Tang poem · seven-character old-style poem唐诗 · 七言古诗

āi哀wáng王sūn孙

dù杜fǔ甫Du Fu · Tang唐

Lament for a Prince

cháng长ān安chéng城tóu头tóu头bái白wū乌

yè夜fēi飞yán延qiū秋mén门shàng上hū呼

yòu又xiàng向rén人jiā家zhuó啄dà大wū屋

wū屋dǐ底dá达guān官zǒu走bì避hú胡

jīn金biān鞭duàn断zhé折jiǔ九mǎ马sǐ死

gǔ骨ròu肉bú不dài待tóng同chí驰qū驱

yāo腰xià下bǎo宝jué玦qīng青shān珊hú瑚

kě可lián怜wáng王sūn孙qì泣lù路yú隅

wèn问zhī之bù不kěn肯dào道xìng姓míng名

dàn但dào道kùn困kǔ苦qǐ乞wéi为nú奴

yǐ已jīng经bǎi百rì日cuàn窜jīng荆jí棘

shēn身shàng上wú无yǒu有wán完jī肌fū肤

gāo高dì帝zǐ子sūn孙jìn尽lóng隆zhǔn准

lóng龙zhǒng种zì自yǔ与cháng常rén人shū殊

chái豺láng狼zài在yì邑lóng龙zài在yě野

wáng王sūn孙shàn善bǎo保qiān千jīn金qū躯

bù不gǎn敢cháng长yǔ语lín临jiāo交qú衢

qiě且wèi为wáng王sūn孙lì立sī斯xū须

zuó昨yè夜dōng东fēng风chuī吹xuè血xīng腥

dōng东lái来tuó橐tuó驼mǎn满jiù旧dū都

shuò朔fāng方jiàn健ér儿hǎo好shēn身shǒu手

xī昔hé何yǒng勇ruì锐jīn今hé何yú愚

qiè窃wén闻tiān天zǐ子yǐ已chuán传wèi位

shèng圣dé德běi北fú服nán南chán单yú于

huā花mén门lí剺miàn面qǐng请xuě雪chǐ耻

shèn慎wù勿chū出kǒu口tā他rén人jū狙

āi哀zāi哉wáng王sūn孙shèn慎wù勿shū疏

wǔ五líng陵jiā佳qì气wú无shí时wú无

Underlined words have notes: tap one. The Pinyin button below shows or hides all pinyin. 一 and 不 are marked with the tone you actually say.字下有虚线的，点开有注释。下方的“拼音”按钮可以显示或隐藏全部拼音。“一”“不”标的是实际读出来的变调。

The corpus differs from the commonly taught text (as in Three Hundred Tang Poems) in a few places. Where the corpus has shí jué, the taught text has bǎo jué (precious jade ring). Where the corpus has xián dé (worthy virtue), the taught text has shèng dé (sage virtue). The corpus also writes shū (careless) in an old variant form. We follow the taught text.

本库文字和通行本（如《唐诗三百首》）有几处不同：“腰下实玦”通行本作“腰下宝玦”，“贤德北服南单于”通行本作“圣德北服南单于”，“慎勿疎”的“疎”通行本写作“疏”（同一个字）。这里用通行本。

