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Learn to Sing a Burmese Song

One good thing about learning to sing a song in Burmese language, or in any other language that you don't know is that you don't need to understand all the words. You just sing along Karaoke style to make new friends in Myanmar and socialize in Myanmar night life.

Of course, it will be good if you know what the song is all about, and understand at least the gist of the lyrics.

Yangon Chatrium Hotel The Ritz Lounge

Burmese word for a "song" is

tha1-chin3. MP3 Audio File

The word for "to sing" is

hso2. MP3 Audio File

So, how would you say, "I am going to sing"?

tha1-chin3 — song (noun)

hso2 — sing (verb)

meare2 — will; going to (post-positional marker)

tha1-chin3 hso2 meare2

I am going to sing. (song + sing + will)

MP3 Audio File

tha1-chin3 — song (noun)

da1-boat — one + "measure words for songs (adjective)

hso2 — sing (verb)

meare2 — will; going to (post-positional marker)

tha1-chin3 da1-boat hso2 meare2

I am going to sing a song. (song + one + "measure word for songs" + sing + will)

MP3 Audio File

I have picked a beautiful Burmese song with a sweet vocal and wonderful lyrics that inspired me to translate into English. The song is titled, "Thein Hta Khwint" (Thain3-hta3 khwin1), which means "permission to keep".

It was sung by a talented ethnic Kachin singer named N Kaira from Northern Myanmar.

Lyrics of Myanmar Song: "Thein Hta Khwint" by N. Kaira - part 1 translated into English

Let's listen to the first part of the song.

pfyu2 sin2 deare2 — pure and white (white + pure + affirmation)

MP3 Audio File

ho2 a-yin2 — in the past

MP3 Audio File

min3 a-pau2 — on you

MP3 Audio File

yo3-tha3-jin3 mya3 dtha2 — only innocent feelings (innocence + plural + only)

MP3 Audio File

My innocence: only what I had for you in the past — pure and white.

pfyu2 sin2 deare2 — pure and white (white + pure + affirmation)

MP3 Audio File

kjin2 na2 deare1 — caring (cares; be kind; be tender + that which)

MP3 Audio File

kjo3 mya3 neare1 — with strings (string + plural + with)

MP3 Audio File

ma1-yit pup khin2 ga1 — before being wound (negative + coil and bind + before + at the time)

MP3 Audio File

Pure and white,

before being wound by the strings of caring attachment.

yin3 hni3 zwa2 — intimately

MP3 Audio File

a-tu2 — together

pyau2-shwin2 — enjoy

kheare1 deare1 — that + had

MP3 Audio File

nay1-yet dway2 — days (day + plural)

a-hsone3 hma2 — at the end (end + at)

MP3 Audio File

At the end of the intimate days we had enjoyed together

ngo2 — cry

chin2 deare3 — want to

MP3 Audio File

way3 hma2 — to be far

so3 — be worry

da2 — (points out to that worry)

MP3 Audio File

I am afraid to be apart, and feel like crying.

My innocence:

only what I had for you in the past — pure and white.

Pure and white,

before being bond by the strings of caring attachment.

At the end of

friendly days that we had enjoyed together,

I feel like crying,

being afraid to be apart.

Lyrics of Myanmar Song: "Thein Hta Khwint" by N. Kaira - part 2 translated into English

de2 a-chain2 hma2 — At this time (this + time + at)

MP3 Audio File

ko1 go2 — to me (me + to)

MP3 Audio File

ta1-khu1 gu1 — something

MP3 Audio File

min3 lay3 — baby, you

may3 deare1 a-kha2 — at the time of asking (ask + that which + time)

MP3 Audio File

At this time... baby, when you ask me something....

woon2-khan2 meare2 — I will admit (admit + reference to the future action)

MP3 Audio File

kjin2-na2 deare1 — caring (cares; be kind; be tender + that which)

kjo3 mya3 leare3 — strings also (string + plural + also)

yit-pup byi2 kwa2 — have coiled and wound (coil and wind + has reached that condition + sigh!)

MP3 Audio File

I will admit, the strings of caring attachments have wound me

min3 thi1 oun2 — In order to let you know (you + know + in order to)

MP3 Audio File

ko2 yi2-yweare2 hta3 deare1

those which I have been intending

(I + intend + present continuous tense + that which)

a-twin3 za1-ga3 dway2

intimate words (inside + word + plural)

pyau3 hma2 — going to tell (tell + "to")

MP3 Audio File

To make you know... I'm going to tell you my intimate, secret thoughts that I have been intending to tell you.

nay2 chin2 deare2 — I want to stay (stay + want + affirmation)

MP3 Audio File

min3 yeare1 — your (you + possessive; converts "you" to "your")

a-ni3 hma2 — nearby (proximity; nearness + at)

MP3 Audio File

I want to stay close to you

At this time...

baby, when you ask me something...

I will admit,

the strings of caring attachments have wound me.

To make you know...

I'm going to tell you my secret thoughts:

"I want to stay

close to you."

Lyrics of Myanmar Song: "Thein Hta Khwint" by N. Kaira - part 3 translated into English

hmyau2-lin1-jin3 — a hope

hna1-lone3-dtha3 — heart

MP3 Audio File

ma1-noon3 oun2

in order not to wither away (not to + wither and fade + in order)

pyan2 khweare3 ma1-thwa3 neare1 kwa2

Please don't break apart and go away..

