No. 72 · Song lyric · ci lyric, a long tune in two stanzas第 72 首 · 宋词 · 词（双调长调）

liù六chǒu丑·qiáng蔷wēi薇xiè谢hòu后zuò作

zhōu周bāng邦yàn彦Zhou Bangyan · Song宋

Liu Chou (Six Ugly Ones): Written After the Roses Faded

zhèng正dān单yī衣shì试jiǔ酒

chàng怅kè客lǐ里guāng光yīn阴xū虚zhì掷

yuàn愿chūn春zàn暂liú留

chūn春guī归rú如guò过yì翼

yí一qù去wú无jì迹

wèi为wèn问huā花hé何zài在

yè夜lái来fēng风yǔ雨

zàng葬chǔ楚gōng宫qīng倾guó国

chāi钗diàn钿duò堕chù处yí遗xiāng香zé泽

luàn乱diǎn点táo桃xī蹊

qīng轻fān翻liǔ柳mò陌

duō多qíng情wèi为shuí谁zhuī追xī惜

dàn但fēng蜂méi媒dié蝶shǐ使

shí时kòu叩chuāng窗gé槅

dōng东yuán园cén岑jì寂

jiàn渐méng蒙lóng笼àn暗bì碧

jìng静rào绕zhēn珍cóng丛dǐ底

chéng成tàn叹xī息

cháng长tiáo条gù故rě惹xíng行kè客

sì似qiān牵yī衣dài待huà话

bié别qíng情wú无jí极

cán残yīng英xiǎo小qiǎng强zān簪jīn巾zé帻

zhōng终bú不sì似yì一duǒ朵

chāi钗tóu头chàn颤niǎo袅

xiàng向rén人qī欹cè侧

piāo漂liú流chù处mò莫chèn趁cháo潮xī汐

kǒng恐duàn断hóng红shàng尚yǒu有xiāng相sī思zì字

hé何yóu由jiàn见dé得

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 common text found in anthologies such as Three Hundred Song Lyrics. Old collections differ in a few places. Chàng (“to grieve”) in line two appears as hèn (“to regret”). The word for window lattice is written with a different character. Qī cè (“tilting”) is written with a variant character. Some editions leave out the subtitle “Written After the Roses Faded”.

这里用的是《宋词三百首》等选本的通行文字。古籍收录的文字有几处不同：“怅客里”一作“恨客里”；“窗槅”一作“窗隔”；“欹侧”一作“敧侧”（异体字）。词牌“六丑”后面的题目“蔷薇谢后作”在有的本子里没有。

Line by line逐句翻译

正单衣试酒It is the season for thin clothes and tasting new wine.正是换上单衣、品尝新酒的时节，
怅客里光阴虚掷I grieve that my days far from home have been wasted.我惆怅自己在外乡作客，白白浪费了大好时光。
愿春暂留I wish spring would stay a little longer,我希望春天暂时留下，
春归如过翼but spring goes like a bird flying past,可春天却像飞过的鸟一样归去，
一去无迹gone without a trace.一去就无影无踪。
为问花何在May I ask where the flowers have gone?请问花儿到哪里去了？
夜来风雨In last night's wind and rain昨夜一场风雨，
葬楚宫倾国the roses, lovely as palace beauties, were buried.把像楚宫美人一样的蔷薇葬送了。
钗钿堕处遗香泽Where petals fell like dropped hairpins, a fragrance stays behind.花瓣像美人的首饰落在地上，还留着香气，
乱点桃蹊They lie scattered on the path beneath the peach trees,零零乱乱地散落在桃树下的小路上，
轻翻柳陌and drift lightly along the willow lane.轻轻地在柳边的路上翻飞。
多情为谁追惜Who is tender enough to mourn them?有谁会多情地为它们惋惜呢？
但蜂媒蝶使Only the bees and butterflies, like matchmakers and messengers,只有蜜蜂和蝴蝶像媒人和使者一样，
时叩窗槅come knocking at my window now and then.时时来敲我的窗户。
东园岑寂The eastern garden is quiet and lonely,东园里冷冷清清，
渐蒙笼暗碧slowly growing thick and deep green.草木渐渐长得茂密，一片深绿。
静绕珍丛底I walk quietly around the rose bushes我静静地绕着蔷薇花丛走，
成叹息and cannot help but sigh.忍不住叹起气来。
长条故惹行客The long stems catch at me, the passing traveler, on purpose,长长的枝条故意钩住我这过路人，
似牵衣待话as if tugging my sleeve to speak,好像拉着我的衣服要说话，
别情无极their parting feelings without end.离别的情意没有尽头。
残英小强簪巾帻I pick up a small leftover flower and pin it to my headscarf,我拾起一朵小小的残花，勉强插在头巾上，
终不似一朵but it can never be like a fresh flower可终究比不上一朵鲜花
钗头颤袅trembling on a lady's hairpin,插在美人的钗头，轻轻颤动，
向人欹侧leaning gently toward you.向着人斜斜地倾着。
漂流处莫趁潮汐Petals, when you float on the water, do not follow the tide away.花瓣啊，漂在水上的时候，不要随潮水流走。
恐断红尚有相思字I fear the fallen red may still carry words of longing,恐怕那落花上还写着相思的字，
何由见得and if they drift away, how could anyone ever read them?流走了，又怎么能让人看到呢？