Line by line逐句翻译

长安城头头白乌On the wall of Chang'an sat a white-headed crow;长安城墙上，有一只白头乌鸦，
夜飞延秋门上呼at night it flew to Yanqiu Gate and cried and cried.夜里飞到延秋门上不停地叫。
又向人家啄大屋Then it pecked at the roofs of great houses,它又飞到人家的大屋上去啄，
屋底达官走避胡and the high officials inside fled from the rebels.屋里的大官们都逃走去躲避叛军。
金鞭断折九马死Golden whips snapped, the fine horses fell dead;金鞭打断了，好马累死了，
骨肉不待同驰驱there was no time even to take the royal family along.连皇家的亲骨肉都来不及带着一起逃。
腰下宝玦青珊瑚One young man wore a jade ring and blue-green coral at his waist:一个人腰上挂着宝玉和青珊瑚，
可怜王孙泣路隅a poor prince, weeping by the road.可怜这位王孙，在路边哭泣。
问之不肯道姓名Asked who he was, he would not give his name;问他是谁，他不肯说出姓名，
但道困苦乞为奴he only said how hard things were and begged to be taken as a servant.只说自己很苦，求人收他做奴仆。
已经百日窜荆棘For a hundred days he had hidden among thorns,他已经在荆棘丛里躲了一百天，
身上无有完肌肤and not a patch of his skin was unhurt.身上没有一块完好的皮肤。
高帝子孙尽隆准All of Emperor Gaozu's descendants have high noses;高祖皇帝的子孙都是高鼻梁，
龙种自与常人殊the dragon's seed looks different from ordinary people.皇家后代自然和平常人长得不同。
豺狼在邑龙在野Now wolves hold the city and the dragon is in the wilds;现在豺狼占了京城，皇帝流落在外，
王孙善保千金躯prince, take good care of your precious life.王孙啊，你要好好保护自己宝贵的身体。
不敢长语临交衢I dare not talk long here at the crossroads,我不敢在十字路口跟你多说，
且为王孙立斯须but I will stand with you a moment for your sake.只能为你停留一小会儿。
昨夜东风吹血腥Last night the east wind carried the smell of blood;昨夜东风吹来一股血腥味，
东来橐驼满旧都camels from the east now crowd the old capital.从东边来的骆驼挤满了旧都。
朔方健儿好身手The soldiers of the north were so skilled;北方的将士们本领那么高强，
昔何勇锐今何愚once so brave and sharp, how can they be so useless now?从前多么勇猛，现在怎么这样无能？
窃闻天子已传位I have heard in secret that the old emperor has passed on the throne,我私下听说，老皇帝已经把皇位传给了太子，
圣德北服南单于and the new emperor's virtue has won over the chief of the north.新皇帝的威德让北方的回纥首领也归服了。
花门剺面请雪耻The Uighurs have cut their faces and asked to help wash away the shame.回纥人划破脸面，请求帮唐朝报仇雪耻。
慎勿出口他人狙Never repeat this; someone may be lurking to listen.千万别说出去，小心有人暗中偷听。
哀哉王孙慎勿疏Poor prince, be careful, do not let your guard down;可怜的王孙，千万小心，不要大意，
五陵佳气无时无the lucky glow over the Five Tombs has never faded.五陵上的吉祥之气，从来没有消失过。

