Tang poem · seven-character yuefu song (old-style poem)唐诗 · 七言乐府（七言古诗）

lǎo老jiàng将xíng行

wáng王wéi维Wang Wei · Tang唐

Song of the Old General

shào少nián年shí十wǔ五èr二shí十shí时

bù步xíng行duó夺dé得hú胡mǎ马qí骑

shè射shā杀shān山zhōng中bái白é额hǔ虎

kěn肯shǔ数yè邺xià下huáng黄xū须ér儿

yì一shēn身zhuǎn转zhàn战sān三qiān千lǐ里

yí一jiàn剑céng曾dāng当bǎi百wàn万shī师

hàn汉bīng兵fèn奋xùn迅rú如pī霹lì雳

lǔ虏qí骑bēng崩téng腾wèi畏jí蒺lí藜

wèi卫qīng青bú不bài败yóu由tiān天xìng幸

lǐ李guǎng广wú无gōng功yuán缘shù数jī奇

zì自cóng从qì弃zhì置biàn便shuāi衰xiǔ朽

shì世shì事cuō蹉tuó跎chéng成bái白shǒu首

xī昔shí时fēi飞jiàn箭wú无quán全mù目

jīn今rì日chuí垂yáng杨shēng生zuǒ左zhǒu肘

lù路páng旁shí时mài卖gù故hóu侯guā瓜

mén门qián前xué学zhòng种xiān先shēng生liǔ柳

cāng苍máng茫gǔ古mù木lián连qióng穷xiàng巷

liáo寥luò落hán寒shān山duì对xū虚yǒu牖

shì誓lìng令shū疏lè勒chū出fēi飞quán泉

bú不sì似yǐng颍chuān川kōng空shǐ使jiǔ酒

hè贺lán兰shān山xià下zhèn阵rú如yún云

yǔ羽xí檄jiāo交chí驰rì日xī夕wén闻

jié节shǐ使sān三hé河mù募nián年shào少

zhào诏shū书wǔ五dào道chū出jiāng将jūn军

shì试fú拂tiě铁yī衣rú如xuě雪sè色

liáo聊chí持bǎo宝jiàn剑dòng动xīng星wén文

yuàn愿dé得yān燕gōng弓shè射tiān天jiàng将

chǐ耻lìng令yuè越jiǎ甲míng鸣wú吾jūn君

mò莫xián嫌jiù旧rì日yún云zhōng中shǒu守

yóu犹kān堪yí一zhàn战qǔ取gōng功xūn勋

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。

This is the text found in Three Hundred Tang Poems and most common editions. The corpus differs in a few places. Line 2 ends with shè (to shoot) instead of qí (horse), which rhymes with ér. Line 3 has zhōng shān for shān zhōng (in the hills). Line 12 has a wrong character for cuō in cuō tuó, a slip from machine conversion. Line 15 has an old variant for páng (beside). Line 28 has míng wú jūn written as “alarm the army of Wu” instead of “alarm my lord”. Also, some editions have fēi què (flying sparrow) instead of fēi jiàn (flying arrow) in line 13.

这里用的是《唐诗三百首》等书里通行的文字。数据库原文有几处不同：第二句末字原作“射”，通行本作“骑”，和“儿”押韵；第三句“山中”原作“中山”；第十二句“蹉跎”原作“磋跎”，是转换时的错字；第十五句“路旁”原作“路傍”（古代通用）；第二十八句“鸣吾君”原作“鸣吴军”。另外第十三句“飞箭”，有的版本作“飞雀”。

