My Translation
王昌齡 | |
With My Younger Cousin Relaxing in the Study Room Viewing the Moon Reflecting on My Friend1 Cui | 同從弟 南齋翫 月 憶山陰崔少府 |
Reclining in the south study, passing the time | 高臥 南齋 時 |
We open the curtain as the moon begins to rise | 開帷 月 初吐 |
Clearly shining on the fresh water, the trees | 清輝 淡水 木 |
Light swirling on the window | 演漾 在窗戶 |
How many moons, full and empty, have cycled over time? | 苒苒 幾 盈虛 |
How have we changed from ancient to present times under its pure shine? | 澄澄 變 今古 |
*** | |
A pleasant man is settled by the riverbank | 美人 清 江畔 |
And on a night like this moans of hardships more and more | 是夜 越 吟苦 |
He is a thousand miles away and what can we do? | 千里 其 如何 |
The breeze is blowing, scented with orchids and pears | 微風 吹 蘭杜 |
Note
1. Literally “Shanyin County Minor Treasurer Cui.”
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
王昌齡 | 王昌龄 | Wáng Chāng Líng |
同從弟南齋翫 月憶山陰崔少府 | 同从弟南斋翫 月忆山阴崔少府 | Tóng zòng dì nán zhāi wán yuè yì shān yīn cuī shǎo fǔ |
高臥南齋時， | 高卧南斋时， | Gāo wò // nán zhāi shí, |
開帷月初吐； | 开帷月初吐； | Kāi wéi // yuè chū tù; |
清輝淡水木， | 清辉淡水木， | Qīng huī // dàn shuǐ mù, |
演漾在窗戶。 | 演漾在窗户。 | Yǎn yàng // zài chuāng hù. |
苒苒幾盈虛？ | 苒苒几盈虚？ | Rǎn rǎn // jǐ yíng xū? |
澄澄變今古。 | 澄澄变今古。 | Chéng chéng // biàn jīn gǔ. |
美人清江畔， | 美人清江畔， | Měi rén // qīng jiāng pàn, |
是夜越吟苦。 | 是夜越吟苦。 | Shì yè // yuè yín kǔ. |
千里其如何？ | 千里其如何？ | Qiān lǐ // qí rú hé? |
微風吹蘭杜。 | 微风吹兰杜。 | Wéi fēng // chuī lán dù. |
Literal Translation
王昌齡 | King Sunlight Years [=Wáng Chānglíng (698-756)] |
同從弟南齋翫 月憶山陰崔少府 | With cousin younger south study-room carefree moon reflect-upon mountain dark high few prefecture [mountain dark = Shanyin County; high = Cui (name); few prefecture = Minor Treasurer in Imperial China] |
高臥南齋時， | Lofty lie-down south study time/when/period |
開帷月初吐； | Open curtain moon beginning pop-out |
清輝淡水木， | Clear shine/splendor weak water tree [weak water = fresh water] |
演漾在窗戶。 | Perform swirl at window door [window door = window] |
苒苒幾盈虛？ | Pass-time pass-time how-many? full empty |
澄澄變今古。 | Clear pure change current ancient |
美人清江畔， | Pleasing man settle river boundary [river boundary = riverbank] |
是夜越吟苦。 | This night [the more... the more] moan/sing hardship |
千里其如何？ | Thousand miles that/his if what [if what = how? what way? when?] |
微風吹蘭杜。 | Small wind blow orchid/elegant birchleaf-pear-tree [small wind = breeze, light wind] |
Year:
2011
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