(again + break + not + go + don't + frustrated tone)

MP3 Audio File

Let not a hope in the heart to wither... don't you break it apart and go away

a-tu2-du2 — together

pfyut-thun3 — to journey

ni3 thwa3 zo1

Let's get close!

(to be near + increasing degree + let's)

ma1-net-pfyan2 mya3

days of tomorrow (tomorrow + plural)

MP3 Audio File

Let's journey the days of tomorrow you and I. Let's get close together!

ko2 — I

ta1-yout hteare3 - alone (one + person + suffix 'alone')

ah3 neare3

weak (strength + low)

MP3 Audio File

ba1-wa1 hma2 — in life

nin2 ma1-shi1 lo1 - if you were not there

ma1-ya1 ba2 - not possible (not + possible + ending word)

MP3 Audio File

All alone and weak I will be, if you were not there in my life

hta2-wa1-zin2 — forever

a-chit mya3

lots of love (love + plural)

MP3 Audio File

thain3-hta3 khwin1

permission to keep

ya1 chin2 da2

What I want to have is

(get + want + convert to noun clause)

MP3 Audio File

What I want to have is... a permission to keep lots of love — forever!

Let not a hope in the heart to wither...

don't you break it apart and go away.

Let's journey the days of tomorrow you and I,

Let's get close together!

All alone and weak I will be,

if you were not there in my life.

What I want to have is...

a permission to keep lots of love — forever!

Myanmar Song: "Thein Hta Khwint" by N. Kaira - part 4

The full version of the song has a repeat of part 3 and ending part is an another repeat of the last four lines:

All alone and weak I will be,

if you were not there in my life.

What I want to have is...

a permission to keep lots of love — forever!

Recommended Myanmar Vocalist: N. Kaira

Try searching "N. Kaira + Thein Hta Khwint" on the Internet. There are a number of her songs on the YouTube. But, I would recommend buying her records when you visit Myanmar. Then, you will have a permission to keep those — forever!

N. Kaira, Thein Hta Khwint

Color Codes: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, particles, postpositional markers, interjections.

Read this page with Myanmar Script

CLICK (OR TOUCH) TABLE HEADER COLUMNS TO SORT BY ASCENDING OR DESCENDING ORDER OF ENGLISH OR BURMESE.

Vocabulary in Burmese Song "Thein Hta Khwint" (Sortable)
BURMESE ↑↓ ENGLISH ↑↓
a-chain2 time
a-chit love
a-chit mya3 lots of love
ah3 energy, strength
ah3 neare3 weak (strength + low)
a-kha2 time of an event; occasion
a-ni3 close, nearby
a-ni3 hma2 nearby at
a-hsone3 the end
a-hsone3 hma2 in the end
a-pau2 on, upon
a-tu2-du2 together
a-twin3 inner
a-twin3 za1-ga3 intimate word
a-twin3 za1-ga3 dway2 intimate words
ba1-wa1 life
ba1-wa1 hma2 in life
dway2 plural marker
de2 this
deare2 affirmation (ending word)
hma2 at, in
hmyau2 lin1 hope for
hmyau2 lin1 jin3 a hope
hna1-lone3 heart (organ)
hna1-lone3 dtha3 heart (emotion)
ho2 a-yin2 in the past
kjin2 na2 be caring
kjo3 string
kjo3 mya3 strings
kjo3 mya3 neare1 with strings
kjo3 mya3 leare3 strings also
kheare1 deare1 that + had
khweare3 break apart
ko1 to me, mine, myself
ko1 yeare1 my
ko2 to whom, I
kwa2 frustrated ending word
khwin1 permission, opportunity
ma1-net-pfyan2 tomorrow
ma1-net-pfyan2 mya3 tomorrows
ma1-shi1 not there
ma1-shi1 lo1 (the case of) not there
ma1-ya1 ba2 not possible (to live)
ma1 xxxx khin2 ga1 prior to action xxxx
ma1 xxxx oun2 in order not to xxxx
may3 ask
may3 deare1 xxxx "asking"
may3 deare1 a-kha2 time of asking
meare2 will (do something)
min3 you (same age group)
min3 lay3 baby, you
mya3 many; plural marker
nay1 yet days
nay2 stay
nay2 chin2 deare2 want to stay
neare1 with
ngo2 chin2 deare2 want to cry
ni3 close
ni3 thwa3 get close
ni3 thwa3 zo1 Let's get close
nin2 you (same age group)
noon3 wither
pfyut-thun3 pass though the journey
pyan2 ma1-thwa3 not go back
pyan2 thwa3 go back
pyau2 shwin2 enjoy
pyau3 tell
pyau3 hma2 going to tell
so3 afraid
so3 da2 what is afraid of
ta1-khu1 gu1 something
ta1-yout one person
ta1-yout hteare3 alone
thain3 hta3 keep
thain3 hta3 khwin1 permission to keep
thi1 know
thi1 oun2 make known
thu2 he, she
way3 be away; be apart
woon2-khan2 admit
ya1 get; obtain
ya1 chin2 want to get
ya1 chin2 da2 that which is wanted
yi2-yweare2 intend
yi2-yweare2 hta3 have intended
yi2-yweare2 hta3 deare1 that which has been intended
yin2 feeling
yin2 hteare3 feeling inside
yin3-hni3 intimate
yin3-hni3 zwa2 intimately
yit-pup to coil & wind like a snake
yit-pup byi2 has/have wound
yo3-tha3 jin3 honesty, innocence, naiveness