pí pá xíng
琵 琶 行
Parting at the Pipa Melody

táng bái jū yì
(唐) 白 居 易
(Tang) Bai Juyi

yuán hé shí nián yú zuǒ qiān jiǔ jiāng jùn sī mǎ
元 和 十 年 ， 予 左 迁 九 江 郡 司 马 。
In the tenth year of the Yuanhe era, I was demoted to the position of Sima in Jiujiang Prefecture.

míng nián qiū sòng kè pén pǔ kǒu
明 年 秋 ， 送 客 湓 浦 口 ，
The following autumn, I was seeing off a guest at the Pengpu docks,

wén zhōu zhōng yè tán pí pá zhě
闻 舟 中 夜 弹 琵 琶 者 ，
where I heard someone playing the pipa in a boat at night.

tīng qí yīn zhēng zhēng rán yǒu jīng dū shēng
听 其 音 ， 铮 铮 然 有 京 都 声 。
Listening to the sound, it was so crisp and resonant, reminiscent of the capital’s melodies.

wèn qí rén běn cháng ān chāng nǚ cháng xué pí pá yú mù cáo èr shàn cái
问 其 人 ， 本 长 安 倡 女 ， 尝 学 琵 琶 于 穆 、 曹 二 善 才 ，
I asked about the person, who turned out to be a former singing girl from Chang’an,

nián zhǎng sè shuāi wěi shēn wéi gǔ rén fù
年 长 色 衰 ， 委 身 为 贾 人 妇 。
who had learned to play the pipa from two talented teachers, Mu and Cao.

suì mìng jiǔ shǐ kuài tán shù qǔ
遂 命 酒 ， 使 快 弹 数 曲 。
As she grew older and lost her beauty, she became the wife of a merchant.

qǔ bà mǐn rán zì xù shào xiǎo shí huān lè shì
曲 罢 悯 然 ， 自 叙 少 小 时 欢 乐 事 ，
I then ordered wine and asked her to play several tunes quickly.

jīn piāo lún qiáo cuì zhuǎn xǐ yú jiāng hú jiān
今 漂 沦 憔 悴 ， 转 徙 于 江 湖 间 。
After the tunes were over, she looked saddened and recounted the happy times of her youth,

yú chū guān èr nián tián rán zì ān
予 出 官 二 年 ， 恬 然 自 安 ，
now drifting and withering away, wandering between rivers and lakes.

gǎn sī rén yán shì xī shǐ jué yǒu qiān zhé yì
感 斯 人 言 ， 是 夕 始 觉 有 迁 谪 意 。
I had been in office for two years, living peacefully and contentedly,

yīn wèi cháng jù gē yǐ zèng zhī
因 为 长 句 ， 歌 以 赠 之 ，
but upon hearing this person’s words, I began to feel the sorrow of exile that night.

fán liù bǎi yī shí liù yán mìng yuē pí pá xíng
凡 六 百 一 十 六 言 ， 命 曰 《 琵 琶 行 》 。
Thus, I composed a long verse and sang it as a gift to her,

xún yáng jiāng tóu yè sòng kè
浔 阳 江 头 夜 送 客 ，
consisting of 616 words, titled “Parting at the Pipa Melody.”

fēng yè dí huā qiū sè sè
枫 叶 荻 花 秋 瑟 瑟 。
At the banks of Xunyang River, guests bid farewell at night,

zhǔ rén xià mǎ kè zài chuán
主 人 下 马 客 在 船 ，
with maple leaves and reed flowers in the chilly autumn breeze.

jǔ jiǔ yù yǐn wú guǎn xián
举 酒 欲 饮 无 管 弦 。
The host dismounts his horse while the guest stays on the boat,

zuì bù chéng huān cǎn jiāng bié
醉 不 成 欢 惨 将 别 ，
raising wine to drink, but without any music to accompany.

bié shí máng máng jiāng jìn yuè
别 时 茫 茫 江 浸 月 。
At the time of parting, the vast river was soaked in moonlight.

hū wén shuǐ shàng pí pá shēng
忽 闻 水 上 琵 琶 声 ，
Suddenly, the sound of a pipa on the water could be heard.

zhǔ rén wàng guī kè bù fā
主 人 忘 归 客 不 发 。
The host forgot to return, and the guest did not set off.

xún shēng àn wèn tán zhě shuí
寻 声 暗 问 弹 者 谁 ？
Seeking the sound, I quietly asked who was playing.

