Year
This is a story of a woman living in the Yan province (looking out at Yan grass) thinking of her husband out fighting in the Qin province (where there are Qin mulberries). Spring is a traditional symbol of youth, joy, and love.
Translation
By Li Bai | 李白 |
Missing Spring Love | 春思 |
Yan grass— like silk of green | 燕草 如碧絲 |
Qin mulberries— their branches drooping low | 秦桑 低綠枝 |
My husband, thinking of you longing for the day of your return, | 當君 懷 歸日 |
I am broken inside. | 是妾 斷腸時 |
Spring wind, I do not know you: | 春風 不相識 |
Why disturb me? Why blow through my chamber curtains? | 何事 入 羅幃 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
李白 | 李白 | Li Bái |
春思 | 春思 | Chūn sī |
燕草如碧絲， | 燕草如碧丝， | Yān cǎo // rú bì sī, |
秦桑低綠枝； | 秦桑低绿枝； | Qín sāng // dī lǜ zhī; |
當君懷歸日 | 当君怀归日 | Dāng jūn // huái guī rì |
是妾斷腸時。 | 是妾断肠时。 | Shì qiè // duàn cháng shí. |
春風不相識， | 春风不相识， | Chūn fēng // bù xiāng shí, |
何事入羅幃？ | 何事入罗帏？ | Hé shì // rù luō wéi? |
Literal Translation
Plum white (Li Bai 701-762 AD) |
Spring/love/joyful think/consider/ponder |
1. Yan/enjoy grass like/as green/jade silk |
2. Qin mulberry-tree low/hang/droop green branches |
3. Undertake/be/during/when lord bosom/heart return day |
4. This concubine sever emotions time [this concubine = me, your wife; sever emotions = heartbroken] |
5. Spring/love/joyful wind not together know/understand [together know = acquaintance] |
6. Why/how affair/matter enter/join net curtain |