世上只有妈妈好 – Chinese Song for Mother’s Day (Lyrics & Writing Worksheet)

When my daughter was 2 years old, I decided to relearn Mandarin Chinese and teach her our heritage language.  Music has been an important resource for getting us both excited about learning unfamiliar Chinese words.

I first introduced popular Western songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (song lyrics and activities here and here).  Then my auntie suggested 世上只有妈妈好 / 世上只有媽媽好 (In This World, Only Mama Is Good), a Chinese song that my late mother used to sing during my childhood.

I’m happy to share printable lyrics in simplified and traditional Chinese, Hanyu Pinyin, and English in this post!

Mother’s Day (母亲节 / 母親節)

In both the United States and China, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.  This year, Mother’s Day falls on May 12, 2019.

Learning to sing 世上只有妈妈好 / 世上只有媽媽好 with my children

Initially, I had trouble learning 世上只有妈妈好 because it made me very nostalgic for my late mother.  I longed to hear her sing this Chinese song, and listening to it made me fight back tears.

After my daughter heard 世上只有妈妈好 on iTunes, she fell in love with it.  The past sadness has been replaced with joy with my daughter, and now my son who can sing the sweet melody along with us.

Since we also love my husband and think he’s the best dad, we often sing the song twice, the second time substituting 妈妈 for 爸爸 (bàbà / daddy)! 🙂  My children also like to add in 姐姐 (jiějiě / big sister), 弟弟 (dìdì / little brother), and 耶稣 (Yēsū / Jesus) to the lyrics!

There are many versions of 世上只有妈妈好; our 2 favorites on iTunes for young learners are as follows:

1. Shishang Zhiyou Mama Hao by Yuan Xueer
2. Shi Shang Zhi You Mama Hao by Li Song

The first version is sung very slowly and clearly by a woman accompanied by guzheng.  The second version is sung by a man at a relatively moderate speed, but it’s easy to understand.  The only difference is the man says “像个宝” instead of “像块宝” (different choice of measure word in first stanza, second line).

世上只有妈妈好 / 世上只有媽媽好 YouTube videos

Here is a video of a 6-year-old girl, 唐子宜 (Tángzi yí), singing《世上只有妈妈好》.

We also enjoyed watching this lovely 古筝独奏  /古箏獨奏 (Gǔzhēng dúzòu / Guzheng solo).  Guzheng is traditional Chinese string instrument that is played by plucking.

For reference, here are the lyrics in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, and pinyin!  I have also included an English translation below.

世上只有妈妈好 Simplified Chinese Lyrics

世上只有妈妈好
有妈的孩子像块宝
投进了妈妈的怀抱
幸福享不了

世上只有妈妈好
没妈的孩子像根草
离开妈妈的怀抱
幸福哪里找

世上只有媽媽好 Traditional Chinese Lyrics

世上只有媽媽好
有媽的孩子像塊寶
投進了媽媽的懷抱
幸福享不了

世上只有媽媽好
沒媽的孩子像根草
離開媽媽的懷抱
幸福哪裡找

世上只有妈妈好 Hanyu Pinyin

Shìshàng zhǐyǒu māmā hǎo
Yǒu mā de háizi xiàng kuài bǎo
Tóu jìnle māmā de huáibào
Xìngfú xiǎng bùliǎo

Shìshàng zhǐyǒu māmā hǎo
Méi mā de háizi xiàng gēn cǎo
Líkāi māmā de huáibào
Xìngfú nǎlǐ zhǎo

English translation

In this world, only mama is good
A child with a mom is like a piece of treasure
Run into your mom’s embrace
You will enjoy endless happiness!

In this world, only mama is good
Without mom, you are like a blade of grass
Away from mom’s embrace
Where will you find happiness?