Tang poem · seven-character yuefu song唐诗 · 七言乐府歌行

chūn春jiāng江huā花yuè月yè夜

zhāng张ruò若xū虚Zhang Ruoxu · Tang唐

A Moonlit Night on the Spring River

chūn春jiāng江cháo潮shuǐ水lián连hǎi海píng平

hǎi海shàng上míng明yuè月gòng共cháo潮shēng生

yàn滟yàn滟suí随bō波qiān千wàn万lǐ里

hé何chù处chūn春jiāng江wú无yuè月míng明

jiāng江liú流wǎn宛zhuǎn转rào绕fāng芳diàn甸

yuè月zhào照huā花lín林jiē皆sì似xiàn霰

kōng空lǐ里liú流shuāng霜bù不jué觉fēi飞

tīng汀shàng上bái白shā沙kàn看bú不jiàn见

jiāng江tiān天yí一sè色wú无xiān纤chén尘

jiǎo皎jiǎo皎kōng空zhōng中gū孤yuè月lún轮

jiāng江pàn畔hé何rén人chū初jiàn见yuè月

jiāng江yuè月hé何nián年chū初zhào照rén人

rén人shēng生dài代dài代wú无qióng穷yǐ已

jiāng江yuè月nián年nián年wàng望xiāng相sì似

bù不zhī知jiāng江yuè月dài待hé何rén人

dàn但jiàn见cháng长jiāng江sòng送liú流shuǐ水

bái白yún云yí一piàn片qù去yōu悠yōu悠

qīng青fēng枫pǔ浦shàng上bú不shèng胜chóu愁

shuí谁jiā家jīn今yè夜piān扁zhōu舟zǐ子

hé何chù处xiāng相sī思míng明yuè月lóu楼

kě可lián怜lóu楼shàng上yuè月pái徘huái徊

yīng应zhào照lí离rén人zhuāng妆jìng镜tái台

yù玉hù户lián帘zhōng中juǎn卷bú不qù去

dǎo捣yī衣zhēn砧shàng上fú拂huán还lái来

cǐ此shí时xiāng相wàng望bù不xiāng相wén闻

yuàn愿zhú逐yuè月huá华liú流zhào照jūn君

hóng鸿yàn雁cháng长fēi飞guāng光bú不dù度

yú鱼lóng龙qián潜yuè跃shuǐ水chéng成wén文

zuó昨yè夜xián闲tán潭mèng梦luò落huā花

kě可lián怜chūn春bàn半bù不huán还jiā家

jiāng江shuǐ水liú流chūn春qù去yù欲jìn尽

jiāng江tán潭luò落yuè月fù复xī西xié斜

xié斜yuè月chén沉chén沉cáng藏hǎi海wù雾

jié碣shí石xiāo潇xiāng湘wú无xiàn限lù路

bù不zhī知chéng乘yuè月jǐ几rén人guī归

luò落yuè月yáo摇qíng情mǎn满jiāng江shù树

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 uses older or variant forms of three words: rao (to wind around), pai huai (to linger) and chen chen (sinking low). The textbook uses the modern forms. The meaning is the same. The corpus title also starts with the name of an old song category; the textbook title is just the poem's name.

语料库作“遶芳甸”“月裴回”“斜月沈沈”，课本作“绕芳甸”“月徘徊”“斜月沉沉”。“遶”是“绕”的异体字，“裴回”同“徘徊”，“沈”是“沉”的旧写法，意思都一样。语料库题目前面的“相和歌辞”是古书里的分类名，课本只题“春江花月夜”。