Line by line逐句翻译

少年十五二十时When he was a youth of fifteen to twenty,他十五到二十岁的少年时候，
步行夺得胡马骑he could charge on foot and seize an enemy horse to ride.空着手冲上去，就能抢到敌人的战马骑上。
射杀山中白额虎He shot dead the white-browed tiger of the hills;他射死过山里的白额猛虎，
肯数邺下黄须儿how could Cao Zhang, the yellow-bearded hero, compare with him?哪里会把邺下的黄须儿曹彰放在眼里！
一身转战三千里On his own he fought his way across three thousand li;他一个人辗转作战三千里，
一剑曾当百万师with one sword he once held back an army of a million.一把剑曾经抵挡过百万大军。
汉兵奋迅如霹雳The Han troops struck fierce and fast as thunder;汉朝的军队勇猛迅速，像霹雳一样，
虏骑崩腾畏蒺藜the enemy horsemen fled in terror of the iron spikes.敌人的骑兵乱奔乱逃，害怕铁蒺藜。
卫青不败由天幸Wei Qing never lost, but only by heaven's luck;卫青没打过败仗，是靠老天的运气；
李广无功缘数奇Li Guang never won a lordship, only because fate was against him.李广没能立功封侯，是因为命不好。
自从弃置便衰朽Since he was cast aside, he has grown old and frail;自从被朝廷丢在一边，他就一天天衰老了；
世事蹉跎成白首the years have slipped away, and his hair has turned white.岁月白白过去，头发都白了。
昔时飞箭无全目Once no bird he shot kept both its eyes;从前他射出的箭，能射中鸟雀的眼睛；
今日垂杨生左肘now a lump grows on his left elbow.如今左胳膊上长了瘤子，手臂不灵了。
路旁时卖故侯瓜Sometimes he sells melons by the road, like the fallen lord of Qin;他有时在路边卖瓜，像秦朝的故侯召平；
门前学种先生柳by his gate he plants willows, like Master Five Willows.在门前学着种柳树，像五柳先生陶渊明。
苍茫古木连穷巷Old trees stretch dim along his lonely lane;苍茫的古树连着偏僻的小巷，
寥落寒山对虚牖bare, cold hills face his empty window.冷清的寒山对着空空的窗户。
誓令疏勒出飞泉He vows, like Geng Gong at Shule, to make water spring from the ground and hold out,他发誓要像耿恭那样，在疏勒城中求出泉水坚守到底，
不似颍川空使酒not like Guan Fu of Yingchuan, who only drank and raged.不像颍川的灌夫那样，只会喝酒发脾气。
贺兰山下阵如云Below the Helan Mountains, enemy ranks gather like clouds;贺兰山下，敌军的阵势像云一样密，
羽檄交驰日夕闻urgent war messages race to and fro, heard morning and night.紧急的军书来来往往，早晚都能听到。
节使三河募年少Envoys with the emperor's token call up young men in the Three He lands;使者拿着符节到三河一带招募年轻人，
诏书五道出将军five orders from the throne send the generals out.皇帝连下五道诏书，派将军们出征。
试拂铁衣如雪色The old general wipes his iron armor, and it gleams white as snow;老将试着擦一擦铁甲，铁甲亮得像雪一样；
聊持宝剑动星文he takes up his sword, and its star patterns flash.姑且拿起宝剑，剑上的星纹闪闪发光。
愿得燕弓射天将He longs for a bow from Yan to shoot the enemy general;他希望得到燕地的好弓，射杀敌军的大将；
耻令越甲鸣吾君he would be ashamed to let enemy troops alarm his emperor.敌兵惊动了皇上，他觉得这是自己的耻辱。
莫嫌旧日云中守Do not scorn the man dismissed like Wei Shang, the old governor of Yunzhong;不要嫌弃从前像云中太守魏尚那样被罢官的人，
犹堪一战取功勋he can still fight one more battle and win honor.他还能打一仗，为国家立功。