Words字词注释

正zhèng: zhèng: just at the time when.正：正当，正是这个时候。
单衣dān yī: dān yī: thin, single-layer clothes, put on when the weather turns warm.单衣：单层的薄衣服。天变暖了才换上。
试酒shì jiǔ: shì jiǔ: tasting the new wine. In the Song dynasty, newly brewed wine went on sale around the end of spring, and people went to taste it.试酒：尝新酒。宋代大约在春末夏初开卖新酿的酒，人们去品尝。
怅chàng: chàng: to feel a sad, empty longing.怅：惆怅，心里失落难过。
客里kè lǐ: kè lǐ: while living far from home.客里：在外乡作客的日子里。
虚掷xū zhì: xū zhì: thrown away for nothing, wasted.虚掷：白白地扔掉，浪费掉。
暂留zàn liú: zàn liú: to stay a little longer.暂留：暂时留下来。
过翼guò yì: guò yì: a bird flying past. Yì, wing, stands for a bird.过翼：飞过的鸟。翼，翅膀，代指鸟。
一去无迹yí qù wú jì: yī qù wú jì: once gone, it leaves no trace.一去无迹：一飞走就无影无踪。
为问wèi wèn: wèi wèn: may I ask.为问：试问，请问。
夜来yè lái: yè lái: during the night.夜来：夜里。
葬zàng: zàng: to bury.葬：埋葬。
楚宫倾国chǔ gōng qīng guó: chǔ gōng qīng guó: the great beauties of the Chu palace, standing here for the fallen roses. Qīng guó means a woman so lovely the whole kingdom falls for her.楚宫倾国：楚王宫里的绝色美人，这里比喻凋落的蔷薇花。倾国，美得能让全国人倾倒的女子。
钗钿chāi diàn: chāi diàn: a woman's hair ornaments. Chāi is a hairpin; diàn is a flower-shaped jewel of gold or jade. Here they stand for petals lying on the ground.钗钿：女子头上的首饰。钗，发钗；钿，金玉做成的花形首饰。这里比喻落在地上的花瓣。
堕duò: duò: to fall.堕：落下。
遗香泽yí xiāng zé: yí xiāng zé: to leave a fragrance behind. Zé here means the lingering scent.遗香泽：留下香气。泽，润泽，这里指香气。
乱点luàn diǎn: luàn diǎn: scattered here and there.乱点：零零乱乱地点缀着。
桃蹊táo xī: táo xī: the path under the peach trees. Xī means a small path.桃蹊：桃树下的小路。蹊，小路。
轻翻qīng fān: qīng fān: drifting and turning lightly.轻翻：轻轻地翻飞。
柳陌liǔ mò: liǔ mò: the lane by the willows. Mò means a road.柳陌：柳树边的道路。陌，路。
多情为谁追惜duō qíng wèi shuí zhuī xī: duō qíng wèi shuí zhuī xī: who is tender enough to grieve for the fallen flowers? Zhuī xī means to look back and feel sorry.多情为谁追惜：谁会多情地为落花惋惜呢？追惜，追念惋惜。
但dàn: dàn: only.但：只有。
蜂媒蝶使fēng méi dié shǐ: fēng méi dié shǐ: bees and butterflies, like matchmakers and messengers carrying word for the flowers.蜂媒蝶使：蜜蜂和蝴蝶，好像替花传信的媒人和使者。
叩kòu: kòu: to knock.叩：敲。