Line by line逐句翻译

春江潮水连海平In spring the river's tide rises and joins the sea in one flat sheet.春天的江水涨潮了，和大海连成一片，平平的。
海上明月共潮生A bright moon rises over the sea, as if born together with the tide.一轮明月从海上升起，好像和潮水一起生出来。
滟滟随波千万里Moonlight glitters on the waves, reaching thousands of miles.月光随着波浪闪闪发亮，一直照到千万里外。
何处春江无月明Where on the spring river is there no bright moon?哪一处春江上没有明亮的月光呢？
江流宛转绕芳甸The river winds around fields full of flowers.江水弯弯曲曲，绕着开满花草的原野流过。
月照花林皆似霰Moonlight falls on the blossoming woods, and the flowers look covered in tiny white pellets of ice.月光照着花林，花儿好像蒙上了一层白白的冰粒。
空里流霜不觉飞The moonlight is like frost drifting in the air, flying without anyone noticing.月光像空中飘飞的霜，飞着却让人感觉不到。
汀上白沙看不见The white sand on the sandbar melts into the moonlight and cannot be seen.江边小洲上的白沙，和月光融在一起，看不出来了。
江天一色无纤尘River and sky are one color, without a speck of dust.江水和天空是一样的颜色，没有一点点灰尘。
皎皎空中孤月轮In the bright, clear sky hangs one lonely round moon.明亮的天空中，只挂着一轮孤零零的圆月。
江畔何人初见月Who on this shore first saw the moon?江边是谁第一个看见了月亮？
江月何年初照人In what year did the moon over the river first shine on a person?江上的月亮又是哪一年第一次照到了人？
人生代代无穷已People come generation after generation, without end.人一代接一代，没有穷尽。
江月年年望相似The moon over the river looks the same year after year.江上的月亮年年都是这个样子。
不知江月待何人I do not know whom the moon over the river is waiting for.不知道江上的月亮在等待什么人，
但见长江送流水I only see the long river sending its waters away.只看见长江送走一波又一波流水。
白云一片去悠悠A single white cloud slowly drifts far away.一片白云慢慢地飘向远方，
青枫浦上不胜愁On the shore of green maples, where people part, the sorrow is too much to bear.在长着青枫的离别水边，人愁得受不了。
谁家今夜扁舟子Whose traveler is drifting in a small boat tonight?今夜是谁家的游子坐着小船漂泊在外？
何处相思明月楼And in which moonlit room upstairs is someone missing him?又是在哪座月光照着的楼上，有人在思念他？
可怜楼上月徘徊The lovely moonlight lingers over the room, slow to leave.可爱的月光在楼上慢慢移动，舍不得离开，
应照离人妆镜台It must be shining on the dressing table of the woman who misses him.想必正照着那位思念远人的女子的梳妆台。
玉户帘中卷不去It lies on the curtain of her room; rolling up the curtain does not roll it away.月光照在她房里的门帘上，卷起帘子也卷不走；
捣衣砧上拂还来It lies on her washing stone; she brushes it away, and it comes back.照在捶衣的石板上，拂去了又照回来。
此时相望不相闻At this moment they both look at the moon, but cannot hear from each other.这时两人望着同一个月亮，却听不到对方的消息，
愿逐月华流照君I wish I could follow the moonlight and flow to shine on you.我真想跟着月光一起流去，照着远方的你。
鸿雁长飞光不度The wild geese fly far but cannot fly beyond the moonlight, so they cannot carry my letter.大雁远远地飞，也飞不出这片月光，带不去我的信；
鱼龙潜跃水成文The fish leap underwater, but leave only ripples on the surface.鱼儿在水下跳跃，也只在水面留下一圈圈波纹。
昨夜闲潭梦落花Last night I dreamed of flowers falling by a quiet pool.昨夜我梦见安静的水潭边花儿落下，
可怜春半不还家What a pity: spring is half gone, and I still have not gone home.可惜春天已经过了一半，我还没有回家。
江水流春去欲尽The river carries spring away, and spring is nearly over.江水带着春天流走，春天快要完了；
江潭落月复西斜The moon over the river pool is sinking in the west again.江潭上的月亮又向西边落下去了。
斜月沉沉藏海雾The slanting moon slowly sinks and hides in the sea mist.斜斜的月亮慢慢沉下去，藏进海上的雾里。
碣石潇湘无限路From Jieshi in the north to the Xiao and Xiang in the south, the road has no end.从北方的碣石到南方的潇湘，路远得没有尽头。
不知乘月几人归I do not know how many people will go home by the moonlight.不知道有几个人能趁着月光回到家，
落月摇情满江树Only the setting moon stirs the heart and fills the riverside trees with longing.只有落下的月亮，把离别的情思洒满了江边的树。

