鼠
Mice
无论黑猫白猫
Whether a black cat or white cat
爱鼠都是好猫
If it loves mice, it’s a good cat
只要喜欢鲜腥
So long as it likes fishy food
就能投其所好
You have way out to cheer its mood
牛
Bull
剩下一只残角
One remnant horn is left atop
留作防身利器
As a weapon for self-defense
献出一只犄角
Sacrificed is one horn, one lop
吹响进击号子
The bugle call to charge from hence
虎
Tiger
猫是虎的小弟
The tiger’s brother is the cat
虎是猫的徒弟
The cat’s disciple is the tiger
师傅进了卧室
The teacher’s in the room, and that
哥哥进了笼子
In the cage must be the brother
兔
Rabbit
眼观六路迷茫
Looking around, the wondering souls
耳听八方惊慌
So wary, were given a scare
昨夜筑成三窟
Last night they worked to make three holes
今晨落入电网
This morning they fell into a snare
龙
Dragon
谁也没有见过
None has seen or will ever see
谁都知道是我
But everyone knows that it’s me
没有血肉身躯
No flesh or blood, no length or girth
活得天长地久
But I survive the sky and earth
蛇
Snake
一朝你被蛇咬
Once you are bitten by a snake
君莫再怕井绳
Don’t fear a rope, don’t be afraid
毒蛇偶尔伤人
A snake sometimes bites, it’s an ache
蛇毒常常救人
But venom can save and can aid
马
Horse
牧场疆场屠场
Grassland, slaughter house, battle ground
赛场赌场市场
Race course, casino, and bazaar
天地越来越小
The sky and earth shrink round by round
名气越来越响
While its name travels near and far
羊
Sheep
虽然犄角健美
Though its horns are gracefully curled
绝非斗士
It’s no fighter, nothing
留下一句成语
It has left a phrase to the world:
狼披羊皮
A wolf in sheep’s clothing
猴
Monkey
曾因结尾捞月
They’d get the moon, tail to tail tied
世代遭人嘲笑
For this the world oft them deride
听见人间鸡叫
Hearing cocks crow and the dawn greet
心里怦怦直跳
They feel their hearts violently beat
鸡
Chicken
像鸟又不是鸟
Looking like birds, not birds are they
有翅却飞不高
Having wings, they can’t fly their way
司晨爱唱山歌
They sing their song as morning call
下蛋也哼小调
And, having laid eggs, brag: laid all
狗
Dog
混成人间宠物
Of the human world they’re pets sweet
活得也不安乐
But it’s not snug life, whatever
狗肉火锅火红
Flaming fire, hotpot and dog meat
狗狗浑身哆嗦
Seeing them all dogs but shiver
猪
Pig
要想活得快乐
Why not live well, one can live well
先要吃得快活
Why not eat well, eat well like hell
人在给我催肥
Men fatten me. Fatten me please
我在催人增肥
I will make you fat, give you grease