Introduction to classical Chinese (part 3)

Introduction to Classical Chinese Poetry

Welcome to an exploration of five iconic poems from the rich tradition of Classical Chinese literature. This journey will not only enhance your understanding of classical syntax and vocabulary but also immerse you in the profound emotional and natural landscapes painted by these ancient words.

1. 《春晓》 by Meng Haoran

Classical Chinese:
春眠不觉晓，
处处闻啼鸟。
夜来风雨声，
花落知多少。

Modern Mandarin:
春天的早晨睡得特别沉，
到处都能听到鸟儿的叫声。
昨夜风和雨的声音，
不知道落下了多少花瓣。

English Translation:
In spring, one sleeps, unaware of dawn,
Everywhere, the birds’ songs are on.
With the sound of wind and rain during the night,
How many flowers have fallen from sight?

2. 《登鹳雀楼》 by Wang Zhihuan

Classical Chinese:
白日依山尽，
黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目，
更上一层楼。

Modern Mandarin:
白日消失在山的那一边，
黄河流入海中。
如果想要看得更远，
就要再往上爬一层楼。

English Translation:
The white sun sets behind the mountains,
The Yellow River flows into the sea.
To view a thousand miles further,
Climb one more floor above.

3. 《相思》 by Wang Wei

Classical Chinese:
红豆生南国，
春来发几枝。
愿君多采撷，
此物最相思。

Modern Mandarin:
红豆生长在南方，
春天来了发几枝。
希望你能多采摘一些，
因为这最能表达我的相思之情。

English Translation:
Red beans grow in the southern land,
Sprouting in spring they expand.
I hope you gather more and more,
They symbolize the love I store.

4. 《题西林壁》 by Su Shi

Classical Chinese:
横看成岭侧成峰，
远近高低各不同。
不识庐山真面目，
只缘身在此山中。

Modern Mandarin:
横着看像山脊，侧着看像山峰，
远近高低都不一样。
不了解庐山的真正面貌，
只因自己就在这座山中。

English Translation:
Horizontally seen as a ridge, vertically a peak,
From afar or near, high or low, each view is unique.
Not knowing the true face of Lu Mountain,
For I myself am in this terrain.

5. 《早发白帝城》 by Li Bai

Classical Chinese:
朝辞白帝彩云间，
千里江陵一日还。
两岸猿声啼不住，
轻舟已过万重山。

Modern Mandarin:
早晨离开白帝城时天空中有彩云，
一天之内回到了千里之外的江陵。
两岸的猿猴叫声不断，
轻舟已经过了重重的山峦。

English Translation:
At dawn, I bid farewell to the White Emperor ‘midst colorful clouds,
A thousand li to Jiangling, returned in one day’s bounds.
On both banks, the continuous monkey cries cease not,
My skiff has passed through the myriad mountains, forgot.

Vocabulary Table

Classical Chinese	Modern Mandarin	Pinyin	English Translation
春	春天	chūn	Spring
眠	睡眠	mián	Sleep
晓	早晨	xiǎo	Dawn
处	地方	chù	Place
闻	听见	wén	Hear
啼	叫	tí	Cry (of birds)
鸟	鸟	niǎo	Bird
夜	夜晚	yè	Night
来	来	lái	Come
风	风	fēng	Wind
雨	雨	yǔ	Rain
声	声音	shēng	Sound
花	花	huā	Flower
落	落下	luò	Fall
知	知道	zhī	Know
幾	多少	jǐ	How many/How much
月	月亮	yuè	Moon
思	思考	sī	Think
故	故乡	gù	Former/Home
人	人	rén	Person
江	江河	jiāng	River
湖	湖泊	hú	Lake
黄	黄色	huáng	Yellow
昏	昏暗	hūn	Dusk
客	客人	kè	Guest
舟	船	zhōu	Boat
亭	亭子	tíng	Pavilion
绿	绿色	lǜ	Green
红	红色	hóng	Red
无	没有	wú	None/Without
尽	结束	jìn	End/Exhaust

Ouch! That’s a lot.