My Translation
Wei Yingwu (737-792) | 韋應物 |
East of Town | 東郊 |
The official residence feels cramped throughout the year | 吏舍 跼 終年 |
So at dawn I vacation from town in the wilderness | 出郊 曠 清曙 |
Willow trees flow with the peaceful breeze | 楊柳 散和風 |
The green hills quiet my anxiety | 青山 壊吾慮 |
On the nearby grass I find a place to rest | 依叢 適自憩 |
Along the mountain stream I wander about | 緣澗 還复去 |
A light drizzle forms a misty haze and a lovely fragrance | 微雨 靄 芳原 |
Turtle doves let out a cry somewhere | 春鳩 鳴 何處 |
Longing for happiness, quiet, Time-and-again I’m interrupted | 樂幽 心 屢止 |
Dealing with affairs, going at a hectic pace | 遵事 蹟猶遽 |
When I retire, I will build a cottage at this place | 終罷 斯結廬 |
Admiring Tao, I can live an ordinary, genuine life | 慕陶 真可庶 |
Note: “Tao” in the last couplet refers to Tao Yuanming (365-427), who came from a notable family and served as a low-ranking official before becoming disgusted with corruption and politics. He resigned and retired to the country, writing many poems on the beauty and peacefulness of country living, serving as a model for many later Tang and Song Dynasty poets.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
韋應物 | 韦应物 | Wéi Yìng Wù |
東郊 | 东郊 | Dōng jiāo |
吏舍跼終年， | 吏舍跼终年， | Lì shě jú zhōng nián, |
出郊曠清曙。 | 出郊旷清曙。 | Chū jiāo kuàng qīng shǔ. |
楊柳散和風， | 杨柳散和风， | Yáng liǔ sàn hé fēng, |
青山壊吾慮。 | 青山澹吾虑。 | Qīng shān huài wú lǜ. |
依叢適自憩， | 依丛适自憩， | Yī cóng shì zì qì, |
緣澗還复去。 | 缘涧还复去。 | Yuán jiàn hái fù qù. |
微雨靄芳原， | 微雨霭芳原， | Wēi yǔ ǎi fāng yuán, |
春鳩鳴何處？ | 春鸠鸣何处？ | Chūn jiū míng hé chù? |
樂幽心屢止， | 乐幽心屡止， | Lè yōu xīn lǚ zhǐ, |
遵事蹟猶遽; | 遵事迹犹遽； | Zūn shìjì yóu jù; |
終罷斯結廬 | 终罢斯结庐， | Zhōng bà sī jié lú |
慕陶真可庶。 | 慕陶真可庶。 | Mù táo zhēn kě shù. |
Literal Translation
韋應物 | Tanned-leather Must Thing [=Wei Yinwu (737-792)] |
東郊 | East suburb |
吏舍跼終年， | Official cottage cramped end year [end year = entire year/throughout year] |
出郊曠清曙。 | Out suburb wilderness clear dawn |
楊柳散和風， | Willow tree scatter/loosen peaceful breeze [peaceful breeze = breeze] |
青山壊吾慮。 | Green hill quite/tranquil my concern/anxiety [green hill = symbol for good life] |
依叢適自憩， | Near/according-to grass/cluster fit/suit self rest |
緣澗還复去。 | Edge/along mountain-stream still again go/leave |
微雨靄芳原， | Tiny/micro rain cloudy sky/friendly fragrant cause |
春鳩鳴何處？ | Spring turtle-dove cry(of birds) where place/spot [where place/spot = whence, where] |
樂幽心屢止， | Happy/cheerful secluded heart time-and-again stop |
遵事蹟猶遽; | Follow thing/matter trace still/as if suddenly/fast |
終罷斯結廬 | End/finish cease this build house [build house = build one’s house] |
慕陶真可庶。 | Admire pottery real/genuine may/certainly ordinary/populace |
[pottery = Tao Qian/Tao Yuanming (365-427)] |
Notes and character tables prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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