wéi què yòu cháo， wéi jiū jū zhī。 zhī zǐ yú guī， bǎi liǎng yù zhī。
wéi què yòu cháo， wéi jiū fāng zhī。 zhī zǐ yú guī， bǎi liǎng jiāng zhī。
wéi què yòu cháo， wéi jiū yíng zhī。 zhī zǐ yú guī， bǎi liǎng chéng zhī。
The dove dwells in it.
This young lady is going to her future home;
A hundred carriages are meeting her.
The nest is the magpie's;
The dove possesses it.
This young lady is going to her future home;
A hundred carriages are escorting her.
The nest is the magpie's;
The dove fills it.
This young lady is going to her future home;
These hundreds of carriages complete her array.
wéi què yòu cháo， wéi jiū fāng zhī。 zhī zǐ yú guī， bǎi liǎng jiāng zhī。
wéi què yòu cháo， wéi jiū yíng zhī。 zhī zǐ yú guī， bǎi liǎng chéng zhī。
The dove dwells in it.
This young lady is going to her future home;
A hundred carriages are meeting her.
The nest is the magpie's;
The dove possesses it.
This young lady is going to her future home;
A hundred carriages are escorting her.
The nest is the magpie's;
The dove fills it.
This young lady is going to her future home;
These hundreds of carriages complete her array.
yú yǐ cǎi fán？ yú zhǎo yú zhǐ。 yú yǐ yòng zhī？ gōng hóu zhī shì。
yú yǐ cǎi fán？ yú jiàn zhī zhōng。 yú yǐ yòng zhī？ gōng hóu zhī gōng。
bèi zhī tóng tóng， sù yè zài gōng。 bèi zhī qí qí， bó yán hái guī。
By the ponds, on the islets.
She employs it,
In the business of our prince.
She gathers the white southernwood,
Along the streams in the valleys.
She employs it,
In the temple of our prince.
With head-dress reverently rising aloft,
Early, while yet it is night, she is in the prince's temple;
In her dead-dress, slowly retiring,
She returns to her own apartments.
yú yǐ cǎi fán？ yú jiàn zhī zhōng。 yú yǐ yòng zhī？ gōng hóu zhī gōng。
bèi zhī tóng tóng， sù yè zài gōng。 bèi zhī qí qí， bó yán hái guī。
By the ponds, on the islets.
She employs it,
In the business of our prince.
She gathers the white southernwood,
Along the streams in the valleys.
She employs it,
In the temple of our prince.
With head-dress reverently rising aloft,
Early, while yet it is night, she is in the prince's temple;
In her dead-dress, slowly retiring,
She returns to her own apartments.
草虫zhì bǐ nán shān， yán cǎi qí jué。 wèi jiàn jūn zǐ， yōu xīn chuò々。 yì jì jiàn zhǐ， yì jì gòu zhǐ， wǒxīnzéyuè。
zhì bǐ nán shān， yán cǎi qí wēi。 wèi jiàn jūn zǐ， wǒ xīn shāng bēi。 yì jì jiàn zhǐ， yì jì gòu zhǐ， wǒ xīn zé yí。
And the hoppers sprang about.
While I do not see my lord,
My sorrowful heart is agitated.
Let me have seen him,
Let me have met him,
And my heart will then be stilled.
I ascended that hill in the south,
And gathered the turtle-foot ferns.
While I do not see my lord,
My sorrowful heart is very sad.
Let me have seen him,
Let me have met him,
And my heart will then be pleased.
I ascended that hill in the south,
And gathered the thorn-ferns.
While I do not see my lord,
My sorrowful heart is wounded with grief.
Let me have seen him,
Let me have met him,
And my heart will then be at peace.
采蘋yú yǐ shèng zhī？ wéi kuāng jí jǔ。 yú yǐ xiāng zhī？ wéi qí jí fǔ。
yú yǐ diàn zhī？ zōng shì yǒu xià。 shuí qí shī zhī？ yòu qí jì nǚ。
By the banks of the stream in the southern valley.
She gathers the pondweed,
In those pools left by the floods.
She deposits what she gathers,
In her square baskets and round ones
She boils it,
In her tripods and pans.
She sets forth her preparations,
Under the window in the ancestral chamber.
Who superintends the business?
It is [this] reverent young lady.
bì fèi gān táng， wù jiǎn wù fá， zhào bó suǒ lóng。
bì fèi gān táng， wù jiǎn wù bài， zhào bó suǒ qì。
bì fèi gān táng， wù jiǎn wù bài， zhào bó suǒ shuō。
Clip it not, hew it not down.
