Song lyric · ci to the tune Lü Tou Ya (also called Duo Li), 137 characters in two stanzas宋词 · 词，词牌《绿头鸭》（又名《多丽》），双调一百三十七字

lǜ绿tóu头yā鸭·yù玉rén人jiā家

hè贺zhù铸He Zhu · Song宋

Lü Tou Ya: Where the Fair One Lives

yù玉rén人jiā家

huà画lóu楼zhū珠bó箔lín临jīn津

tuō托wēi微fēng风

cǎi彩xiāo箫liú流yuàn怨

duàn断cháng肠mǎ马shàng上céng曾wén闻

yàn燕táng堂kāi开

yàn艳zhuāng妆cóng丛lǐ里

tiáo调qín琴sī思

rèn认gē歌pín颦

shè麝là蜡yān烟nóng浓

yù玉lián莲lòu漏duǎn短

gēng更yī衣bú不dài待jiǔ酒chū初xūn醺

xiù绣píng屏yǎn掩

zhěn枕yuān鸳xiāng相jiù就

xiāng香qì气jiàn渐tūn暾tūn暾

huí回láng廊yǐng影

shū疏zhōng钟dàn淡yuè月

jǐ几xǔ许xiāo销hún魂

cuì翠chāi钗fēn分

yín银jiān笺fēng封lèi泪

wǔ舞xié鞋cóng从cǐ此shēng生chén尘

rèn任lán兰zhōu舟

zài载jiāng将lí离hèn恨

zhuǎn转nán南pǔ浦

bèi背xī西xūn曛

jì记qǔ取míng明nián年

qiáng蔷wēi薇xiè谢hòu后

jiā佳qī期yīng应wèi未wù误xíng行yún云

fèng凤chéng城yuǎn远

chǔ楚méi梅xiāng香nèn嫩

xiān先jì寄yì一zhī枝chūn春

qīng青mén门wài外

zhǐ只píng凭fāng芳cǎo草

xún寻fǎng访láng郎jūn君

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。

In the second-to-last line, the word for "only" (zhǐ) appears in the edition used here as a look-alike character read zhī, meaning "to revere". That is a slip made when converting the old character for "only" into simplified script, so this page writes zhǐ. At the start of line 22, the edition used here has zhù (to stop), while Three Hundred Song Lyrics has rèn (to let), and this page uses rèn.

倒数第二句“只凭芳草”的“只”，这里用的整理本写成“祗”（zhī，恭敬的意思），这是繁体“祇”（只）转换成简体时出的错，这里改作“只”。第二十二句“任兰舟”，这里用的整理本作“住兰舟”，《宋词三百首》作“任兰舟”（任凭小船），这里用“任”。

Line by line逐句翻译

玉人家The fair one's home:那个美人的家，
画楼珠箔临津a painted tower with pearl curtains by the ferry.画楼挂着珠帘，就在渡口边。
托微风On a light breeze借着轻轻的风，
彩箫流怨her painted flute poured out a sad tune,彩箫吹出哀怨的曲子，
断肠马上曾闻and I heard it on horseback, heartbroken.我骑在马上听到，心都碎了。
燕堂开The banquet hall opened,宴会的厅堂打开，
艳妆丛里and among the brightly dressed women在一群盛装的女子中间，
调琴思I heard her feelings in her music,我从她的琴声里听出心思，
认歌颦and saw her sorrow in the frown she wore as she sang.从她唱歌时的皱眉看出了愁。
麝蜡烟浓Musk candles sent up thick, sweet smoke,麝香蜡烛的烟又浓又香，
玉莲漏短the jade lotus water clock ran fast, and the night was short;玉莲滴漏滴得飞快，夜晚很短，
更衣不待酒初醺we left the feast before the wine had even warmed us.酒刚有点醉意，我们就离开宴席去了内室。
绣屏掩The embroidered screen was drawn,绣花屏风掩上，
枕鸳相就the mandarin-duck pillows lay side by side,绣着鸳鸯的枕头靠在一起，
香气渐暾暾and the scent grew warm and rich.香气越来越暖、越来越浓。
回廊影Shadows in the winding walkway,回廊里的影子，
疏钟淡月a few bell strokes, a pale moon:稀疏的钟声，淡淡的月亮，
几许销魂how heartbreaking that hour was.这时多么让人伤心。
翠钗分We broke the jade hairpin in two;把翠钗分成两半，
银笺封泪she sealed her tears into a white letter,在白色信纸里封进眼泪，
舞鞋从此生尘and from then on her dancing shoes gathered dust.她的舞鞋从此落满了灰尘。
任兰舟Letting the little boat任凭那小船
载将离恨carry away the sorrow of parting,装着离别的愁恨，
转南浦rounding the southern shore,绕过南边的水岸，
背西曛with the setting sun behind it.背着西边的夕阳远去。
记取明年Remember: next year,要记住，到了明年，
蔷薇谢后after the roses fade,蔷薇花谢了以后，
佳期应未误行云the day we set will surely not be missed.约好的日子一定不会错过。
凤城远The capital is far away;京城那么远，
楚梅香嫩when the southern plums first bloom, soft and sweet,南方的梅花刚开，香气正嫩，
先寄一枝春I will send you a sprig of spring first.我先寄一枝梅花给你，捎去春天。
青门外Then outside the city gate,然后到京城的城门外，
只凭芳草with only the green grass to guide me,只能顺着青青的芳草，
寻访郎君I will come looking for you, my love.一路找到你。

