蘇軾 水調歌頭 translation: Water Song, by Su Shi (明月幾時有)

This is a translation and annotation of the poem 明月幾時有 (Míng Yuè Jǐshí Yǒu) by the Song dynasty poet 蘇軾 (Su Shi). The poem is a 詞 poem, intended to be sung to a melody, in this case the melody 水調歌頭 (Shuǐ Diào Gē Tóu). The poem is often known by “蘇軾 水調歌頭” (Su Shi - Water Melody).

The notes preceding the poem are also translated here.

By the way, if you’re interested in the Chinese language, then you might enjoy taking an online Chinese course, or learning to write Chinese.

丙辰中秋， Bǐngchén zhōngqiū, [bing] [chen] [middle] [autumn] In autumn of the bingchen year,

歡飲達旦， Huan yǐn dádàn, [happy] [drink] [arrive] [dawn] drinking merrily till dawn,

大醉， Dà zuì, [great] [drunk] very drunk,

作此篇， Zuò cǐ piān, [write] [this] [piece] one writes this piece,

兼懷子由。 Jiān huái Zi Yóu. [double] [think of] [Zi] [You] to remember Zi You.

蘇軾 水調歌頭 Sū Shì Shuǐ Diào Gē Tóu [Su] [Shi] [water] [melody] [song] [first] Su Shi - Water Melody

明月幾時有， Míng yuè jǐshí yǒu, [bright] [moon] [how much] [time] [have] When did the bright moon first appear?

把酒問青天。 Bǎjiǔ wèn qīngtiān. [hold] [wine] [ask] [blue] [sky] One raises a cup and asks the blue sky.

不知天上宮闕， Bù zhī tiān shàng gōngquè, [not] [know] [Heavens] [on] [palace][] One does not know, in the celestial palaces,

今夕是何年。 Jīnxī shì hé nián. [today] [evening] [is] [what] [year] what year it is this evening.

我欲乘風歸去， Wǒ yù chéng fēng guī qù, [I] [want] [ride] [wind] [return] [go] I wish to ride the wind and return there,

又恐瓊樓玉宇， Yòu kǒng qióng lóu yùyǔ, [again] [fear] [jade] [building] [jade] [room] yet fear the jade towers;

高處不勝寒。 Gāo chù bùshèng hán. [high] [dwell] [not bear] [cold] in a high dwelling one cannot bear the cold.

起舞弄清影， Qǐ wǔ nòng qīng yǐng, [start] [dance] [play with] [clear] [shadow] Starting to dance with one's clear shadow -

何似在人間。 Hé sì zài rén jiān. [what] [resemble] [in] [human world][] what else resembles the mortal world?

轉朱閣， Zhuǎn zhū gé, [revolve] [red] [pavilion] Revolving around the red pavilion,

低綺戶， Dī qǐ hù, [low] [silk-work] [door] lowering to a silk-work door,

照無眠。 Zhào wú mián. [shine] [not have] [sleep] it shines upon the sleepless.

不應有恨， Bù yīng yǒu hèn, [not] [should] [have] [hate] It should not have resentment;

何事長向別時圓？ Hé shì cháng xiàng bié shí yuán? [why] [thing] [always] [before] [separate] [time] [full] why is it always full at times of separation?

人有悲歡離合， Rén yǒu bēihuānlíhé, [people] [have] [sorrow] [joy] [parting] [reunion] People have sorrows, joys, parting and reunions,

月有陰晴圓缺， Yuè yǒu yīn qíng yuán quē, [moon] [has] [dark] [clear] [round] [scarce] the moon is dark, bright, waxes or wanes;

此事古難全。 Cǐ shì gǔ nán quán. [this] [issue] [ancient] [difficult] [entire] these problems have have been this way since ancient times.

但願人長久， Dàn yuàn rén chángjiǔ, [yet] [hope] [person] [long] [long time] Yet one hopes for longevity;

千里共嬋娟。 Qiān lǐ gòng chánjuān. [thousand] [miles] [together] [moon] [beauty] a thousand miles apart, together [seeing] the moon's beauty.

Useful links

• 水調歌頭 (明月幾時有) - WikiSource
• 水調歌頭 - Wikipedia