Under it the chief of Zhou lodged.
[This] umbrageous sweet pear-tree; --
Clip it not, break not a twig of it.
Under it the chief of Zhou rested.
[This] umbrageous sweet pear-tree; --
Clip it not, bend not a twig of it.
Under it the chief of Zhou halted.
bì fèi gān táng， wù jiǎn wù bài， zhào bó suǒ qì。
bì fèi gān táng， wù jiǎn wù bài， zhào bó suǒ shuō。
Clip it not, hew it not down.
Under it the chief of Zhou lodged.
[This] umbrageous sweet pear-tree; --
Clip it not, break not a twig of it.
Under it the chief of Zhou rested.
[This] umbrageous sweet pear-tree; --
Clip it not, bend not a twig of it.
Under it the chief of Zhou halted.
yàn yì xíng lù， qǐ bù sù yè， wèi xíng duō lù。
shuí wèi què wú jiǎo？ hé yǐ chuān wǒ wū？ shuí wèi nǚ wú jiā？ hé yǐ sù wǒ yù？ suī sù wǒ yù， shì jiā bù zú！
shuí wèi shǔ wú yá？ hé yǐ chuān wǒ yōng？ shuí wèi nǚ wú jiā？ hé yǐ sù wǒ sòng？ suī sù wǒ sòng， yì bù nǚ cóng！
Might I not [have walked there] in the early dawn?
But I said there was [too] much dew on the path.
Who can say the sparrow has no horn?
How else can it bore through my house?
Who can say that you did not get me betrothed?
How else could you have urged on this trial?
But though you have forced me to trial,
Your ceremonies for betrothal were not sufficient.
Who can say that the rat has no molar teeth?
How else could it bore through my wall?
Who can say that you did not get me betrothed?
How else could you have urged on this trial?
But though you have forced me to trial,
I will still not follow you.
shuí wèi què wú jiǎo？ hé yǐ chuān wǒ wū？ shuí wèi nǚ wú jiā？ hé yǐ sù wǒ yù？ suī sù wǒ yù， shì jiā bù zú！
shuí wèi shǔ wú yá？ hé yǐ chuān wǒ yōng？ shuí wèi nǚ wú jiā？ hé yǐ sù wǒ sòng？ suī sù wǒ sòng， yì bù nǚ cóng！
Might I not [have walked there] in the early dawn?
But I said there was [too] much dew on the path.
Who can say the sparrow has no horn?
How else can it bore through my house?
Who can say that you did not get me betrothed?
How else could you have urged on this trial?
But though you have forced me to trial,
Your ceremonies for betrothal were not sufficient.
Who can say that the rat has no molar teeth?
How else could it bore through my wall?
Who can say that you did not get me betrothed?
How else could you have urged on this trial?
But though you have forced me to trial,
I will still not follow you.
gāo yáng zhī pí， sù sī wǔ tuó。 tuì shí zì gōng， wēiyí wēiyí。
gāo yáng zhī gé， sù sī wǔ yù。 wēiyí wēiyí， zì gōng tuì shí。
gāo yáng zhī féng， sù sī wǔ zǒng。 wēiyí wēiyí， tuì shí zì gōng。
With their five braidings of white silk!
They have retired from the court to take their their meal;
Easy are they and self-possesed.
[Those] lamb-skins and sheep-skins,
With their five seams wrought with white silk!
Easy are they and self-possessed;
They have retired from the court to take their their meal.
The seams of [those] lamb-skins and sheep-skins,
The five joinings wrought with white silk!
Easy are they and self-possessed;
They have retired to take their their meal from the court.
gāo yáng zhī gé， sù sī wǔ yù。 wēiyí wēiyí， zì gōng tuì shí。
gāo yáng zhī féng， sù sī wǔ zǒng。 wēiyí wēiyí， tuì shí zì gōng。
With their five braidings of white silk!
They have retired from the court to take their their meal;
Easy are they and self-possesed.
[Those] lamb-skins and sheep-skins,
With their five seams wrought with white silk!
Easy are they and self-possessed;
They have retired from the court to take their their meal.
The seams of [those] lamb-skins and sheep-skins,
The five joinings wrought with white silk!
