It means that the plum blossoms may not be as sparkling and white as the snowflakes, but the snowflakes are not as fragrant as the plum blossoms.
The poet summarized the different characteristics of plum blossoms and snow in two lines of poetry. The writing was full of wit and humor, highlighting the fragrance of plum blossoms and the whiteness of snowflakes. It is both emotional and rational.
Source: "Snow Plum" by Lu Yue of the Song Dynasty
Full poem:
The plum blossoms and snow are fighting for spring but they are not willing to fall, so Sao Renge paid for the commentary.
The plum blossoms are less white than the snow, but the snow is less fragrant than the plum blossoms.
Translation:
Both plum blossoms and snowflakes think that they have all the beauty of spring, and neither one is willing to admit defeat. It is difficult to judge the quality of plum and snow, so I have to put down my pen and think about it carefully. The plum blossoms make the snowflakes crystal white, but the snowflakes lose some of the fragrance of the plum blossoms.
Note:
Lu Meipo, a poet of the Song Dynasty. The year of birth and death is unknown. "Meipo" is not his name, but he calls himself Meipo.
Jiang (xiáng): surrender.
Sao Ren: poet.
Gebi: Put down the pen. Pavilion, the same as "put down".
Commentary: A review article, here refers to a review of the quality of plum and snow.
Xun: inferior to, inferior to.
Appreciation:
The first sentence uses personification to write that plum blossoms and snowflakes compete with each other. They both think they are the most distinctive in early spring, and they do not admit defeat. This compares the plum blossoms in early spring with the snowflakes. The beauty of snowflakes is expressed in a unique and vivid way. The second sentence states that it is difficult for the poet to judge between the two. The poet originally thought that it would be done in one stroke, but because it was difficult to judge, he had to stop writing and think. "Commentary" means evaluation.
The last two sentences are the poet's comments on plum blossoms and snow. In terms of whiteness, plum blossoms are worse than snow, but snow does not have the fragrance of plum blossoms. "Three points" is almost the same, and "one paragraph" materializes the aroma, making people feel that the aroma can be measured. The predecessors have noticed these characteristics of plum blossoms and snow. For example, Cen Shen's "Song of White Snow Sends Magistrate Wu Back to the Capital": "Suddenly a spring breeze came overnight, and thousands of pear blossoms bloomed." Wang Anshi's poem "Plum Blossoms": "There are several corners of the wall. The branches of plum blossoms bloom alone in Ling Han. I know it is not snow, because there is a faint fragrance." However, this poem summarizes the different characteristics of plum blossoms and snow in two lines, which is very interesting and has a certain impact.