Words字词注释

玉人yù rén: yù rén: a person as lovely as jade, meaning the woman the poet loves.玉人：像玉一样美的人，指词人心爱的女子。
画楼huà lóu: huà lóu: a beautifully painted building.画楼：雕梁画栋的漂亮楼房。
珠箔zhū bó: zhū bó: a curtain of strung pearls.珠箔：用珠子串成的帘子。
临津lín jīn: lín jīn: beside the ferry landing. Jīn is a river crossing.临津：靠着渡口。津，渡口。
托微风tuō wēi fēng: tuō wēi fēng: carried on a light breeze.托微风：借着轻轻的风。
彩箫流怨cǎi xiāo liú yuàn: cǎi xiāo liú yuàn: a painted flute pours out a sad tune. A xiāo is a bamboo flute held upright.彩箫流怨：彩色的箫吹出满是哀怨的声音。箫，一种竖着吹的竹管乐器。
断肠duàn cháng: duàn cháng: "broken insides", meaning heartbroken.断肠：形容伤心到了极点。
曾闻céng wén: céng wén: once heard.曾闻：曾经听到过。
燕堂yàn táng: yàn táng: a banquet hall.燕堂：摆宴会的厅堂。燕，同“宴”。
艳妆丛里yàn zhuāng cóng lǐ: yàn zhuāng cóng lǐ: among a crowd of brightly dressed women.艳妆丛里：在一群打扮得很漂亮的女子中间。
调琴思tiáo qín sī: tiáo qín sī: hearing her feelings in the way she plays the qin.调琴思：从她弹琴的声音里，听出她的心思。
认歌颦rèn gē pín: rèn gē pín: seeing her sorrow in the frown she wears as she sings. Pín means to knit the brows.认歌颦：从她唱歌时皱起的眉头，认出她的愁。颦，皱眉。
麝蜡shè là: shè là: candles scented with musk, which smell sweet as they burn.麝蜡：加了麝香的蜡烛，点起来很香。
玉莲漏短yù lián lòu duǎn: yù lián lòu duǎn: the jade lotus water clock runs short, meaning the night is passing fast. A lòu was a water clock that told time by dripping.玉莲漏短：玉莲花样子的滴漏，滴得飞快，意思是夜晚过得很快。漏，古代用滴水来计时的器具。
更衣gēng yī: gēng yī: to change clothes. Here it means leaving the feast for the inner rooms.更衣：换衣服，这里指离开宴席，到内室去。
酒初醺jiǔ chū xūn: jiǔ chū xūn: just beginning to feel the wine. Xūn means tipsy.酒初醺：刚刚有点醉意。醺，喝醉的样子。
绣屏xiù píng: xiù píng: an embroidered screen.绣屏：绣着花纹的屏风。
枕鸳zhěn yuān: zhěn yuān: a pillow embroidered with mandarin ducks. These water birds always go in pairs, so they stand for lovers.枕鸳：绣着鸳鸯的枕头。鸳鸯是总成双成对的水鸟，比喻相爱的人。
相就xiāng jiù: xiāng jiù: drawing close together.相就：靠在一起。
暾暾tūn tūn: tūn tūn: first used for the warm glow of the rising sun; here it shows the scent growing warmer and stronger.暾暾：本来形容太阳刚升起时暖洋洋的样子，这里形容香气越来越暖、越来越浓。
回廊huí láng: huí láng: a winding covered walkway.回廊：弯弯曲曲的走廊。
疏钟淡月shū zhōng dàn yuè: shū zhōng dàn yuè: a few far-off bell strokes and a pale moon, meaning dawn is near.疏钟淡月：稀稀落落的钟声，淡淡的月亮。意思是天快亮了。
