Translation

By Zhang Jiuling (678-740)
張九齡
Gazing at the Moon, Longing from Afar

望月懷遠


The sea
gives birth to a shining moon

海上
生明月
As the other end of the world
shares this moment.

天涯
共此時
This sentimental man
resents a distant night

情人
怨遙夜
And the whole evening
gives rise to longing.

竟夕
起相思
Extinguishing a candle,
feeling the fullness of moonlight

滅燭
憐光滿
Putting on clothes
as I wake in heavy dew.

披衣
覺露滋
Unable
to fill my hands with this gift

不堪
盈手贈
I return to bed
and dream a lovely tryst.

還寢
夢佳期

Notes:

1.    Zhang Jiuling is not only a well-known poet, but also served as a capable senior official. This poem is representative piece about the moon and yearning.  
2.    The first two verses are one of the all-time favorites. This is a typical line to use during the Mid-Autumn Festival.


Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation



張九齡
张九龄
Zhāng jiǔ líng
望月懷遠
望月怀远
Wàng yuè huái yuǎn



海上生明月,
海上生明月,
Hǎi shàng shēng míng yuè,
天涯共此時。
天涯共此时。
Tiān yá gòng cǐ shí.
情人怨遙夜,
情人怨遥夜,
Qíng rén yuàn yáo yè,
竟夕起相思。
竟夕起相思。
Jìng xī qǐ xiāng sī.
滅燭憐光滿,
灭烛怜光满,
Miè zhú lián guāng mǎn,
披衣覺露滋。
披衣觉露滋。
Pī yī jué lù zī.
不堪盈手贈,
不堪盈手赠,
Bù kān yíng shǒu zèng,
還寢夢佳期。
还寝梦佳期。
Hái qǐn mèng jiā qí.


Literal Notes

張九齡
Stretch Nine Age= Zhang Jiuling(678-740)
[Jiuling= his mother let go a fish of “jiuling”(same pronunciation) species before got pregnant with him. He turned out to be a wonder kid in his village.]
望月懷遠
Watch-from-afar/look-forward/hope/expect/gaze moon miss/think-of/carry-in-bosom afar/distant/remote/profound


海上生明月,
Maritime/sea/ocean above rise/create/birth/living bright/brilliant moon
天涯共此時。
Sky/heaven shore/bank/water’s-edge together/share this moment/time
[Sky shore = the-other-end-of the-world]
情人怨遙夜,
Lover/feeling/sentiment/emotion sweetheart/person complain/blame/hatred/enmity/resentment distant/remote/far-away night/dark
竟夕起相思。
The-whole/finally/after-all/at-last night/evening/dusk create/rise/appear/stand-up/go-up/begin each-other/mutual miss/thinking/lovesick/consider/pondering
滅燭憐光滿,
Put-out/extinguish candle to-pity/love/sympathize (moon)light full/filled/contented/satisfied
披衣覺露滋。
Put-on/wear clothes/clothing feel/wake-up-from-sleep/conscious dew/bare/open/exposed grow/nourish/multiply/thrive
[Note: Drowned in miss, the poet stepped outside of the room to watch the moon.]
不堪盈手贈,
Not able-to/bear/adequately-capable-of/worthy-of filled/full/overflowing/surplus the-hands give-as-a-gift/give-present/bestow/confer
[Meaning: I wish but I couldn’t hold the moonlight to send as a gift to my faraway friend.]
還寢夢佳期。
Return-to/still/yet/also/besides bed/bed-chamber/sleep/rest dream-about good/auspicious/beautiful/delightful moment/day-of-tryst/period-of-time

Linked to dVersePoets
Year: 
2012