The Midautumn Festival-Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody" Chinese Poem 明月几时有

shuǐ diào ɡē tóu

水   调   歌 头 

Thinking Of You

sònɡ. sū shì

宋  . 苏 轼 

Song Dynasty.Author:Sushi

mínɡ yuè jǐ shí yǒu ，
明   月  几 时  有  ，
When will the moon be clear and bright?

bǎ jiǔ wèn qīnɡ tiān 。
把 酒  问  青   天   。
With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky.

bù zhī tiān shànɡ ɡōnɡ què ，
不 知  天   上    宫   阙  ，
In the heavens on this night,

jīn xī shì hé nián 。
今  夕 是  何 年   。
I wonder what season it would be?

wǒ yù chénɡ fēnɡ ɡuī qù ，
我 欲 乘    风   归  去 ，
I'd like to ride the wind to fly home.

yòu kǒnɡ qiónɡ lóu yù yǔ ，
又  恐   琼    楼  玉 宇 ，
Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions

ɡāo chù bú shènɡ hán 。
高  处  不 胜    寒  。
are much too high and cold for me.

qǐ wǔ nònɡ qīnɡ yǐnɡ ，
起 舞 弄   清   影   ，
Dancing with my moonlit shadow,

hé sì zài rén jiān 。
何 似 在  人  间   。
It does not seem like the human world.

zhuǎn zhū ɡé ，
转    朱  阁 ，
The moon rounds the red mansion,

dī qǐ hù ，
低 绮 户 ，
Stoops to silk-pad doors,

zhào wú mián 。
照   无 眠   。
Shines upon the sleepless,

bù yīnɡ yǒu hèn ，
不 应   有  恨  ，
Bearing no grudge,

hé shì chánɡ xiànɡ bié shí yuán ？
何 事  长    向    别  时  圆   ？
Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?

rén yǒu bēi huān lí hé ，
人  有  悲  欢   离 合 ，
People have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart,

yuè yǒu yīn qínɡ yuán quē ，
月  有  阴  晴   圆   缺  ，
The moon may be dim or bright, round or crescent shaped,

cǐ shì ɡǔ nán quán 。
此 事  古 难  全   。
This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time.

dàn yuàn rén chánɡ jiǔ ，
但  愿   人  长    久  ，
May we all be blessed with longevity,

qiān lǐ ɡònɡ chán juān 。
千   里 共   婵   娟   。
Though thousand miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.


水调歌头
宋.苏轼

明月几时有，
把酒问青天。
不知天上宫阙，
今夕是何年。
我欲乘风归去，
又恐琼楼玉宇，
高处不胜寒。
起舞弄清影，
何似在人间。

转朱阁，
低绮户，
照无眠。
不应有恨，
何事长向别时圆？
人有悲欢离合，
月有阴晴圆缺，
此事古难全。
但愿人长久，
千里共婵娟。

Translation 2

The Midautumn Festival
Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody"

How long will the full moon appear?
Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.
I do not know what time of the year
It would be tonight in the palace on high.
Riding the wind, there I would fly,
Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be
Too high and cold for me.
I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.
On high as on earth, would it be as gay?

The moon goes round the mansions red
Through gauze-draped window soft to shed
Her light upon the sleepless bed.
Why then when people part, is the oft full and bright?
Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;
The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.
There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.
So let us wish that man
Will live long as he can!
Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.
 (by Xu Yuanchong)


The Midautumn Festival,Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody",Chinese Poem,水调歌头,明月几时有,宋朝,苏轼,Thinking of you,Song Dynasty,Author,Sushi