Translation

"Qingming"

(Tang Dynasty) Du Mu

It rains heavily during the Qingming Festival, and pedestrians on the road want to die.

May I ask where the restaurant is? The shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village in the distance.

Chinese: On the day of Qingming, it rains heavily;

The tomb-sweeper traveling alone feels desolate.

"Excuse me, where is the hotel where I can drink away my sorrows?"

The shepherd boy pointed to the distance with a smile: "There is one in Xinghua Village!"

Translated by Wu Juntao (rhyme) style aaba)

It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,

I travel with my heart lost in dismay.

"Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?"

He points at Apricot Village faraway.

(Easy reading index 70.8/Difficulty coefficient 5.1)

English translation by Xu Yuanchong (rhyme aabb )

A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;

The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.

Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?

A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.

(92.3/2.8)

English translation by Cai Tingqian (rhyme style aabb )

The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls' Day,

The men and women sadly move along the way.

They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest ----

And there the herdboy's fingers Almond-Town suggest.

(71.8/5.2)

English translation by Sun Dayu ( Rhyme aaba)

Upon the Clear-and-Bright Feast of spring, the rain drizzleth down in spray.

Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.

When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest,is hereabouts to be found",

The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.

(73.4/5.8)

English translation by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Dai (blank translation)

It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,

Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.

When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,

He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.

(47.3/8.8)

Chinese-English translation by Wan Changsheng and Wang Xun (rhyme style aabb)

The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,

So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.

When asked where could be found a tavern bower,

A cowboy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.

< p>(61.4/6.9)

English translation by Wu Weixiong (rhyme style aabb)

It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,

The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.

When asked for a wineshop to drown his sad hours?

A cowboy points to a hamlet amid apricot flowers.

(86.1/3.6)

English translation by Wu Weixiong (rhyme aaba)

It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,

The mourner travels with his heart lost in dismay.

When asked for a wineshop to kill his gloomy time,

A cowboy points at Almond Hamlet far away.

(78.8/4.3 )