pí pá shēng tíng yù yǔ chí
琵 琶 声 停 欲 语 迟 。
The pipa sound stopped, and the player hesitated to speak.

yí chuán xiāng jìn yāo xiāng jiàn
移 船 相 近 邀 相 见 ，
Moving the boat closer, I invited them to meet.

tiān jiǔ huí dēng chóng kāi yàn
添 酒 回 灯 重 开 宴 。
Adding wine, turning up the lamp, and reopening the feast.

qiān hū wàn huàn shǐ chū lái
千 呼 万 唤 始 出 来 ，
After thousands of calls, she finally came out.

yóu bào pí pá bàn zhē miàn
犹 抱 琵 琶 半 遮 面 。
Still holding the pipa, she half-covered her face.

zhuǎn zhóu bō xián sān liǎng shēng
转 轴 拨 弦 三 两 声 ，
Turning the axis and plucking a few strings.

wèi chéng qǔ diào xiān yǒu qíng
未 成 曲 调 先 有 情 。
Before a melody was formed, emotions were already present.

xián xián yǎn yì shēng shēng sī
弦 弦 掩 抑 声 声 思 ，
Muffled notes, string by string, filled with longing.

sì sù píng shēng bù dé zhì
似 诉 平 生 不 得 志 。
As if telling a lifetime of unfulfilled aspirations.

dī méi xìn shǒu xù xù tán
低 眉 信 手 续 续 弹 ，
With lowered brows and a casual hand, she continued to play.

shuō jìn xīn zhōng wú xiàn shì
说 尽 心 中 无 限 事 。
Expressing the endless thoughts in her heart.

qīng lǒng màn niǎn mò fù tiǎo
轻 拢 慢 捻 抹 复 挑 ，
Gently gathering, slowly twisting, stroking, and picking.

chū wéi ní cháng hòu liù yāo
初 为 《 霓 裳 》 后 《 六 幺 》 。
First playing “Rainbow Skirt,” then “Six Beats.”

dà xián cáo cáo rú jí yǔ
大 弦 嘈 嘈 如 急 雨 ，
The heavy strings were noisy like a sudden rain.

xiǎo xián qiè qiè rú sī yǔ
小 弦 切 切 如 私 语 。
The light strings were sharp like whispered conversations.

cáo cáo qiē qiē cuò zá tán
嘈 嘈 切 切 错 杂 弹 ，
Noisy and sharp, the strings were played in a mixed manner.

dà zhū xiǎo zhū luò yù pán
大 珠 小 珠 落 玉 盘 。
Large pearls and small pearls fall onto a jade plate.

jiàn guān yīng yǔ huā dǐ huá
间 关 莺 语 花 底 滑 ，
In between, the oriole’s song slips beneath the flowers,

yōu yè quán liú bīng xià nán
幽 咽 泉 流 冰 下 难 。
A secluded, murmuring stream flows with difficulty under the ice.

bīng quán lěng sè xián níng jué
冰 泉 冷 涩 弦 凝 绝 ，
The icy spring’s cold and sluggish strings become frozen and still,

níng jué bù tōng shēng zàn xiē
凝 绝 不 通 声 暂 歇 。
Frozen and still, the sound ceases momentarily.

bié yǒu yōu chóu àn hèn shēng
别 有 幽 愁 暗 恨 生 ，
A different kind of melancholy and hidden resentment arises,

cǐ shí wú shēng shèng yǒu shēng
此 时 无 声 胜 有 声 。
At this moment, silence is more powerful than sound.

yín píng zhà pò shuǐ jiāng bèng
银 瓶 乍 破 水 浆 迸 ，
A silver bottle suddenly shatters, splashing the water and liquid,

tiě qí tū chū dāo qiāng míng
铁 骑 突 出 刀 枪 鸣 。
Iron cavalry bursts forth, with the clashing of swords and spears.

qǔ zhōng shōu bō dāng xīn huà
曲 终 收 拨 当 心 画 ，
At the end of the song, the pick is collected and drawn right through the heart,

sì xián yī shēng rú liè bó
四 弦 一 声 如 裂 帛 。
A single sound from the four strings is like a torn silk.

dōng chuán xī fǎng qiǎo wú yán
东 船 西 舫 悄 无 言 ，
The eastern boat and the western ferry are silent without a word,

wéi jiàn jiāng xīn qiū yuè bái
唯 见 江 心 秋 月 白 。
Only the autumn moon’s white glow is seen in the heart of the river.