窗槅chuāng gé: chuāng gé: the window lattice, that is, the window.窗槅：窗格子，就是窗户。
东园dōng yuán: dōng yuán: the eastern garden, meaning the garden in general.东园：园子，泛指花园。
岑寂cén jì: cén jì: quiet and lonely.岑寂：冷清寂静。
蒙笼暗碧méng lóng àn bì: méng lóng àn bì: the plants grow thick and dark green. Méng lóng means dense; àn bì means deep green.蒙笼暗碧：草木越长越密，一片深绿。蒙笼，茂密的样子；暗碧，深绿色。
珍丛zhēn cóng: zhēn cóng: the precious bushes, meaning the rose bushes.珍丛：珍贵的花丛，指蔷薇花丛。
底dǐ: dǐ: below, beside.底：下面，旁边。
成叹息chéng tàn xī: chéng tàn xī: can't help sighing.成叹息：不由得发出叹息。
长条cháng tiáo: cháng tiáo: the long rose stems.长条：蔷薇长长的枝条。
故gù: gù: on purpose.故：故意。
惹rě: rě: to tease, here meaning to catch on someone's clothes.惹：招惹，这里指钩住衣服。
行客xíng kè: xíng kè: a passing traveler, meaning the poet himself.行客：过路的人，作者指自己。
似牵衣待话sì qiān yī dài huà: sì qiān yī dài huà: as if tugging at my clothes, wanting to say something.似牵衣待话：好像拉住衣服，有话要说。
别情无极bié qíng wú jí: bié qíng wú jí: the feeling of parting has no end. Wú jí means endless.别情无极：离别的情意没有尽头。无极，没有尽头。
残英cán yīng: cán yīng: a leftover flower. Yīng means a flower.残英：残留的花朵。英，花。
强簪qiǎng zān: qiǎng zān: to force onto one's head. Qiǎng means reluctantly; zān means to pin on.强簪：勉强插戴。强，勉强；簪，插戴。
巾帻jīn zé: jīn zé: a headscarf.巾帻：头巾。
终不似zhōng bú sì: zhōng bù sì: can never be as good as.终不似：终究比不上。
钗头颤袅chāi tóu chàn niǎo: chāi tóu chàn niǎo: on a woman's hairpin, trembling and swaying. Niǎo means to sway softly.钗头颤袅：插在女子的钗头上，轻轻颤动摇摆。袅，柔软摇摆的样子。
欹侧qī cè: qī cè: tilting to one side.欹侧：倾斜。
漂流处piāo liú chù: piāo liú chù: where the petals float on the water.漂流处：花瓣漂在水上的时候。
莫趁潮汐mò chèn cháo xī: mò chèn cháo xī: do not follow the tide away. Chèn means to go along with.莫趁潮汐：不要随着潮水流走。趁，追随，跟着。
断红duàn hóng: duàn hóng: fallen petals.断红：飘落的花瓣。
相思字xiāng sī zì: xiāng sī zì: words of longing. This recalls a Tang story: a palace maid wrote a poem on a red leaf and let it float out of the palace on a stream, where someone found it.相思字：写着思念之情的字。这里化用了唐代“红叶题诗”的故事：宫女在红叶上写诗，让它顺着宫里的水沟流出去，被人拾到。
何由见得hé yóu jiàn dé: hé yóu jiàn dé: how could anyone ever see them? Hé yóu means by what way.何由见得：又怎么能看得到呢？何由，从哪里，怎么能。