Words字词注释

城头chéng tóu: chéng tóu: the top of the city wall.城头：城墙上面。
头白乌tóu bái wū: tóu bái wū: a white-headed crow, which people of old thought was a bad omen.头白乌：白头的乌鸦，古人认为是不吉利的鸟。
延秋门yán qiū mén: Yanqiu Gate: a west gate of the palace park in Chang'an. Emperor Xuanzong went out through it when he fled the city.延秋门：长安皇宫禁苑西边的门。唐玄宗逃离长安时，就是从这里出去的。
呼hū: hū: to cry out.呼：叫。
啄zhuó: zhuó: to peck.啄：用嘴叩、啄。
达官dá guān: dá guān: high officials.达官：地位很高的大官。
走避胡zǒu bì hú: zǒu bì hú: run away to escape the rebels. Hú here means An Lushan's army.走避胡：逃跑躲避胡人的叛军。胡：这里指安禄山的军队。
金鞭断折九马死jīn biān duàn zhé jiǔ mǎ sǐ: jīn biān duàn zhé jiǔ mǎ sǐ: they fled in such panic that whips snapped and horses dropped dead. Jiǔ mǎ, "nine horses", is often taken to mean the emperor's fine horses.金鞭断折九马死：形容逃跑时非常慌张，鞭子都打断了，马也累死了。九马：一说指皇帝的好马。
骨肉gǔ ròu: gǔ ròu: "bone and flesh", close family; here, the emperor's own relatives.骨肉：亲人，这里指皇帝的子孙亲属。
不待同驰驱bú dài tóng chí qū: bù dài tóng chí qū: there was no time to wait for them to flee together.不待同驰驱：来不及等他们一起逃走。
宝玦bǎo jué: bǎo jué: a precious jade ring with a gap in it, worn at the waist.宝玦：珍贵的玉佩，形状像有缺口的圆环。
青珊瑚qīng shān hú: qīng shān hú: blue-green coral, another costly ornament.青珊瑚：青色的珊瑚，也是贵重的佩饰。
王孙wáng sūn: wáng sūn: a descendant of the emperor.王孙：皇帝的子孙。
路隅lù yú: lù yú: a corner by the road.路隅：路边、墙角。
乞为奴qǐ wéi nú: qǐ wéi nú: begging to be taken as a servant, just to stay alive.乞为奴：请求让他做奴仆，只求活命。
窜荆棘cuàn jīng jí: cuàn jīng jí: hiding here and there among thorn bushes.窜荆棘：在荆棘丛里东躲西藏。荆棘：带刺的灌木。
完肌肤wán jī fū: wán jī fū: unbroken skin.完肌肤：完好的皮肤。
高帝gāo dì: gāo dì: Emperor Gaozu, Li Yuan, the first emperor of the Tang.高帝：唐高祖李渊，唐朝第一个皇帝。
隆准lóng zhǔn: lóng zhǔn: a high-bridged nose. Legend says Liu Bang, first emperor of Han, had one; here it means the royal family have noble faces.隆准：高鼻梁。传说汉高祖刘邦是高鼻梁，这里借来说皇家子孙相貌不凡。
龙种lóng zhǒng: lóng zhǒng: "dragon seed", the emperor's descendants. The emperor was likened to a dragon.龙种：皇帝的后代。古人把皇帝比作龙。
殊shū: shū: different.殊：不同。
豺狼在邑龙在野chái láng zài yì lóng zài yě: chái láng zài yì lóng zài yě: the wolves (the rebels) hold the city, while the dragon (the emperor) is out in the wilds. Yì means the city, Chang'an.豺狼在邑龙在野：凶恶的叛军占了京城，皇帝却流落在外。豺狼：比喻安禄山叛军。邑：城，指长安。
千金躯qiān jīn qū: qiān jīn qū: a body worth a thousand pieces of gold, a precious life.千金躯：宝贵的身体。
临交衢lín jiāo qú: lín jiāo qú: standing at a crossroads.临交衢：站在十字路口。交衢：四通八达的大路口。
斯须sī xū: sī xū: a moment.斯须：一会儿，片刻。
东风吹血腥dōng fēng chuī xuè xīng: dōng fēng chuī xuè xīng: the east wind carries the smell of blood, a hint that the rebels are killing people in Chang'an.东风吹血腥：东风吹来血腥味，暗指叛军在长安杀人。
橐驼tuó tuó: tuó tuó: camels. The rebels used camels to carry off their loot.橐驼：骆驼。叛军用骆驼运走抢来的财宝。
旧都jiù dū: jiù dū: the old capital, Chang'an, which the emperor had left.旧都：指长安，此时皇帝已经离开了它。
朔方健儿shuò fāng jiàn ér: shuò fāng jiàn ér: brave soldiers of the north. One view: the Tang army under Geshu Han that was crushed at Tong Pass. Another: the troops of the Shuofang command.朔方健儿：北方的勇士。一说指哥舒翰在潼关打了败仗的唐军，一说指朔方节度使的军队。
昔何勇锐今何愚xī hé yǒng ruì jīn hé yú: xī hé yǒng ruì jīn hé yú: once so brave and sharp, how can they be so useless now?昔何勇锐今何愚：从前多么勇猛，现在怎么这样无能。
窃闻qiè wén: qiè wén: I have heard in secret.窃闻：私下听说。
天子已传位tiān zǐ yǐ chuán wèi: tiān zǐ yǐ chuán wèi: Emperor Xuanzong has passed the throne to the crown prince, who became Emperor Suzong.天子已传位：唐玄宗已经把皇位传给了太子，就是唐肃宗。
北服南单于běi fú nán chán yú: běi fú nán chán yú: in the north, the new emperor has won over a nomad chief. The Southern Chanyu was a Xiongnu chief in Han times; here it stands for the Uighur leader.北服南单于：在北方让少数民族首领归服。南单于：本是汉代南匈奴的首领，这里借指回纥（唐代北方的一个民族）的首领。
花门huā mén: huā mén: the name of a mountain; here it stands for the Uighurs.花门：山名，这里借指回纥。
剺面lí miàn: lí miàn: cutting one's face with a knife, a custom of the Uighurs and other peoples to show sincerity or grief.剺面：用刀划破脸，是回纥等民族表示真心或悲痛的习俗。
雪耻xuě chǐ: xuě chǐ: to wash away a shame; here, to help the Tang take back Chang'an.雪耻：洗去耻辱，这里指帮唐朝收复长安。
慎勿出口他人狙shèn wù chū kǒu tā rén jū: shèn wù chū kǒu tā rén jū: be careful never to repeat this, for someone may be lying in wait to listen. Jū means to lurk and spy.慎勿出口他人狙：千万别把这些话说出去，怕有人暗中埋伏、偷听。狙：暗中窥伺。
慎勿疏shèn wù shū: shèn wù shū: take care, do not let your guard down.慎勿疏：千万小心，不要大意。
五陵wǔ líng: wǔ líng: the tombs of five Tang emperors near Chang'an.五陵：唐朝五位皇帝的陵墓，在长安附近。
佳气jiā qì: jiā qì: a lucky air or glow, which people of old believed showed the dynasty would prosper.佳气：吉祥的气象，古人认为它表示国家会兴旺。
无时无wú shí wú: wú shí wú: never for a moment absent; the dynasty will surely rise again.无时无：没有一刻不在，意思是唐朝一定会复兴。

