Translation
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Li Bai (701-762)
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李白
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Recalling the Past While Mooring Overnight at Niuzhu
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夜泊牛渚懷古
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Niuzhu,
Western River, night
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牛渚
西江夜
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A clear sky
without a shred of clouds.
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青天
無片雲
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As I board my boat
and gaze at the autumn moon
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登舟
望秋月
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I recall in vain
how General Xie heard a poet singing.
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空憶
謝將軍
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I too
can sing aloud
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余亦
能高詠
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But he
cannot possibly hear.
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斯人
不可聞
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Tomorrow morning
I hang my sail
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明朝
挂帆席
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While maple leaves
fall one-by-one.
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楓葉
落紛紛
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Notes:
1.
There is a story of General Xie hearing a poor
poet singing his poem aloud at Niuzhu. Impressed, he invited him over to
discuss his poems. When the new got out, the poet became famous and was
eventually appointed to be governor.
There is a story of General Xie hearing a poor
poet singing his poem aloud at Niuzhu. Impressed, he invited him over to
discuss his poems. When the new got out, the poet became famous and was
eventually appointed to be governor.
2.
Meaning of the last two verses: Since I cannot
find a soulmate here (no one to appreciate my talent), I can do nothing but
leave this place.
Meaning of the last two verses: Since I cannot
find a soulmate here (no one to appreciate my talent), I can do nothing but
leave this place.
Original Chinese
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Traditional
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Simplified
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Pronunciation
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李白
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李白
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Lǐ Bái
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夜泊牛渚懷古
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夜泊牛渚懷古
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Yè pō niú zhǔ huái gǔ
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牛渚西江夜，
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牛渚西江夜，
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Niú zhǔ xī jiāng yè,
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青天無片雲；
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青天無片雲；
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Qīng tiān wú piàn yún;
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登舟望秋月，
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登舟望秋月，
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Dēng zhōu wàng qiū yuè,
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空憶謝將軍。
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空憶謝將軍。
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Kōng yì xiè jiāng jūn.
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余亦能高詠，
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余亦能高詠，
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Yú yì néng gāo yǒng,
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斯人不可聞。
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斯人不可聞。
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Sī rén bù kě wén.
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明朝挂帆席，
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明朝挂帆席，
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Míng cháo guà fān xí,
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楓葉落紛紛。
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楓葉落紛紛。
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Fēng yè luò fēn fēn.
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Literal Notes
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李白
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Plum White=Li Bai(701-762)
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夜泊牛渚懷古
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Night/dark/in-night/by-night anchor/moor/anchor-vessel/lie-at-anchor
Niu/cow/ox/bull Zhu/small-sand-bank/islet recall/cherish/bosom/breast/carry-in-breast past/memory-of-the-past-events/old/ancient
[Niu Zhu=Mt. Niuzhu in Anhui]
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牛渚西江夜，
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Niu/cow/bull Zhu/small-sand-bank/islet West River night
[West River=ancient name of the Yangtze River section from
Nanjing to Jiangxi] |
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青天無片雲；
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Clear/blue sky no
thin-piece/slice/disc/sheet/flake/partial cloud |
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登舟望秋月，
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Board/climb/ascend/to-scale/to-mount/step-or-tred-on/enter
boat gaze(into-the-distance)/look-towards/expect/visit autumn moon |
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空憶謝將軍。
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In-vain/empty/vacant/unoccupied/space/free-time/leisure/bare/deserted
memorize/recall/recollect Xie General High-ranking-millitary-official
[Xie General= General Xie in East Jin Dynasty. The
anecdote is when Xie was stationed at Niuzhu, a poor poet (Yuan Hong) was reading his poem in the boat. Xie happened to hear that and invited him to come over and discuss about his poems. Later, the news spread and eventually the poor poet was promoted to be a city governor.] |
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余亦能高詠，
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I/me also/likewise able-to/capable-of/can-possibly
high/loud sing
[high/loud sing= read aloud]
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斯人不可聞。
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This/thus/such person/man not
can/able-to/may/possibly hear |
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明朝挂帆席，
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Tomorrow/bright/clear morning hang/suspend sail/canvas/boat
woven-mat/seat/banquet |
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楓葉落紛紛。
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Maple-tree leaf fall/drop/sink/go-out numerous/scattered
disorderly
[numerous disorderly=one after another, one by one, in
succession, continuously, in profusion.] |