勿待来日应
wù dài lái rì yīng
Do not wait for another day,
就趁这大好时候
jiù chèn zhè dà hǎo shí hòu
Seize this perfect moment,
呼邀两三故友
hū yāo liǎng sān gù yǒu
Call upon two or three old friends,
沐春光饮陈酒
mù chūn guāng yǐn chén jiǔ
Bask in the spring light, drink aged wine.
一舞霓常后
yī wǔ ní cháng hòu
After a dance in the rainbow’s glow,
再抚瑶琴的尽兴
zài fǔ yáo qín de jìn xìng
Play the jade zither to your heart’s content.
似此珍之惜之
sì cǐ zhēn zhī xī zhī
Cherish and value such moments,
岁月长留否
suì yuè cháng liú fǒu
Will time stand still for us?
初见时木樨还没香透
chū jiàn shí mù xī hái méi xiāng tòu
When we first met, the osmanthus hadn’t yet filled the air with fragrance,
飞转车轮过
fēi zhuàn chē lún guò
The spinning wheels of time passed by,
年少意气投
nián shào yì qì tóu
In our youthful vigor, we aligned our spirits,
却遗漏梢头
què yí lòu shāo tóu
Yet missed the subtle signs.
豆蔻怎知守
dòu kòu zěn zhī shǒu
How could the young buds know to stay,
萋萋芳草淹了 涯岸往昔渡口
qī qī fāng cǎo yān le yá àn wǎng xī dù kǒu
The lush green grass drowned the old ferry,
无波江面浮一叶扁舟
wú bō jiāng miàn fú yī yè piān zhōu
The calm river surface floats a single boat.
崖岸转角过
yá àn zhuǎn jiǎo guò
Around the cliff’s bend,
短笛声清悠
duǎn dí shēng qīng yōu
The short flute’s sound is pure and gentle,
风骤起袭卷着岁前杨柳
fēng zhòu qǐ xí juǎn zhe suì qián yáng liǔ
The sudden wind sweeps through the willows before the New Year,
竟敢梦那场
jìng gǎn mèng nà chǎng
Daring to dream of that journey,
未能相送的远游
wèi néng xiāng sòng de yuǎn yóu
The one I couldn’t see off.
可待来日趁
kě dài lái rì chèn
If you wait for another day,
赶上这大好时候
gǎn shàng zhè dà hǎo shí hòu
You’ll miss this perfect moment,
呼邀两三故友
hū yāo liǎng sān gù yǒu
Call upon two or three old friends,
享清风品新茗
xiǎng qīng fēng pǐn xīn míng
Enjoy the cool breeze, savor the new tea.
一抚瑶琴后
yī fǔ yáo qín hòu
After playing the jade zither,
再舞霓常够尽兴
zài wǔ ní cháng gòu jìn xìng
Dance in the rainbow’s glow to your heart’s content.
若此美景良辰
ruò cǐ měi jǐng liáng chén
With such beautiful scenes and good times,
岁月予我否
suì yuè yǔ wǒ fǒu
Will time grant us this favor?
初见时木樨还没香透
chū jiàn shí mù xī hái méi xiāng tòu
When we first met, the osmanthus hadn’t yet filled the air with fragrance,
飞转车轮过
fēi zhuàn chē lún guò
The spinning wheels of time passed by,
年少意气投
nián shào yì qì tóu
In our youthful vigor, we aligned our spirits,
却遗漏梢头
què yí lòu shāo tóu
Yet missed the subtle signs.
豆蔻怎知守
dòu kòu zěn zhī shǒu
How could the young buds know to stay,
萋萋芳草淹了 涯岸往昔渡口
qī qī fāng cǎo yān le yá àn wǎng xī dù kǒu
The lush green grass drowned the old ferry,
鱼沉雁杳有个中缘由
yú chén yàn yǎo yǒu gè zhōng yuán yóu
There are reasons for the silence of fish and geese.
鹤去而复返
hè qù ér fù fǎn
The crane departs and returns,
阔别多年后
kuò bié duō nián hòu
After many years apart,
还如旧海角
hái rú jiù hǎi jiǎo
The old sea corner remains the same,
天边初心守
tiān biān chū xīn shǒu
Guarding the 初心 at the horizon.
一茶一坐一语一眼
yī chá yī zuò yī yǔ yī yǎn
A cup of tea, a seat, a word, a glance,
无忧无愁
wú yōu wú chóu
Worry-free, carefree.
勿待来日应
wù dài lái rì yīng
Do not wait for another day,
就趁这大好时候
jiù chèn zhè dà hǎo shí hòu
Seize this perfect moment,
呼邀两三故友
hū yāo liǎng sān gù yǒu
Call upon two or three old friends,
享清风品新茗
xiǎng qīng fēng pǐn xīn míng
Enjoy the cool breeze, savor the new tea.
一舞霓常后
yī wǔ ní cháng hòu
After a dance in the rainbow’s glow,
再抚瑶琴的尽兴
zài fǔ yáo qín de jìn xìng
Play the jade zither to your heart’s content.
似此珍之惜之
sì cǐ zhēn zhī xī zhī
Cherish and value such moments,
岁月长留否
suì yuè cháng liú fǒu
Will time stand still for us?
勿待来日应
wù dài lái rì yīng
Do not wait for another day,
就趁这大好时候
jiù chèn zhè dà hǎo shí hòu
Seize this perfect moment,
纵便孤身孑然
zòng biàn gū shēn jié rán
Even if alone,
赏春光共新茗
shǎng chūn guāng gòng xīn míng
Appreciate the spring light with new tea,
自抚瑶琴再
zì fǔ yáo qín zài
Play the jade zither once more,
独踏春兴阴雨后
dú tà chūn xīng yīn yǔ hòu
After the spring rain, walk in the shade,
唯此心境常有
wéi cǐ xīn jìng cháng yǒu
If this mindset remains constant,
岁月长留否
suì yuè cháng liú fǒu
Will time stand still for us?