Words字词注释

连海平lián hǎi píng: lián hǎi píng: the rising tide joins the river to the sea in one flat sheet of water.连海平：江水涨潮，和大海连成一片，水面平平的。
共潮生gòng cháo shēng: gòng cháo shēng: the moon rises together with the tide.共潮生：月亮和潮水一起升起来。
滟滟yàn yàn: yàn yàn: water glittering and rippling in the light.滟滟：水面闪闪发光、波光荡漾的样子。
宛转wǎn zhuǎn: wǎn zhuǎn: winding, twisting.宛转：弯弯曲曲。
芳甸fāng diàn: fāng diàn: fields full of flowers and grass. Diàn means open land outside a town.芳甸：开满花草的郊野。甸，城外的野地。
霰xiàn: xiàn: tiny white ice pellets. In the moonlight, the flowers look as if covered with them.霰：天冷时下的小冰粒，白白的。这里说月光照在花上，花像蒙了一层白霰。
流霜liú shuāng: liú shuāng: drifting frost. People in old times thought frost fell from the sky like snow. Here it means the moonlight.流霜：飞动的霜。古人以为霜像雪一样从天上落下，这里用来比喻月光。
汀tīng: tīng: flat land at the water's edge, a small sandbar.汀：水边的平地，小沙洲。
纤尘xiān chén: xiān chén: the finest speck of dust.纤尘：很细小的灰尘。
皎皎jiǎo jiǎo: jiǎo jiǎo: pure white and bright.皎皎：洁白明亮。
月轮yuè lún: yuè lún: the full moon, round like a wheel.月轮：圆月，因为圆得像车轮。
穷已qióng yǐ: qióng yǐ: an end.穷已：穷尽，完结。
望相似wàng xiāng sì: wàng xiāng sì: looks just the same.望相似：看上去都差不多。
待dài: dài: to wait for.待：等待。
悠悠yōu yōu: yōu yōu: slowly drifting far away.悠悠：慢慢地、远远地飘去的样子。
青枫浦qīng fēng pǔ: qīng fēng pǔ: a shore with green maple trees. Here it stands for any place of parting. Pǔ means a shore.青枫浦：长着青枫树的水边。这里泛指离别的地方。浦，水边。
不胜bú shèng: bù shèng: cannot bear.不胜：受不了，承受不住。
扁舟子piān zhōu zǐ: piān zhōu zǐ: a traveler drifting in a small boat. Piān zhōu is a little boat.扁舟子：坐着小船漂泊在外的人。扁舟，小船。
明月楼míng yuè lóu: míng yuè lóu: a moonlit upstairs room, where a woman at home misses her faraway man.明月楼：月光照着的楼，指在家里思念远方亲人的女子住的地方。
可怜kě lián: kě lián: lovely, and also stirring pity.可怜：可爱，也带着让人怜惜的意思。
徘徊pái huái: pái huái: to pace back and forth. Here the moonlight moves slowly over the room, as if it does not want to leave.徘徊：来回走动，这里指月光在楼上慢慢移动，好像舍不得离开。
离人lí rén: lí rén: someone parted from a loved one; here the woman missing her husband.离人：和亲人分离的人，这里指想念丈夫的女子。
妆镜台zhuāng jìng tái: zhuāng jìng tái: a dressing table with a mirror.妆镜台：梳妆用的镜台。
玉户yù hù: yù hù: fine doors and windows; her room.玉户：华美的门窗，指女子的房间。
卷不去juǎn bú qù: juǎn bù qù: the moonlight lies on the curtain; rolling it up does not roll the light away.卷不去：月光照在门帘上，卷起帘子也卷不走它。
捣衣砧dǎo yī zhēn: dǎo yī zhēn: the flat stone people beat cloth on. In old times cloth was beaten on stone when washing it or making winter clothes.捣衣砧：洗衣服时垫着捶打的石板。古人洗衣、做冬衣时要在石板上捶打布料。
拂还来fú huán lái: fú huán lái: she brushes the moonlight away, and it comes right back.拂还来：用手拂去月光，它又照回来了。
相闻xiāng wén: xiāng wén: to hear from each other.相闻：听到对方的消息、声音。
逐zhú: zhú: to follow.逐：追随，跟着。
月华yuè huá: yuè huá: moonlight.月华：月光。
君jūn: jūn: you; here the husband far away.君：你，这里指远方的丈夫。
鸿雁hóng yàn: hóng yàn: wild geese. People in old times said geese could carry letters.鸿雁：大雁。古人说大雁能带信。
光不度guāng bú dù: guāng bù dù: however far the geese fly, they cannot fly beyond the moonlight, so they cannot carry the message. Dù means to cross.光不度：大雁怎么飞，也飞不出这片月光，带不走信。度，越过。
鱼龙yú lóng: yú lóng: fish in general. People in old times also said fish could carry letters.鱼龙：泛指水里的鱼。古人也说鱼能传信。
水成文shuǐ chéng wén: shuǐ chéng wén: the water only forms ripples. Wén here means patterns, ripples.水成文：水面只泛起一圈圈波纹。文，同“纹”。
闲潭xián tán: xián tán: a quiet pool.闲潭：安静的水潭。
梦落花mèng luò huā: mèng luò huā: dreaming of falling flowers, a sign that spring is ending.梦落花：梦见花落了，表示春天快过去了。
春半chūn bàn: chūn bàn: spring is already half gone.春半：春天已经过了一半。
欲尽yù jìn: yù jìn: almost over.欲尽：快要完了。
复fù: fù: again.复：又。
沉沉chén chén: chén chén: the moon slowly sinking.沉沉：月亮慢慢往下沉的样子。
碣石jié shí: jié shí: a mountain by the sea in today's Hebei, standing for the far north.碣石：山名，在今天河北一带的海边，这里代表北方。
潇湘xiāo xiāng: xiāo xiāng: the Xiao and Xiang rivers in today's Hunan, standing for the far south.潇湘：潇水和湘水，在今天湖南，这里代表南方。
无限路wú xiàn lù: wú xiàn lù: an endless road, one end in the north, the other in the south.无限路：路途遥远，一南一北，没有尽头。
乘月chéng yuè: chéng yuè: by the light of the moon.乘月：趁着月光。
摇情yáo qíng: yáo qíng: stirring the heart, stirring feelings of missing someone.摇情：摇动人心，牵动离别的情思。

