Returning Late on the Road from Pingquan on a Winter's Day
- Poetry of Bai Juyi

《冬日平泉路晚归》

中文原文( Chinese )

山路难行日易斜，烟村霜树欲栖鸦。

夜归不到应闲事，热饮三杯即是家。

English Translation

The mountain road is hard to travel, the sun now slanting down,

In a misty village, a crow lands on a frosted tree.

I'll not arrive before night falls, but that should not concern me,

Once I've drunk three warm cups, I'll feel as if at home.

By Bai Juyi

- Last updated: 2024-03-19 13:20:15

Why Chinese poems is so special?: The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.

How to read a Chinese poem?: Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

List of Chinese poets