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Classical Chinese

016 王維 渭川田家 translation: Farm Houses by Wei River (Wang Wei)

This is a translation and annotation of the poem 渭川田家 (Wèi Chuān Tián Jiā), “Farm Houses by Wei River”, by the Tang dynasty poet 王維 (Wang Wei). The poem is number 16 in the collection 300 Tang Poems, and is also known by its first line: 斜光照墟落 (Xié Guāng Zhào Xū Luò). The Wei River runs through modern Shaanxi province.

渭川田家 Wèi Chuān Tián Jiā [_Wei_] [river] [field] [home] Farm Houses by Wei River

斜光照墟落， Xié guāngzhào xū luò, [tilt] [ray] [shine] [hill] [set] Tilting rays illuminate the hills and set;

窮巷牛羊歸。 Qióng xiàng niú yáng guī. [poor] [alley] [cow] [sheep] [return] to shabby lanes cows and sheep return.

野老念牧童， Yě lǎo niàn mùtóng, [field] [old] [think of] [herd] [boy] In the fields, the old await the shepherd boys,

倚杖候荊扉。 Yǐ zhàng hou jīng fēi. [lean on] [staff] [wait] [berry tree] [gate] leaning on staffs, waiting by wooden gates.

雉雊麥苗秀， Zhì gòu mài miáo xiù, [pheasant] [call] [wheat] [sprout] [ear of grain] Pheasants call amongst the wheat, sprouts and grain,

蠶眠桑葉稀。 Cán mián sāng yè xī. [silkworm] [sleep] [mulberry] [leaf] [sparse] and silkworms hibernate while mulberry leaves grow sparse.

田夫荷鋤立， Tián fu hè chú lì, [field] [man] [bear] [hoe] [stand] Farmers bearing hoes,

相見語依依。 Xiāng jiàn yǔ yīyī. [each other] [see] [speak] [reluctant to part][] see each other and chat, reluctant to part.

即此羡閒逸， Jí cǐ xiàn xián yì, [presently] [this] [envy] [unoccupied] [leisurely] Presently envying this leisurely escape,

悵然吟式微。 Chàngrán yín shì wēi. [despair] [-ly] [hum] [Book of Songs] [_Wei_] one despairingly hums the poem _Wei_ from_ The Odes_.

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