How to read it读音

看kàn: Here it is read kàn: you cannot see it.这里读 kàn，“看不见”就是看不出来。
望wàng: Some editions have a different word here meaning only. The meaning stays the same: every year the moon looks alike. The textbook uses wàng.“望相似”，有的版本作“只相似”，意思是每年都差不多。课本作“望相似”。
长cháng: In the name of the long river it is read cháng.“长江”的“长”读 cháng。
胜shèng: Bù shèng means unable to bear. The textbook reads it shèng; in old times it was read shēng.“不胜”是受不了、承受不住的意思。课本读 shèng；古时读 shēng。
扁piān: In the word for a small boat it is read piān, not biǎn (flat).“扁舟”是小船，“扁”读 piān，不读 biǎn。
应yīng: Here it means surely, so it is read yīng.“应照”是想必照着，“应”读 yīng。
还huán: It means brushed away but coming back, so it is read huán. Some people read it hái.“拂还来”是拂去了又回来，“还”读 huán。也有人读 hái。
长cháng: Here it means flying far, so it is read cháng.“长飞”是远远地飞，“长”读 cháng。
还huán: It means to return home, so it is read huán.“还家”是回家，“还”读 huán。
斜xié: Today it is read xié. In old times it was read xiá, rhyming with huā and jiā.现在读 xié。古音读 xiá，和“花、家”押韵。
斜xié: Today it is read xié; the old reading was xiá.现在读 xié，古音读 xiá。
乘chéng: It means riding on the moonlight, so it is read chéng.“乘月”是趁着月光，“乘”读 chéng。