几许销魂jǐ xǔ xiāo hún: jǐ xǔ xiāo hún: how heartbreaking it is. Jǐ xǔ means how much; xiāo hún means so sad at parting that your soul seems to melt away.几许销魂：多么让人伤心，好像魂都没了。几许，多少；销魂，因为离别伤心得失了魂一样。
翠钗分cuì chāi fēn: cuì chāi fēn: breaking a green jade hairpin in two, each keeping half as a keepsake. Lovers did this in old times when they parted.翠钗分：把翠玉的发钗分成两半，各留一半做纪念。这是古代情人分别时的习俗。
银笺封泪yín jiān fēng lèi: yín jiān fēng lèi: writing on white letter paper and sealing the tears in with it. Jiān is letter paper.银笺封泪：在白色的信纸上写信，连眼泪一起封进去。笺，信纸。
舞鞋从此生尘wǔ xié cóng cǐ shēng chén: wǔ xié cóng cǐ shēng chén: her dancing shoes gather dust from now on, meaning she no longer has the heart to dance.舞鞋从此生尘：跳舞的鞋从此积满灰尘，意思是她再也没心思跳舞了。
任rèn: rèn: to let, to leave it to.任：任凭，听凭。
兰舟lán zhōu: lán zhōu: a boat of magnolia wood, a pretty name for a small boat.兰舟：用木兰树做的船，是对小船的美称。
载将离恨zài jiāng lí hèn: zài jiāng lí hèn: carrying the sorrow of parting. Jiāng only adds to the verb here.载将离恨：装着离别的愁恨。将，助词。
南浦nán pǔ: nán pǔ: the southern shore, a place of farewell in old poems.南浦：南边的水边。古诗里常用它指送别的地方。
背西曛bèi xī xūn: bèi xī xūn: with the setting sun behind. Xūn is the last glow of sunset.背西曛：背对着西边的夕阳。曛，落日的余光。
记取jì qǔ: jì qǔ: to remember.记取：记住。
蔷薇谢后qiáng wēi xiè hòu: qiáng wēi xiè hòu: after the roses fade, around early summer.蔷薇谢后：蔷薇花谢了以后，大约是初夏。
佳期jiā qī: jiā qī: the day set for meeting again.佳期：约好相会的日子。
行云xíng yún: xíng yún: drifting clouds. A legend tells of a goddess of Mount Wu who became morning clouds, so the phrase came to mean a beloved woman.行云：天上飘的云。传说巫山的神女早上化作云，后来常用来比喻心爱的女子。
凤城fèng chéng: fèng chéng: "Phoenix City", the capital.凤城：京城。
楚梅chǔ méi: chǔ méi: plum blossoms of the south. Chǔ was an old state, here meaning the south.楚梅：南方的梅花。楚，古代楚国一带，泛指南方。
一枝春yì zhī chūn: yī zhī chūn: "a sprig of spring", that is, a sprig of plum. Long ago Lu Kai mailed a plum sprig to a friend with the words "I send you a sprig of spring", and the phrase stuck.一枝春：一枝梅花。南北朝时陆凯折梅寄给朋友，写了“聊赠一枝春”，后来就用它指寄梅花表达思念。
青门qīng mén: qīng mén: the Green Gate, the east gate of Han Chang'an where people said goodbye. Here it stands for a gate of the capital.青门：本是汉代长安的东城门，人们常在那里送别，这里借指京城的城门。
只凭芳草zhǐ píng fāng cǎo: zhǐ píng fāng cǎo: with only the green grass to follow. Píng means to rely on.只凭芳草：只能顺着青草一路找去。凭，依靠。
郎君láng jūn: láng jūn: what a woman in old times called her husband or sweetheart.郎君：古代女子对丈夫或心上人的称呼。