How to read it读音

单dān: Meaning single-layer, read dān.单衣，读 dān。
为wèi: Wèi wèn means “may I ask”; usually read wèi.“为问”是试问的意思，一般读 wèi。
蹊xī: Meaning a path, it is read xī today; it is read qī only in the word qīqiāo (strange).小路，现在读 xī；“蹊跷”的“蹊”才读 qī。
为wèi: Meaning “for”, read wèi.为了，读 wèi。
行xíng: Meaning traveling, read xíng.行客，读 xíng。
强qiǎng: Meaning reluctantly or by force, read qiǎng, not qiáng.勉强，读 qiǎng，不读 qiáng。
欹qī: Meaning to tilt, read qī. Old books also write it with a variant character.倾斜，读 qī。古籍里也写作“敧”。

Background创作背景

The subtitle tells us the lyric was written after the roses had faded. Roses bloom in late spring and early summer and have long, thorny stems. The words “my days far from home” show that the poet was away from home, but no one can say for sure in which year or where it was written. Liu Chou is a tune Zhou Bangyan made up himself. According to Song-dynasty notes, Emperor Huizong asked what the name meant. Zhou said the tune joined the best parts of six other tunes but was very hard to sing, like the six sons of the legendary Gaoyang clan, who were all talented but ugly. So he called it “Six Ugly Ones”.

词题“蔷薇谢后作”，说明这首词写在蔷薇花凋谢以后。蔷薇在春末夏初开花，枝条长，有刺。词里说“客里光阴”，可见作者当时正在外地，但具体写在哪一年、哪个地方，已经说不清楚。“六丑”是周邦彦自己创作的词调。据宋代笔记记载，宋徽宗问这个名字是什么意思，周邦彦说：这个曲调把六个曲调里最好听的部分合在一起，却特别难唱，就像传说中高阳氏的六个儿子，都有才华，长得却丑，所以叫“六丑”。

The poet作者

Zhou Bangyan (1056–1121), also called Meicheng, came from Qiantang, today's Hangzhou in Zhejiang. He was a famous lyric poet of the Northern Song. He knew music deeply. Under Emperor Huizong he ran the Dasheng Bureau, the court office in charge of music, and he made up many new tunes himself. His lyrics are finely worded, carefully built and exact in sound, and they shaped many later Southern Song poets.

周邦彦（1056—1121），字美成，号清真居士，钱塘（今浙江杭州）人，北宋著名词人。他精通音乐，宋徽宗时曾主管大晟府，就是朝廷管理音乐的机构，自己创作了不少新词调。他的词用字精美，章法曲折，讲究音律，对后来的南宋词人影响很大。

The mood意境

On the surface this lyric is about fallen flowers, but it is also about the poet himself. The first stanza sets the season. It is warm now, time for thin clothes and new wine, but he is far from home and spring has slipped away for nothing. He wants spring to stay, but it leaves like a bird flying past. Last night's storm “buried” the roses, lovely as palace beauties. Their petals lie like dropped hairpins, still sweet. No one mourns them; only bees and butterflies knock at his window, as if bringing news from the flowers. In the second stanza he walks into the lonely garden and sighs as he circles the bushes. The most moving moment comes next: a long rose stem catches his clothes, as if pulling him back, not wanting him to go. The flower cannot bear to part with him, and he cannot bear to part with it. He pins a small leftover bloom to his headscarf, but it is nothing like a flower glowing on a lady's hairpin. At last he speaks to the petals on the water: do not drift away on the tide, for you may still carry words of longing. Layer by layer, the lyric grows finer and more tender.

这首词表面写落花，其实也写作者自己。上片先说时节：天热了，换单衣、尝新酒，可人在外乡，春天白白过去了。他想留住春天，春天却像飞鸟一样走了。昨夜风雨，把美人一样的蔷薇“葬”了，花瓣像掉在地上的首饰，还带着香气。没人可惜它们，只有蜜蜂蝴蝶来敲窗，好像替花报信。下片写他走进冷清的园子，绕着花丛叹气。最动人的是这一句：蔷薇的长枝钩住他的衣服，好像拉着他舍不得他走。花舍不得人，人也舍不得花。他把一朵小残花插在头巾上，可怎么也比不上花开在美人钗头的样子。最后他对水上的花瓣说：别随潮水流走，也许你身上还写着相思的话呢。整首词一层一层，越写越细，越写越深情。