Background创作背景

Chun Jiang Hua Yue Ye is an old yuefu title. Yuefu were poems meant to be sung to music, and an old title is a song name used by earlier poets. Legend says the tune was made by Chen Houzhu, the last emperor of the Chen dynasty, and earlier versions were mostly about palace pleasures. Zhang Ruoxu borrowed the old title and wrote a completely new long poem. History does not record when or where he wrote it. The poem follows one spring night from moonrise to moonset. It is about the river and the moonlight, and about a traveler and the woman at home who miss each other.

“春江花月夜”是一个乐府旧题。乐府本来是可以配乐唱的诗歌，旧题就是前人用过的歌名。相传这个曲名是南朝陈后主创制的，原来多写宫廷里的享乐。张若虚借用这个旧题，写出了一首全新的长诗。它写了什么时候、在什么地方，史书没有记载。诗里写一个春夜，从月亮升起写到月亮落下，写江水、月光，也写游子和思妇的相思。

The poet作者

Zhang Ruoxu came from Yangzhou and lived in the early Tang, into the high Tang. His birth and death years are unknown. He was one of the Four Scholars of Wu, with He Zhizhang, Zhang Xu and Bao Rong. Only two of his poems survive, and this one is by far the most famous. The Qing scholar Wang Kaiyun said that with this single poem he became a great poet. The modern scholar Wen Yiduo called it the poem of poems, the peak above the peaks.

张若虚，扬州人，生活在初唐到盛唐之间，生卒年不详。他和贺知章、张旭、包融并称“吴中四士”。他的诗只留下两首，这首《春江花月夜》最有名。清代王闿运说它“孤篇横绝，竟为大家”，就是说只凭这一首诗，他就成了大诗人。闻一多称它是“诗中的诗，顶峰上的顶峰”。

The mood意境

The title holds five things: spring, river, flowers, moon and night, and the moon is the star. The poem begins as the moon rises. The tide joins the sea, the moon rises with the tide, and moonlight covers the river for thousands of miles. Then the poet looks at the moon and wonders. Who first saw the moon? When did it first shine on a person? People come and go, but the moon stays the same. Questions like these make one small spring night feel huge and endless. The second half turns to people who are apart: a traveler in a boat and a woman upstairs at home. They are a thousand miles apart, looking at the same moon. The moonlight cannot be rolled away or brushed off, just as longing will not go away. At last the moon sets and spring is ending, and the poet asks how many people will get home by its light. The rhyme changes every four lines, so the poem flows forward in waves, like the river. The whole poem is quiet and bright, with a gentle sadness.

题目里有五样东西：春、江、花、月、夜，而月亮是主角。诗从月亮升起写起：潮水连着大海，明月跟着潮水升起，月光洒满千万里江面。接着诗人看着江月想：第一个看见月亮的人是谁？月亮又是哪年第一次照到人？人一代代地换，月亮却年年一样。这样的问题，让一个小小的春夜一下子变得又大又远。后半首转到人间的离别：小船上的游子，楼上的思妇，两个人隔着千里，望着同一个月亮。月光卷不走、拂不去，就像相思赶也赶不走。最后月亮慢慢落下，春天也快过去，诗人问还有几个人能趁着月光回家。全诗每四句换一次韵，读起来像江水一样一波一波向前流。整首诗安静、明亮，带着一点淡淡的忧伤。