The Internationale in Chinese

The Internationale in Chinese (simplified Chinese: 国际歌; traditional Chinese: 國際歌; pinyin: Guójìgē) is literally the International Song. It has several different sets of lyrics.

Mandarin versions

Qu Qiubai's version

The most common and official Chinese version is the de facto anthem of the Communist Party of China.^[1] It was first translated on 15 June 1923 from the Russian version by Qu Qiubai (Chinese: 瞿秋白),^[2] a leader of the Communist Party of China in the late 1920s. His translation has transliterated the Internationale as Yīngtènàxióngnài'ěr (simplified Chinese: 英特纳雄耐尔; traditional Chinese: 英特納雄耐爾) when singing the phrase in Standard Chinese. When the Chinese Soviet Republic was established in 1931, it was decided to be its national anthem.^[3] As he was executed by the Kuomintang in 1935, his Chinese translation is in the public domain wherever the duration of copyright is an author's lifetime plus up to 70 years, including Chinese-speaking Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan (lifetime plus 50 years in these places), and Singapore (lifetime plus 70 years). The three Chinese lyrics roughly correspond to the three Russian lyrics by Arkady Yakovlevich Kots and the first, second, and sixth French lyrics by Eugène Pottier. The fourth and fifth stanzas are not used in the official Chinese version and the PRC forbids the use of them in public performances of the song.

The song was a rallying anthem of the demonstrators at the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and was repeatedly sung both while marching to the Square and within the Square.

...many hundreds of people (not only students) appeared on the street. They ran after the trucks and shouted protest slogans. A few stones were thrown. The soldiers opened fire with live ammunition. The crowd threw themselves on the ground, but quickly followed the convoy again. The more shots were fired, the more the crowd got determined and outraged. Suddenly they started singing the Internationale; they armed themselves with stones and threw them towards the soldiers. There were also a few Molotov cocktails and the last truck was set on fire.^[4]

Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese	Pinyin	Literal English translation
First stanza
起來，饑寒交迫的奴隸， 起來，全世界受苦的人！ 滿腔的熱血已經沸騰， 要為真理而鬥爭！ 舊世界打個落花流水， 奴隸們起來起來！ 不要說我們一無所有， 我們要做天下的主人！ 這是最後的鬥爭， 團結起來到明天， 英特納雄耐爾 就一定要實現。	起来，饥寒交迫的奴隶， 起来，全世界受苦的人！ 满腔的热血已经沸腾， 要为真理而斗争！ 旧世界打个落花流水， 奴隶们起来起来！ 不要说我们一无所有， 我们要做天下的主人！ 这是最后的斗争， 团结起来到明天， 英特纳雄耐尔 就一定要实现。	Qǐlái, jīhánjiāopò de núlì, Qǐlái, quánshìjiè shòukǔ de rén! Mǎnqiāng de rèxuè yǐjīng fèiténg, Yào wèi zhēnlǐ ér dòuzhēng! Jiù shìjiè dǎ gè luòhuāliúshuǐ, Núlìmen, qǐlái!, qǐlái! Bú yào shuō wǒmen yìwúsuǒyǒu, Wǒmen yào zuò tiānxià de zhǔrén. Zhè shì zuìhòu de dòuzhēng, Tuánjié qǐlái, dào míngtiān, Yīngtènàxióngnài'ěr Jiù yídìng yào shíxiàn.	Arise, slaves afflicted by hunger and cold, Arise, suffering people all over the world! The blood which fills my chest has boiled over, We must struggle for truth! The old world shall be destroyed Arise, slaves, arise! Do not say that we have nothing, We shall be the masters of the world! This is the final struggle, Unite together towards tomorrow, The Internationale Shall certainly be realised.
Second stanza
從來就沒有什麼救世主， 也不靠神仙皇帝。 要創造人類的幸福， 全靠我們自己！ 我們要奪回勞動果實， 讓思想衝破牢籠。 快把那爐火燒得通紅， 趁熱打鐵才能成功！ 這是最後的鬥爭， 團結起來到明天， 英特納雄耐爾 就一定要實現。	从来就没有什么救世主， 也不靠神仙皇帝。 要创造人类的幸福， 全靠我们自己！ 我们要夺回劳动果实， 让思想冲破牢笼。 快把那炉火烧得通红， 趁热打铁才能成功！ 这是最后的斗争， 团结起来到明天， 英特纳雄耐尔 就一定要实现。	Cónglái jiù méiyǒu shénme jiùshìzhǔ, Yě bú kào shénxiān huángdì. Yào chuàngzào rénlèi de xìngfú, Quán kào wǒmen zìjǐ. Wǒmen yào duóhuí láodòng guǒshí, Ràng sīxiǎng chōngpò láolóng. Kuài bǎ nà lúhuǒ shāo de tōnghóng, Chènrèdǎtiě cái néng chénggōng. Zhè shì zuìhòu de dòuzhēng, Tuánjié qǐlái, dào míngtiān, Yīngtènàxióngnài'ěr Jiù yídìng yào shíxiàn.	There has never been any saviour of the world, Nor deities, nor emperors on which to depend. To create Mankind's happiness We must entirely depend on ourselves! We shall retake the fruits of our labour, And let the mind burst free from its prison cell. Let the flames in the furnace burn red-hot, For only when the iron is hot will we succeed in forging it! This is the final struggle, Unite together towards tomorrow, The Internationale Shall definitely be realised.
Third stanza
是誰創造了人類世界？ 是我們勞動群眾。 一切歸勞動者所有， 哪能容得寄生蟲！ 最可恨那些毒蛇猛獸， 吃盡了我們的血肉。 一旦把他們消滅乾淨， 鮮紅的太陽照遍全球！ 這是最後的鬥爭， 團結起來到明天， 英特納雄耐爾 就一定要實現。	是谁创造了人类世界？ 是我们劳动群众。 一切归劳动者所有， 哪能容得寄生虫！ 最可恨那些毒蛇猛兽， 吃尽了我们的血肉。 一旦把他们消灭干净， 鲜红的太阳照遍全球！ 这是最后的斗争， 团结起来到明天， 英特纳雄耐尔 就一定要实现。	Shì shéi chuàngzào liǎo rénlèi shìjiè? Shì wǒmen láodòng qúnzhòng. Yíqiè guī láodòngzhě suǒyǒu, Nǎnéng róngde jìshēngchóng! Zuì kěhèn nàxiē dúshéměngshòu, Chījìn liǎo wǒmen de xuèròu. Yídàn bǎ tāmen xiāomiè gānjìng, Xiānhóng de tàiyáng zhào biàn quánqiú. Zhè shì zuìhòu de dòuzhēng, Tuánjié qǐlái, dào míngtiān, Yīngtènàxióngnài'ěr Jiù yídìng yào shíxiàn.	Who is it that created the world of humankind? It is us, the masses. Everything is for workers, How can parasites be accommodated! The most detestable are those poisonous snakes and savage beasts Eating up our flesh and blood. Exterminate them all at once, The red sun will shine all over the globe! This is the final struggle, Unite together towards tomorrow, The Internationale Shall definitely be realised.