How to read it读音

长cháng: In the place name Chang'an it is read cháng.地名“长安”，读 cháng。
底dǐ: Wū dǐ means "inside the house"; read dǐ.“屋底”就是“屋里”，读 dǐ。
为wéi: In qǐ wéi nú, "begging to become a servant", it is read wéi.“乞为奴”是“请求做奴仆”，读 wéi。
为wèi: In qiě wèi wáng sūn, "for the prince's sake", it is read wèi.“且为王孙”是“姑且为了王孙”，读 wèi。
准zhǔn: In lóng zhǔn, "a high-bridged nose", zhǔn means the nose.“隆准”指高鼻梁，“准”是鼻子，读 zhǔn。
种zhǒng: In lóng zhǒng, "dragon seed", it is read zhǒng.“龙种”是皇家的后代，“种”读 zhǒng。
长cháng: In cháng yǔ, "talk for long", it is read cháng.“长语”是说很久的话，读 cháng。
好hǎo: In hǎo shēn shǒu, "fine fighting skill", it is read hǎo.“好身手”是本领高强，读 hǎo。
单chán: In chán yú, the title of a northern nomad chief, it is read chán.“单于”是匈奴等北方民族首领的称号，“单”读 chán。
橐tuó: Tuó tuó means camel; the first character is read tuó.“橐驼”就是骆驼，“橐”读 tuó。

Background创作背景

In the winter of 755, An Lushan rose in revolt against the Tang. This is called the An Lushan Rebellion. In the sixth month of the next year, Tong Pass fell. Emperor Xuanzong slipped out of Chang'an through Yanqiu Gate with a few close relatives and headed for Sichuan, and many royal descendants were left behind. When the rebels entered the city, they killed many members of the royal family. In the seventh month, the crown prince took the throne at Lingwu (in today's Ningxia) as Emperor Suzong. That autumn Du Fu was captured by the rebels and taken to Chang'an. There he met a prince in hiding and wrote this poem.

唐玄宗天宝十四载（755年）冬天，安禄山起兵叛乱，这就是“安史之乱”。第二年六月，潼关失守，玄宗带着少数亲人从延秋门悄悄逃出长安，往四川去，很多皇家子孙来不及逃走。叛军进城后，杀了不少皇族的人。七月，太子在灵武（今宁夏一带）即位，就是唐肃宗。这年秋天，杜甫被叛军抓到长安，在城里看到一位落难的王孙，写下了这首诗。

The poet作者

Du Fu (712–770) was a great Tang poet, called the Sage of Poetry. Many of his poems record the suffering of ordinary people and of the country during the An Lushan Rebellion, so they are called "history in poems". This poem tells what he saw with his own eyes while trapped in Chang'an. He pities the prince, and he longs for the court to win back the capital soon.

杜甫（712—770），唐代大诗人，人称“诗圣”。他的很多诗记下了安史之乱时老百姓和国家的苦难，所以被叫做“诗史”，就是用诗写成的历史。这首诗就是他被困在长安时亲眼所见，既同情王孙，又盼望朝廷早日收复京城。

The mood意境

It opens like a creepy film scene. At night a white-headed crow cries on the city gate and pecks at the roofs of officials' houses. Then the officials flee in panic: whips snap, horses drop dead, and no one even waits for the royal family. Then the camera stops by the road. A young man with jade at his waist is crying. He dares not give his name, only begs to be a servant, and his body is covered in cuts. A prince who once stood so high is now worse off than an ordinary person. The poet dares not say much, yet he stops and whispers comfort: the rebels are fierce, but a new emperor is on the throne and the Uighurs are coming to help. Stay careful and stay alive; the dynasty will rise again. The whole poem feels like a quick, secret talk on a street corner: tense, frightened, but with a little hope.

开头像一个阴森的电影镜头：夜里，一只白头乌鸦在城门上叫，又去啄大官家的屋顶，接着就是大官们慌忙逃跑，鞭子打断，马也累死，连皇家亲人都顾不上带。然后镜头停在路边：一个腰上挂着宝玉的年轻人在哭，他不敢说名字，只求做奴仆，身上全是伤。从前高高在上的王孙，现在比普通人还可怜。诗人不敢多说，却还是停下脚步，小声安慰他：叛军虽然凶，新皇帝已经即位，回纥也来帮忙，你千万要小心活下去，唐朝一定会复兴。整首诗像一场在街角匆匆进行的悄悄话，紧张、害怕，又带着一点希望。