11 November is Remembrance Day(國殤紀念日 gwok3 soeng1 gei2 nim6 jat6 ) in UK and other commonwealth countries, and Veterans Day (退伍軍人日 teoi3 ng5 gwan1 jan4 jat6) in US. Remembrance Day was originally Armistice Day ( 停戰日 ting4 zin3 jat6 ) which marks the day World War One 第一次世界大戰 ended at 11 am on 11 November 1918, and was later renamed at the end of World War Two to commemorate all war dead. Today, we remember those who died or suffered in the world wars and other conflict.
In Flanders Fields
The most famous poem that is associated with this day is “In Flanders Fields” written during World War One by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, at his friend’s funeral. The poem gave rise to red poppies (虞美人/ 紅罌粟花 jyu4 mei5 jan4 / hung4 aang1 suk1 faa1) being one of the most recognized symbols for remembrance.
Here’s the Chinese Translation of the poem from Wikipedia (with added Jyutping).
在法蘭德斯戰場
在法蘭德斯戰場 虞美人迎風開放
開放在十字架之間，一排排一行行
標示我們斷魂的地方
雲雀依舊高歌，展翅在藍藍的天上
可你卻難以聽見，因為戰場上槍炮正響
zoi6 faat3 laan4 dak1 si1 zin3 coeng4 jyu4 mei5 jan4 jing4 fung1 hoi1 fong3
hoi1 fong3 zoi6 sap6 zi6 gaa3 zi1 gaan1 ，jat1 paai4 paai4 jat1 hang4 hang4
biu1 si6 ngo5 mun4 tyun5 wan4 dik1 dei6 fong1
wan4 zoek3 ji1 gau6 gou1 go1 ，zin2 ci3 zoi6 laam4 laam4 dik1 tin1 soeng5
ho2 nei5 koek3 naan4 ji5 ting3 gin3 ，jan1 wai4 zin3 coeng4 soeng5 coeng1 paau3 zing3 hoeng2
我們死去了，就在幾天前
我們曾經擁有生命，沐浴曙光又見璀璨夕陽
我們愛人也為人所愛，可現在卻安息在
法蘭德斯戰場
ngo5 mun4 sei2 heoi3 liu5 ，zau6 zoi6 gei2 tin1 cin4
ngo5 mun4 cang4 ging1 jung2 jau5 saang1 ming6 ，muk6 juk6 cyu5 gwong1 jau6 gin3 ceoi1 caan3 zik6 joeng4
ngo5 mun4 ngoi3 jan4 jaa5 wai4 jan4 so2 ngoi3 ，ho2 jin6 zoi6 koek3 ngon1 sik1 zoi6
faat3 laan4 dak1 si1 zin3 coeng4
繼續和敵人戰鬥吧
顫抖的雙手拋給你們
那熊熊的火炬，讓你們將它高舉
你們若辜負死去的我們
我們將不會安息，儘管虞美人
盛開法蘭德斯戰場
gai3 zuk6 wo4 dik6 jan4 zin3 dau3 baa1
zin3 dau2 dik1 soeng1 sau2 paau1 kap1 nei5 mun4
naa5 hung4 hung4 dik1 fo2 geoi6 ，joeng6 nei5 mun4 zoeng3 taa1 gou1 geoi2
nei5 mun4 joek6 gu1 fu6 sei2 heoi3 dik1 ngo5 mun4
ngo5 mun4 zoeng3 bat1 wui2 ngon1 sik1 ，zeon6 gun2 jyu4 mei5 jan4
sing6 hoi1 faat3 laan4 dak1 si1 zin3 coeng4
The original poem:
In Flanders Field by JOhn McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Printable of the poem In Flanders Field 在法蘭德斯戰場 – with Cantonese Jyutping to download.
ANZAC Day and The Ode of Remembrance
In Australia and New Zealand, we also have ANZAC Day on 25th April. Click through to this blogpost to learn The Ode of Remembrance 追念詩 (zeoi1 nim6 si1) in Cantonese, and lots of vocabulary related to remembrance.
LEST WE FORGET 以免我們忘記