Easy are they and self-possessed;
They have retired to take their their meal from the court.
yǐnqíléi， zài nán shān zhī yáng。 hé sī wéi sī， mò gǎn huò huáng？ zhèn zhèn jūn zǐ， guī zāi guī zāi！
yǐnqíléi， zài nán shān zhī cè。 hé sī wéi sī， mò gǎn huáng xī？ zhèn zhèn jūn zǐ， guī zāi guī zāi！
yǐnqíléi， zài nán shān zhī xià。 hé sī wéi sī， mò huò huáng chù？ zhèn zhèn jūn zǐ， guī zāi guī zāi！
On the south of the southern hill!
How was it he went away from this,
Not daring to take a little rest?
My noble lord!
May he return! May he return!
Grandly rolls the thunder,
About the sides of the southern hill!
How was it he went away from this,
Not daring to take a little rest?
My noble lord!
May he return! May he return!
Grandly rolls the thunder,
At the foot of the southern hill!
How was it he went away from this,
Not remaining a little at rest?
My noble lord!
May he return! May he return!
yǐnqíléi， zài nán shān zhī cè。 hé sī wéi sī， mò gǎn huáng xī？ zhèn zhèn jūn zǐ， guī zāi guī zāi！
yǐnqíléi， zài nán shān zhī xià。 hé sī wéi sī， mò huò huáng chù？ zhèn zhèn jūn zǐ， guī zāi guī zāi！
On the south of the southern hill!
How was it he went away from this,
Not daring to take a little rest?
My noble lord!
May he return! May he return!
Grandly rolls the thunder,
About the sides of the southern hill!
How was it he went away from this,
Not daring to take a little rest?
My noble lord!
May he return! May he return!
Grandly rolls the thunder,
At the foot of the southern hill!
How was it he went away from this,
Not remaining a little at rest?
My noble lord!
May he return! May he return!
biào yòu méi， qí shí qī xī。 qiú wǒ shù shì， dài qí jí xī。
biào yòu méi， qí shí sān xī。 qiú wǒ shù shì， dài qí jīn xī。
biào yòu méi， qǐng kuāng xì zhī。 qiú wǒ shù shì， dài qí wèi zhī。
Let those gentlemen that would court me
Come while it is lucky!
Plop fall the plums; there are still three.
Let any gentleman that would court me
Come before it is too late!
Plop fall the plums; in shallow baskets
We lay them. Any gentleman who would
Court me had better speak while there is time.
Another version:
Biao You Mei
Translated by James Legge (1898)
Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree;
There are [but] seven [tenths] of them left!
For the gentlemen who seek me,
This is the fortunate time!
Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree;
There are [but] three [tenths] of them left!
For the gentlemen who seek me,
Now is the time.
Dropt are the fruits from the plum-tree;
In my shallow basket I have collected them.
Would the gentlemen who seek me
[Only] speak about it!
biào yòu méi， qí shí sān xī。 qiú wǒ shù shì， dài qí jīn xī。
biào yòu méi， qǐng kuāng xì zhī。 qiú wǒ shù shì， dài qí wèi zhī。
Let those gentlemen that would court me
Come while it is lucky!
Plop fall the plums; there are still three.
Let any gentleman that would court me
Come before it is too late!
Plop fall the plums; in shallow baskets
We lay them. Any gentleman who would
Court me had better speak while there is time.
Another version:
Biao You Mei
Translated by James Legge (1898)
Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree;
There are [but] seven [tenths] of them left!
For the gentlemen who seek me,
This is the fortunate time!
Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree;
There are [but] three [tenths] of them left!
For the gentlemen who seek me,
Now is the time.
Dropt are the fruits from the plum-tree;
In my shallow basket I have collected them.
Would the gentlemen who seek me
[Only] speak about it!
小星huì bǐ xiǎo xīng， wéi cānyù mǎo。 sù sù xiāo zhēng， bào qīn yǔ chóu。 shí mìng bù yóu！
Three or five of them in the east,
Swiftly by night we go;
In the early dawn we are with the prince.
Our lot is not like hers.
Small are those starlets,
And there are Orion and the Pleiades.
Swiftly by night we go,
Carrying our coverlets and sheets.
Our lot is not like hers.
jiāng yòu sì， zhī zǐ guī， bù wǒ yǐ。 bù wǒ yǐ， qí hòu yě huǐ。
jiāng yòu zhǔ， zhī zǐ guī， bù wǒ yǔ。 bù wǒ yǔ， qí hòu yě chù。
jiāng yòu tuó， zhī zǐ guī， bù wǒ guò。 bù wǒ guò， qí xiào yě gē。
Our lady, when she was married,
Would not employ us.