Words字词注释

少年十五二十时shào nián shí wǔ èr shí shí: shào nián shí wǔ èr shí shí: when he was a youth of fifteen to twenty.少年十五二十时：十五到二十岁的少年时候。
步行夺得胡马骑bù xíng duó dé hú mǎ qí: bù xíng duó dé hú mǎ qí: on foot, he seized an enemy horse and rode it. Hú was the old name for peoples of the north and west. This echoes the Han general Li Guang, who was captured, then leapt onto an enemy horse and escaped.步行夺得胡马骑：徒步冲上去，抢到敌人的战马骑上。胡，古代对北方和西方民族的称呼。这里用的是汉朝名将李广的故事：他受伤被俘后，跳上敌人的马逃了回来。
白额虎bái é hǔ: bái é hǔ: a tiger with a white forehead, the fiercest kind. In the Jin dynasty Zhou Chu killed such a tiger to protect his village.白额虎：额头有白毛的猛虎，最凶猛的老虎。晋朝周处曾射杀南山的白额虎，为乡里除害。
肯数kěn shǔ: kěn shǔ: how could one count, meaning the other was no match for him.肯数：哪里比得上，意思是不会把对方放在眼里。
邺下黄须儿yè xià huáng xū ér: yè xià huáng xū ér: Cao Zhang, a son of Cao Cao, who had a yellow beard and was very brave. Yè was Cao Cao's capital.邺下黄须儿：曹操的儿子曹彰，长着黄胡子，非常勇猛。邺，曹操的都城。
转战zhuǎn zhàn: zhuǎn zhàn: fighting from place to place.转战：在各处辗转作战。
当dāng: dāng: to hold back, to stand against.当：抵挡。
百万师bǎi wàn shī: bǎi wàn shī: an army of a million. Shī means an army.百万师：百万大军。师，军队。
奋迅fèn xùn: fèn xùn: fierce and fast.奋迅：勇猛迅速。
霹雳pī lì: pī lì: a sudden, loud clap of thunder.霹雳：又急又响的雷。
虏骑lǔ qí: lǔ qí: enemy horsemen. Lǔ was a scornful word for the enemy.虏骑：敌人的骑兵。虏，古代对敌人的蔑称。
崩腾bēng téng: bēng téng: stampeding in confusion.崩腾：乱成一团地奔逃。
蒺藜jí lí: jí lí: iron caltrops, spiked pieces of iron scattered on the ground to hurt horses' hooves.蒺藜：铁蒺藜，一种带尖刺的铁器，撒在地上可以扎伤马蹄。
卫青不败由天幸wèi qīng bú bài yóu tiān xìng: wèi qīng bù bài yóu tiān xìng: Wei Qing, a great Han general, never lost a battle; the poet says it was only heaven's luck. In the old history book Shiji, this phrase about luck was first said of Huo Qubing.卫青不败由天幸：卫青是汉朝大将军，打仗从没失败过，诗人说那只是靠老天的运气。据《史记》，“天幸”原本是说霍去病的。
李广无功缘数奇lǐ guǎng wú gōng yuán shù jī: lǐ guǎng wú gōng yuán shù jī: Li Guang, a famous Han general, fought all his life but was never made a lord; people said it was his bad luck. Yuán means because.李广无功缘数奇：李广是汉朝名将，打了一辈子仗，却始终没能封侯，人们说是因为他命不好。缘，因为。
弃置qì zhì: qì zhì: cast aside, no longer given any post.弃置：被丢在一边，不再任用。
衰朽shuāi xiǔ: shuāi xiǔ: grown old and frail, like rotten wood.衰朽：衰老，像朽木一样。
蹉跎cuō tuó: cuō tuó: letting the years slip by with nothing done.蹉跎：时光白白过去，一事无成。
白首bái shǒu: bái shǒu: white hair, meaning old age.白首：白头发，指老了。
飞箭无全目fēi jiàn wú quán mù: fēi jiàn wú quán mù: his arrows were so sure that no bird he shot kept both eyes. It borrows a legend about the great archer Hou Yi hitting a sparrow's eye.飞箭无全目：他射箭很准，能射中鸟雀的眼睛，被射的鸟没有一只眼睛完好。这里借用了古代神射手后羿射雀眼的传说。
垂杨生左肘chuí yáng shēng zuǒ zhǒu: chuí yáng shēng zuǒ zhǒu: a lump has grown on his left elbow. It comes from the book Zhuangzi, where “willow” sounds like the word for a lump. It means he is old and his arm is stiff.垂杨生左肘：左胳膊肘上长了个瘤子。出自《庄子》“柳生其左肘”，“柳”和“瘤”读音相近。意思是人老了，手臂不灵活了。
故侯瓜gù hóu guā: gù hóu guā: Shao Ping, a lord of Qin, grew and sold melons after Qin fell. Like him, the old general now lives by growing melons.故侯瓜：秦朝的东陵侯召平，秦亡后在长安城东种瓜卖瓜。这里说老将被罢官后只能种瓜为生。
