許冠傑 Sam Hui - 半斤八兩 (Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other) Lyrics
Song Summary
Title: 半斤八兩 (Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other)
Artist: 許冠傑 (Sam Hui)
Album: 半斤八兩
Release Year: 1976
Songwriters: 許冠傑 (music), 黎彼得 (lyrics)
Genre: Cantopop / Social satire
Overview
“半斤八兩” is one of Sam Hui’s most iconic works, using sharp Cantonese slang and humor to portray the struggles of Hong Kong’s working class. The title refers to a situation where effort and reward are fundamentally mismatched. The literal translation is six of one and half dozen of another; as broad as it is long, not much to choose between the two.
Composition
The song combines upbeat, folk-influenced melodies with biting, colloquial Cantonese lyrics. Its conversational tone and exaggerated metaphors mirror everyday workplace frustrations.
Release & Album Context
Released during Hong Kong’s rapid industrialization period, the album resonated strongly with salaried workers facing long hours, low pay, and authoritarian bosses.
Popularity & Reception
The song became an anthem for laborers and remains one of the most quoted Cantopop protest songs. Its phrases have entered everyday Cantonese speech.
Legacy
“半斤八兩” helped define socially conscious Cantopop. Sam Hui’s approach paved the way for later artists to address real-life issues in popular music.
Lyrics
Verse 1
我地呢班打工仔
ngo5 dei6 ni1 baan1 daa2 gung1 zai2
We working stiffs here,
通街走羅直頭系壞腸胃
tung1 gaai1 zau2 lo1 zik6 tau4 hai6 waai6 coeng4 wai6
Running all over town till it wrecks our stomachs.
搵個些少到月底點夠駛（歪過鬼）確係認真濕滯
wan2 go3 se1 siu2 dou3 jyut6 dai2 dim2 gau3 saai2 (waai1 gwo3 gwai2) kok3 hai6 jing6 zan1 sap1 zai6
Earning peanuts — never enough till month’s end, truly miserable.
醉弊波士郁嘀發威（顛過雞）
zeoi3 bai6 bo1 si2 juk6 dik1 faat3 wai1 (din1 gwo3 gai1)
The damn boss shows off at the slightest thing.
一味系處系唔系亂黎吠
jat1 mei6 hai6 cyu3 hai6 m4 hai6 lyun6 lei4 fai6
Constantly barking orders, right or wrong.
翳親加薪塊面拿起惡睇（扭嚇計）你就認真開胃
ai3 can1 gaa1 san1 faai3 min6 naa4 hei2 ok3 tai2 (nau2 haak3 gai3) nei5 zau6 jing6 zan1 hoi1 wai6
Mention a raise and his face turns nasty — suddenly he’s wide awake.
Chorus
(半斤八兩) 做咗只績咁嘅樣
(bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5) zou6 zo2 zi2 zik1 gam3 ge3 joeng6
(Half a catty, eight taels) Working yourself to this sorry state.
(半斤八兩) 濕水炮仗點會響
(bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5) sap1 seoi2 paau3 zoeng2 dim2 wui5 hoeng2
(Half a catty, eight taels) Like wet firecrackers — how could you ever bang?
(半斤八兩) 夠疆呀揸槍走去搶
(bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5) gau3 goeng1 aa3 zaa1 coeng1 zau2 heoi3 coeng2
(Half a catty, eight taels) Might as well grab a gun and go rob.
出咗半斤力 想話攞返足八兩
ceot1 zo2 bun3 gan1 lik6 soeng2 waa6 lo2 faan1 zuk1 baat3 loeng5
Put in half a catty of effort, hoping to get eight taels back.
家陣惡搵食 邊有半斤八兩咁理想（吹脹）
gaa1 zan6 ok3 wan2 sik6 bin1 jau5 bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5 gam3 lei5 soeng2 (ceoi1 zoeng3)
These days it’s hard to survive — no such fair deal exists.
Verse 2
我地呢班打工仔
ngo5 dei6 ni1 baan1 daa2 gung1 zai2
We working stiffs here,
一生一世為錢幣做奴隸
jat1 sang1 jat1 sai3 wai4 cin4 bai6 zou6 nou4 dai6
Slaves to money our whole lives.
個種辛苦折墮講出嚇鬼（死俾你睇）咪話無乜所謂
go3 zung2 san1 fu2 zit3 do6 gong2 ceot1 haak3 gwai2 (sei2 bei2 nei5 tai2) mai6 waa6 mou5 mat1 so2 wai6
The suffering is terrifying — don’t say it doesn’t matter.
Chorus (Repeat)
(半斤八兩) 就算有福都無你享
(bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5) zau6 syun3 jau5 fuk1 dou1 mou5 nei5 hoeng2
(Half a catty, eight taels) Even if there’s fortune, you won’t enjoy it.
(半斤八兩)重慘過滾水淥豬腸
(bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5) zung6 caam2 gwo3 gwan2 seoi2 luk6 zyu1 coeng4
(Half a catty, eight taels) Worse than scalding pig intestines.
(半斤八兩) 雞碎咁多都要啄
(bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5) gai1 seoi3 gam3 do1 dou1 jiu3 doek3
(Half a catty, eight taels) Even scraps must be pecked at.
出咗半斤力 想話攞返足八兩
ceot1 zo2 bun3 gan1 lik6 soeng2 waa6 lo2 faan1 zuk1 baat3 loeng5
Put in half a catty of effort, hoping to get eight taels back.
家陣惡搵食 邊有半斤八兩咁理想（吹脹）
gaa1 zan6 ok3 wan2 sik6 bin1 jau5 bun3 gan1 baat3 loeng5 gam3 lei5 soeng2 (ceoi1 zoeng3)
Reality hits hard — that ideal deal is just hot air.
Verse 2
我地呢班打工仔
ngo5 dei6 ni1 baan1 daa2 gung1 zai2
We working stiffs here,
一生一世為錢幣做奴隸
jat1 sang1 jat1 sai3 wai4 cin4 bai6 zou6 nou4 dai6
Slaves to money for life.
個種辛苦折墮講出嚇鬼（死俾你睇）咪話無乜所謂
go3 zung2 san1 fu2 zit3 do6 gong2 ceot1 haak3 gwai2 (sei2 bei2 nei5 tai2) mai6 waa6 mou5 mat1 so2 wai6
That kind of hardship is terrifying — don’t pretend it’s nothing.