She would not employ us;
But afterwards she repented.
The Jiang has its islets.
Our lady, when she was married,
Would not let us be with her.
She would not let us be with her;
But afterwards she repressed [such feelings].
The Jiang has the Tuo.
Our lady, when she was married,
Would not come near us
She would not come near us;
But she blew that feeling away, and sang.
jiāng yòu zhǔ， zhī zǐ guī， bù wǒ yǔ。 bù wǒ yǔ， qí hòu yě chù。
jiāng yòu tuó， zhī zǐ guī， bù wǒ guò。 bù wǒ guò， qí xiào yě gē。
Our lady, when she was married,
Would not employ us.
She would not employ us;
But afterwards she repented.
The Jiang has its islets.
Our lady, when she was married,
Would not let us be with her.
She would not let us be with her;
But afterwards she repressed [such feelings].
The Jiang has the Tuo.
Our lady, when she was married,
Would not come near us
She would not come near us;
But she blew that feeling away, and sang.
yě yòu sǐ jūn， bái máo bāo zhī。 yòu nǚ huái chūn， jí shì yòu zhī。
lín yòu pǔ sù， yě yòu sǐ lù。 bái máo chún shù， yòu nǚ rú yù。
shū 'ér tuō tuō xī， wú gǎn wǒ shuì xī， wú shǐ lóng yě fèi。
And it is wrapped up with the white grass.
There is a young lady with thoughts natural to the spring,
And a fine gentleman would lead her astray.
In the forest there are the scrubby oaks;
In the wild there is a dead deer,
And it is bound round with the white grass.
There is a young lady like a gem.
[She says], Slowly; gently, gently;
Do not move my handkerchief;
Do not make my dog bark.
lín yòu pǔ sù， yě yòu sǐ lù。 bái máo chún shù， yòu nǚ rú yù。
shū 'ér tuō tuō xī， wú gǎn wǒ shuì xī， wú shǐ lóng yě fèi。
And it is wrapped up with the white grass.
There is a young lady with thoughts natural to the spring,
And a fine gentleman would lead her astray.
In the forest there are the scrubby oaks;
In the wild there is a dead deer,
And it is bound round with the white grass.
There is a young lady like a gem.
[She says], Slowly; gently, gently;
Do not move my handkerchief;
Do not make my dog bark.
hé bǐ nóng yǐ， táng dì zhī huá？ hé bù sù yōng？ wáng jī zhī chē。
hé bǐ nóng yǐ， huá rú táo lǐ？ píng wáng zhī sūn， qí hóu zhī zǐ。
qí diào wéi hé？ wéi sī yī mín。 qí hóu zhī zǐ， píng wáng zhī sūn。
Those flowers of the sparrow-plum!
Are they not expressive of reverence and harmony, --
The carriages of the king's daughter?
How great is that luxuriance,
The flowers like those of the peach-tree or the plum!
[See] the grand-daughter of the tranquillizing king,
And the son of the reverent marquis!
What are used in angling?
Silk threads formed into lines.
The son of the reverent marquis,
And the grand-daughter of the tranquillizing king!
hé bǐ nóng yǐ， huá rú táo lǐ？ píng wáng zhī sūn， qí hóu zhī zǐ。
qí diào wéi hé？ wéi sī yī mín。 qí hóu zhī zǐ， píng wáng zhī sūn。
Those flowers of the sparrow-plum!
Are they not expressive of reverence and harmony, --
The carriages of the king's daughter?
How great is that luxuriance,
The flowers like those of the peach-tree or the plum!
[See] the grand-daughter of the tranquillizing king,
And the son of the reverent marquis!
What are used in angling?
Silk threads formed into lines.
The son of the reverent marquis,
And the grand-daughter of the tranquillizing king!
bǐ zhuó zhě jiā， yī fā wǔ bā， yú jiē hū zōu yú！
bǐ zhuó zhě péng， yī fā wǔ zòng， yú jiē hū zōu yú！
He discharges [but] one arrow at five wild boars.
Ah! he is the Zou-yu!
Strong and abundant grow the artemisia;
He discharges [but] one arrow at five wild boars.
Ah! he is the Zou-yu!
bǐ zhuó zhě péng， yī fā wǔ zòng， yú jiē hū zōu yú！
He discharges [but] one arrow at five wild boars.
Ah! he is the Zou-yu!
Strong and abundant grow the artemisia;
He discharges [but] one arrow at five wild boars.
Ah! he is the Zou-yu!