How to read it读音

燕yàn: In yàn táng this character means a feast, the same as the word for banquet, and is read yàn.“燕堂”的“燕”同“宴”，是宴会的意思，读 yàn。
调tiáo: Tiáo qín means to tune and play the qin, so this character is read tiáo.“调琴”是调好琴弦、弹琴，读 tiáo。
思sī: Qín sī is the feeling carried in the music, a noun. Today it is read sī; in old times this use was read with a falling tone, sì.“琴思”是琴声里的情思，是名词，现在读 sī；古时这种用法读去声 sì。
更gēng: Gēng yī means to change clothes, so this character is read gēng.“更衣”是换衣服，读 gēng。
载zài: Zài jiāng means to carry along in the boat, so this character is read zài.“载将”是用船装着、带着，读 zài。

Background创作背景

This ci tells a love story: first hearing the fair one's flute, then meeting her at a feast and being together, then parting at dawn, and finally promising to meet next year. When the poet wrote it, and for whom, is no longer known. Many readers take the end of the second stanza as the woman's parting words: she will keep their date after the roses fade, send a plum sprig when the plums bloom, and come to the capital herself to find him. Others think these are the man's words, imagining what she would say.

这首词写的是一段恋情：从初次听到美人的箫声，到宴会上相识、相聚，再到天亮分别，最后约好明年再见。词人是在什么时候、为谁写的，已经说不清。下阕后半，许多人读作女子临别时的叮嘱：明年蔷薇谢了一定赴约，梅花开时先寄一枝，还要亲自到京城去找他。也有人认为这是男子替她设想的话。

The poet作者

He Zhu (1052–1125), also called Fanghui, was a Northern Song ci poet. He was a distant grandson of the family of Empress He, wife of the first Song emperor. He was tall and plain-looking, and people nicknamed him "Ghost-Head He". He held only small posts and never got far in his career. Some of his ci are bold and others are tender. One line about "rain when the plums turn yellow" was so admired that people called him "Plum He". This ci is one of his tender ones.

贺铸（1052—1125），字方回，号庆湖遗老，北宋词人。他是宋太祖贺皇后的族孙，长得高大，相貌不好看，人称“贺鬼头”。他做的多是小官，一生不太得志。他的词有的豪放，有的柔美，因为《青玉案》里“梅子黄时雨”一句写得好，人们又叫他“贺梅子”。这首词就是他柔美的一路。

The mood意境

The first stanza is like remembering a dream. First comes a sound from far away: from a painted tower by the ferry, the wind carries a sad flute tune, and the man on horseback is moved at once. Then comes the feast: among many lovely women, he reads her heart in her music and her frown. Scented candles, the water clock, the screen and the mandarin-duck pillows, one by one, show the warmth of being together, and how fast the night goes. When the bell strokes thin out and the moon grows pale, dawn is near and parting is close. The second stanza is the farewell: the hairpin broken in two, the tears sealed in a letter, and she will dance no more. The little boat carries the sorrow away with the sunset behind it. The last lines brighten again: they will meet after the roses fade; when the plums bloom she will send a sprig of spring; she will follow the green grass all the way to find him. Parting hurts, but the promise leaves something to hope for.

上阕像在回忆一场梦。先是远远地听见：渡口边的画楼上，风把哀怨的箫声送过来，骑在马上的人一听就动了心。接着是宴会：在一群美人里，他从琴声和皱眉里认出了她的心事。香烛、滴漏、屏风、鸳鸯枕，一样一样写出两人在一起的温暖，也写出夜晚过得太快。到了钟声稀疏、月色变淡，天快亮了，离别就在眼前。下阕写分别：分钗、封泪，她从此不再跳舞；小船载着离愁，背着夕阳远去。最后几句又亮起来：明年蔷薇谢后再见，梅花开时先寄一枝春，还要沿着芳草一路找来。离别很苦，但约定让人心里还有盼头。