先生柳xiān shēng liǔ: xiān shēng liǔ: Tao Yuanming planted five willows by his door and called himself Master Five Willows. The old general now lives a quiet life like him.先生柳：东晋陶渊明在门前种了五棵柳树，自称“五柳先生”。这里说老将过起了隐居的日子。
苍茫cāng máng: cāng máng: vast and dim.苍茫：一望无边、模糊不清的样子。
穷巷qióng xiàng: qióng xiàng: a remote little lane.穷巷：偏僻的小巷子。
寥落liáo luò: liáo luò: lonely and bare.寥落：冷清，稀稀落落。
虚牖xū yǒu: xū yǒu: an empty window. Yǒu means a window.虚牖：空荡荡的窗户。牖，窗户。
誓令疏勒出飞泉shì lìng shū lè chū fēi quán: shì lìng shū lè chū fēi quán: in the Eastern Han, Geng Gong held the town of Shule. When the enemy cut off the water, he dug a well, bowed to it, and water gushed out. The old general vows to hold firm like him.誓令疏勒出飞泉：东汉耿恭守疏勒城，敌人断了水源，他在城中挖井，向井下拜，终于涌出泉水。这里说老将也要像耿恭一样坚守。
颍川空使酒yǐng chuān kōng shǐ jiǔ: yǐng chuān kōng shǐ jiǔ: Guan Fu of Yingchuan, a Han general, drank and raged after losing favor. The old general will not just sulk over wine like him.颍川空使酒：汉朝灌夫是颍川人，失意后常喝酒发脾气。这里说老将不会像他那样只会借酒发怨气。
贺兰山hè lán shān: hè lán shān: the Helan Mountains, in today's Ningxia, then on the border.贺兰山：在今天宁夏一带，当时是边境。
阵如云zhèn rú yún: zhèn rú yún: enemy ranks as thick as clouds.阵如云：敌人的军阵像云一样密密麻麻。
羽檄yǔ xí: yǔ xí: an urgent army message with feathers stuck on it to show it must fly.羽檄：插着羽毛的紧急军事文书，表示十万火急。
交驰jiāo chí: jiāo chí: racing back and forth.交驰：来来往往地飞奔。
节使jié shǐ: jié shǐ: an envoy carrying the emperor's token.节使：拿着朝廷符节的使者。
三河sān hé: sān hé: the Three He districts of Han times, in today's Shanxi and Henan.三河：汉代的河东、河内、河南三郡，在今天山西、河南一带。
募年少mù nián shào: mù nián shào: calling up young men to be soldiers.募年少：招募年轻人当兵。
诏书五道出将军zhào shū wǔ dào chū jiāng jūn: zhào shū wǔ dào chū jiāng jūn: the emperor sent five orders and five generals marched out. Emperor Xuan of Han once sent five generals against the Xiongnu.诏书五道出将军：皇帝连下五道命令，派将军们出征。汉宣帝时曾派五位将军出击匈奴。
试拂shì fú: shì fú: trying to wipe off the dust.试拂：试着擦去灰尘。
铁衣tiě yī: tiě yī: iron armor.铁衣：铁做的铠甲。
聊持liáo chí: liáo chí: just picking up for now. Liáo means for the time being.聊持：姑且拿起。聊，姑且。
动星文dòng xīng wén: dòng xīng wén: the star patterns on the sword flash and gleam.动星文：剑上刻着的七星花纹闪闪发光。
燕弓yān gōng: yān gōng: a fine bow from the land of Yan.燕弓：燕地出产的好弓。
天将tiān jiàng: tiān jiàng: the enemy's general.天将：敌军的大将。
耻令越甲鸣吾君chǐ lìng yuè jiǎ míng wú jūn: chǐ lìng yuè jiǎ míng wú jūn: an old story tells how, when the army of Yue reached Qi, a man of Qi said it was shameful that enemy troops alarmed his lord. The old general will not let the enemy alarm his emperor.耻令越甲鸣吾君：古书记载，越国军队打到齐国，齐国有个人说“越甲鸣吾君”，意思是敌兵惊动了我的国君，这是臣子的耻辱。这里说老将不能让敌人惊动皇上。
莫嫌mò xián: mò xián: do not look down on.莫嫌：不要嫌弃。
云中守yún zhōng shǒu: yún zhōng shǒu: Wei Shang, governor of Yunzhong in Han times, was a fine soldier. He was dismissed for a small mistake and later restored. The old general compares himself to him.云中守：汉朝魏尚做云中郡太守，很会打仗，却因小错被罢官，后来又被重新起用。这里老将拿自己比魏尚。
犹堪yóu kān: yóu kān: can still.犹堪：还能够。
功勋gōng xūn: gōng xūn: honors for great deeds.功勋：功劳。

