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
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