Compassion for the Farmers
Li Shen
chú hé rì dāng wǔ
It is noon on the day of hoeing,
hàn dī hé xià tǔ
Sweat drips from the soil.
shuí zhī pán zhōng cān
Who knew that eating a plate of Chinese food,
lì lì jiē xīn kǔ
Every grain of it is hard work.
Author's background
See the author's background of "Compassion for the Peasants".
Explanation of words
He: grass seedlings.
Meal on the plate: Meal in a bowl.
Modern translation of ancient poems
It was noon when the farmers were working hard to hoe the crops, and drops of sweat fell into the soil under the crops. Who knows that every grain of rice on the plate is the hard work of farmers.
Appreciation of famous lines - "Who knows that every grain of food on the plate is hard work."
The beginning of the poem talks about the hard work of farmers farming at noon under the scorching sun, reminding people to cherish the farmers' The fruits of labor, the poem expresses deep sympathy and respect for farmers. The poet uses a very rough style to outline a scene of field work: farmers do not avoid the scorching sun and are sweating profusely while hoeing the crop fields. It reminds people that every grain of food is hard-won. This scene is very prominent in the poem. It can also remind us of how many people are cooling off in the shade and enjoying the fruits of farmers' labor with peace of mind? Those sumptuous "meals on the plate" of wealthy people are the result of farmers' hard work in the rain and the scorching sun! This sharp contrast allows us to see the poet's sympathy for the farmers and his dissatisfaction with the unequal reality.