Note that the lyrics above were translated from the first, second and sixth (last) stanza of the French original.

National Revolutionary Army version

When commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Paris Commune on 18 March 1926, the National Revolutionary Army printed a music sheet with three lyrics of the Internationale in Chinese, roughly corresponding to the first, second, and sixth French lyrics by Eugène Pottier. When singing refrain twice after each lyric, the Internationale is transliterated first as Yīngtè'ěrlāxióngnà'ěr (Chinese: 英特爾拉雄納爾) and second as Yīngtè'ěrnàxióngnà'ěr (Chinese: 英特爾納雄納爾).

Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese	Pinyin	Literal English translation
起來飢寒交迫的奴隸， 起來全世界上的罪人！ 滿腔的熱血已經沸騰， 作一最後的戰爭！ 舊世界打他落花流水， 奴隸們起來起來！ 莫要說我們一錢不值， 我們要做天下的主人！ （副歌） 這是最後的爭鬥， 團結起來到明天， 英特爾拉雄納爾 就一定要實現。 這是最後的爭鬥， 團結起來到明天， 英特爾納雄納爾 就一定要實現。	起来饥寒交迫的奴隶， 起来全世界上的罪人！ 满腔的热血已经沸腾， 作一最后的战争！ 旧世界打他落花流水， 奴隶们起来起来！ 莫要说我们一钱不值， 我们要做天下的主人！ （副歌） 这是最后的争斗， 团结起来到明天， 英特尔拉雄纳尔 就一定要实现。 这是最后的争斗， 团结起来到明天， 英特尔纳雄纳尔 就一定要实现。	Qǐlái, jīhánjiāopò de núlì, Qǐlái, quánshìjiè shàng de zuìrén! Mǎnqiāng de rèxuè yǐjīng fèiténg, Zuòyí zuìhòude zhànzhēng! Jiù shìjiè dǎ tā luòhuāliúshuǐ, Núlìmen, qǐlái, qǐlái! Mò yào shuō wǒmen yìqiánbùzhí, Wǒmen yào zuò tiānxià de zhǔrén. (Fùgē) Zhè shì zuìhòu de zhēngdòu, Tuánjié qǐlái dào míngtiān, Yīngtè'ěrlāxióngnà'ěr Jiù yídìng yào shíxiàn. Zhè shì zuìhòu de zhēngdòu, Tuánjié qǐlái dào míngtiān, Yīngtè'ěrnàxióngnà'ěr Jiù yídìng yào shíxiàn.	Arise, slaves afflicted by hunger and cold, Arise, persecuted all over the world! The blood which fills my chest has boiled over, Make one last war! The old world, it shall be destroyed. Arise, slaves, arise! Do not say that we are worth nothing, We shall be the masters of the world! (Refrain) This is the final struggle, Unite together towards tomorrow, The Internationale Shall certainly be realised. This is the final struggle, Unite together towards tomorrow, The Internationale Shall certainly be realised.
（二）	（二）	(Èr)	Second stanza
從來沒有什麼救世主， 不是神仙也不是皇帝。 更不是那些英雄豪傑， 全靠自己救自己！ 要殺盡那些强盜狗命， 就要有犧牲精神。 快快的當這爐火通紅， 趁火打鐵才能够成功！ （副歌）	从来没有什么救世主， 不是神仙也不是皇帝。 更不是那些英雄豪杰， 全靠自己救自己！ 要杀尽那些强盗狗命， 就要有牺牲精神。 快快的当这炉火通红， 趁火打铁才能够成功！ （副歌）	Cónglái méiyǒu shénme jiùshìzhǔ, Búshì shénxiān yĕ búshì huángdì. Gèng búshì nàxiē yīngxióng háojié, Quán kào zìjǐ jiù zìjǐ! Yào shājìn nàxiē qiángdào gǒumìng, Jiù yào yǒu xīshēng jīngshén. Kuàikuài de dāngzhè lúhuǒ tōnghóng, Chènhuǒdǎtiě cái nénggòu chénggōng! (fùgē)	There has never been any saviour of the world, Nor deities, nor emperors. Not even those heroes, Entirely depend on ourselves to save ourselves! To fully kill those bandits' crestless lives Requires sacrificing spirit. Quickly, while this furnace burns red-hot, For only when the iron is fired will we succeed in forging it! (Refrain)