How to read it读音

骑qí: Here this character is a noun meaning a horse. In old times the noun was read jì; today it is read qí.这里的“骑”指马，是名词。古代名词读 jì，现在统一读 qí。
数shǔ: In kěn shǔ, “how could one count”, this character means to count and is read shǔ.肯数：哪里比得上。“数”是计算、算得上的意思，读 shǔ。
数shù: In shù jī, “ill fate”, this character means fate and is read shù.数奇：命运不好，读 shù jī。“数”是命运，读 shù。
奇jī: In shù jī this character means odd, not even, and is read jī, not qí. Odd numbers were thought unlucky.数奇的“奇”是单数、不成双的意思，读 jī，不读 qí。古人认为单数不吉利。
少shào: In nián shào, “young men”, this character is read shào.年少：年轻人，“少”读 shào。
将jiàng: In tiān jiàng, “the enemy general”, this character means general and is read jiàng.天将：敌军的大将。“将”是将领，读 jiàng。
燕yān: In yān gōng, “a bow from Yan”, this character is the name of the old state of Yan and is read yān.燕弓：古代燕国出产的好弓。燕是国名，读 yān。

Background创作背景

This is a yuefu song about the whole life of an old general. Everyone and everything in it is from the Han dynasty, but the poet is really writing about his own Tang times: soldiers who did great deeds on the border and were later forgotten. The exact year it was written is no longer known.

这是一首乐府诗，写一位老将的一生。诗中说的都是汉朝的人和事，其实是借汉写唐，写的是唐朝边塞上那些立过大功、后来却被冷落的将士。这首诗具体是哪一年写的，现在已经说不清了。

The poet作者

Wang Wei (701–761, or by another account 699–761) was a famous Tang poet. Most people remember his quiet poems about hills and farms. But as a young man he also wrote bold poems about heroes and the frontier, and later he travelled to the border himself as an envoy. This poem is full of stories from history, which shows how widely he read.

王维（701—761，一说699—761），唐代著名诗人，人们多记得他安静的山水田园诗。可他年轻时也写过不少豪迈的边塞诗和英雄诗，后来还亲自出使过边塞。这首诗用了很多历史故事，能看出他读书很多。

The mood意境

The poem falls into three parts, like three photos of the old general's life. The first is the young hero: seizing horses, shooting tigers, holding back a million men with one sword. It reads fast and loud. The second is the forgotten old man: white hair, a stiff arm, selling melons by the road and planting willows by his gate in a lonely lane. The third is war coming again: enemy ranks like clouds below the Helan Mountains, messages racing, and the old general polishing his armor and taking up his sword, saying he can still fight once more. From glory to loneliness to a fire lit again, we feel how unfairly he was treated, and also a heart that, even in old age, still wants to serve his country.

这首诗分成三段，像老将一生的三张照片。第一张是少年英雄：夺马、射虎、一把剑挡住百万大军，读起来又快又响。第二张是被冷落的老人：头发白了，手臂不灵了，只能在路边卖瓜、门前种柳，住在冷清的小巷里。第三张是战争又来了：贺兰山下敌军如云，军书飞驰，老将擦亮铁甲，拿起宝剑，说自己还能再打一仗。从热闹到冷清，再到重新燃起的斗志，我们能感到他的不平，也能感到他至老不变的一颗报国的心。