2018-09-24

When will the moon be clear and bright?

With a cup of wine in my hand,

I ask the blue sky.

I don’t know what season it would be

in the heavens on this night.

明月几时有

把酒问青天

不知天上宫阙

今夕是何年

I’d like to ride the wind to fly home.

Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions

are much too high and cold for me.

Dancing with my moon-lit shadow,

It does not seem like the human world.

我欲乘风归去

又恐琼楼玉宇

高处不胜寒

起舞弄清影

何似在人间

The moon rounds the red mansion

Stoops to silk-pad doors,

Shines upon the sleepless,

Bearing no grudge,

Why does the moon tend to be full

when people are apart?

转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠

不应有恨，何事长向别时圆

People may have sorrow or joy,

be near or far apart,

The moon may be dim or bright,

wax or wane,

This has been going on

since the beginning of time.

人有悲欢离合

月有阴晴圆缺

此事古难全

May we all be blessed with longevity

Though far apart,

we are still able to share

the beauty of the moon together.

但愿人长久

千里共婵娟

(Translated By Shun-Yi Lee in 1998)