（三）	（三）	(Sān)	Third stanza
誰是世界上的創造者？ 只有我們勞苦的工農。 一切只歸生產者所有， 哪裡容得寄生虫！ 我們的熱血流了多少， 只把那殘酷惡獸。 倘若是一旦殺滅盡了， 一輪紅日照遍五大洲！ （副歌）	谁是世界上的创造者？ 只有我们劳苦的工农。 一切只归生产者所有， 哪里容得寄生虫！ 我们的热血流了多少， 只把那残酷恶兽。 倘若是一旦杀灭尽了， 一轮红日照遍五大洲！ （副歌）	Shéi shì shìjièshàng de chuàngzàozhě? Zhǐyǒu wǒmen láokǔ de gōngnóng. Yíqiè zhǐ guī shēngchǎnzhě suǒyǒu, Nǎlǐ róngde jìshēngchóng! Wǒmen de rèxuè liúle duōshǎo, Zhǐ bǎ nà cánkù èshòu. Tǎngruòshì yídàn shāmiè jìnliǎo, Yìlún hóngrì zhào biàn wǔdàzhōu. (fùgē)	Who is the creator of the world? Only us, hard working labours and farmers. Everything is for producers only, Where can parasites be accommodated! How much hot blood of ours have bled, Only to handle that cruel and evil monster. If it is someday fully killed, A red sun will shine all over the five continents! (Refrain)

Shen Baoji's version

The third, fourth, and fifth French stanzas are not sung in Chinese in the above two versions of Qu and the National Revolutionary Army. Chinese translator Shen Baoji (simplified Chinese: 沈宝基; traditional Chinese: 沈寶基, 1908–2002) has made a complete Chinese translation, published in 1957, of all six French stanzas,.^[5] Shen's translation has transliterated the Internationale as Yīngdāi'ěrnàxī'àonà'ěr (simplified Chinese: 因呆尔那西奥纳尔; traditional Chinese: 因呆爾那西奧納爾) in the stanzas, different from the transliterations of Qu and the National Revolutionary Army. As the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China grants individuals copyright for their lifetime plus 50 years, Shen's translation is expected to remain copyrighted there until the end of 2052.

Non-Mandarin versions

In addition to the Mandarin version, the Internationale also has Cantonese^[6] and Taiwanese^[7] versions, occasionally used in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The word "Internationale" is not translated in either version.

The Internationale in popular culture

Chinese rock band Tang Dynasty released a metal rock version of the song in 1991, which is still popular among Chinese youths and nationalists even to this day.

References

1. (Chinese) Xinhua Net: http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-01/28/content_7511238.htm
2. (Chinese) People's Daily: News on Chinese Communist Party
3. (Chinese) People's Daily: History of Chinese national anthems in a hundred years
4. Amnesty International, 30 August 1989. Preliminary Findings on Killings of Unarmed Civilians, Arbitrary Arrests and Summary Executions Since 3 June 1989, p.19
5. (Chinese)The inside story of the alteration of the Internationale translations