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In the lyrics of a Chinese translation of the song "Dana Dana (דאַנאַ דאַנאַ)"/"Dos Kelbl (דאָס קעלבל)", we find the line:

藍天高高雲兒飄飄

I presume that "" (ㄩㄣˊ / yún) stands for "clouds" in this context, but then how to translate "雲兒" as a whole please?

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http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/90/

[4] final particle / suffix, placed after many commonly used nouns to avoid employing one-syllable terms in speech (very common in the Beijing dialect 北京話, see: 兒化, 兒化韻)

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"藍天高高雲兒飄飄" --> "High, high blue sky, little cloud float around"

The dictionary only mentioned 兒 can be used as a suffix, placed after many commonly used nouns to avoid employing one-syllable terms in speech.

In my opinion, adding the 兒 suffix to an object, can also humanize the object. For example, calling a goat '羊兒' or '羊羊' instead of '羊' give it a hint of youthful, human character. (like in typical baby talk)

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    The 儿 here is not 儿化. It should be read as a separate syllable.
    – fefe
    Oct 14, 2017 at 14:39
  • "Final particle / suffix " is not 兒化. 兒 in 雲兒 or 羊兒 is read as a separate syllable. It said: "to avoid employing one-syllable terms in speech" should give you the hint. I don't know why CantoDict mentioned 兒化, 兒化韻 may be because 兒化 was developed from popular use of 兒 suffix?
    – Tang Ho
    Oct 14, 2017 at 14:56

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