冬轉眼過

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter fly by

敲啊敲 敲啊敲

Bang and bang, knock and knock

相信終把山鑿穿

Believe the mountain will one day be cut through

每個人的心中有座山

In everyone’s heart, there is a mountain

山裡的寶 數也數不完

And treasures within it beyond counting

敲出大家的方便道

Chisel out a path of convenience for all

敲開自己的大寶山

And open the great treasure mountain within yourself