chén yín fàng bō chā xián zhōng
沉 吟 放 拨 插 弦 中 ，
Pondering, the pick is put away and the strings are adjusted,

zhěng dùn yī cháng qǐ liǎn róng
整 顿 衣 裳 起 敛 容 。
The clothes are tidied up, and a solemn expression is put on.

zì yán běn shì jīng chéng nǚ
自 言 本 是 京 城 女 ，
She says she was originally a girl from the capital,

jiā zài há má líng xià zhù
家 在 虾 蟆 陵 下 住 。
Living beneath the HamaLing.

shí sān xué dé pí pá chéng
十 三 学 得 琵 琶 成 ，
At the age of thirteen, she learned to play the pipa proficiently,

míng shǔ jiào fāng dì yī bù
名 属 教 坊 第 一 部 。
Her name belonged to the first division of the Imperial Music Academy.

qǔ bà céng jiào shàn cái fú
曲 罢 曾 教 善 才 服 ，
After the song, she had taught talented individuals to submit,

zhuāng chéng měi bèi qiū niáng dù
妆 成 每 被 秋 娘 妒 。
Makeup becomes the envy of every autumn lady.

wǔ líng nián shào zhēng chán tóu
五 陵 年 少 争 缠 头 ，
Young men of the Five Tombs compete for her attention.

yī qǔ hóng xiāo bù zhī shù
一 曲 红 绡 不 知 数 。
Countless red silk tunes are played for her.

diàn tóu yín bì jī jié suì
钿 头 银 篦 击 节 碎 ，
Golden hairpins and silver combs break to the rhythm.

xuè sè luó qún fān jiǔ wū
血 色 罗 裙 翻 酒 污 。
The blood-red silk skirt is stained with wine.

jīn nián huān xiào fù míng nián
今 年 欢 笑 复 明 年 ，
This year’s laughter and joy will be gone by next year.

qiū yuè chūn fēng děng xián dù
秋 月 春 风 等 闲 度 。
The autumn moon and spring breeze pass by idly.

dì zǒu cóng jūn ā yí sǐ
弟 走 从 军 阿 姨 死 ，
Brother goes to war, Aunt dies.

mù qù zhāo lái yán sè gù
暮 去 朝 来 颜 色 故 。
Day and night, their faces remain unchanged.

mén qián lěng luò ān mǎ xī
门 前 冷 落 鞍 马 稀 ，
The front door becomes cold and quiet, with few horses and saddles.

lǎo dà jià zuò shāng rén fù
老 大 嫁 作 商 人 妇 。
The eldest marries a merchant’s wife.

shāng rén zhòng lì qīng bié lí
商 人 重 利 轻 别 离 ，
The merchant values profit over parting.

qián yuè fú liáng mǎi chá qù
前 月 浮 梁 买 茶 去 。
Last month, he went to Fuling to buy tea.

qù lái jiāng kǒu shǒu kōng chuán
去 来 江 口 守 空 船 ，
Coming and going, she guards the empty boat at the river mouth.

rào chuán yuè míng jiāng shuǐ hán
绕 船 月 明 江 水 寒 。
The moon shines brightly around the boat, and the river water is cold.

yè shēn hū mèng shào nián shì
夜 深 忽 梦 少 年 事 ，
In the deep night, she suddenly dreams of her youth.

mèng tí zhuāng lèi hóng lán gān
梦 啼 妆 泪 红 阑 干 。
Crying in her dream, her makeup tears stain the red railing.

wǒ wén pí pá yǐ tàn xī
我 闻 琵 琶 已 叹 息 ，
I’ve heard the pipa and already sighed.

yòu wén cǐ yǔ chóng jī jī
又 闻 此 语 重 唧 唧 。
Now I hear these words again, with a lingering sadness.

tóng shì tiān yá lún luò rén
同 是 天 涯 沦 落 人 ，
We are both fallen souls at the ends of the earth.

xiāng féng hé bì céng xiāng shí
相 逢 何 必 曾 相 识 ！
Our meeting need not have been preceded by acquaintance!

wǒ cóng qù nián cí dì jīng
我 从 去 年 辞 帝 京 ，
I left the capital last year,

zhé jū wò bìng xún yáng chéng
谪 居 卧 病 浔 阳 城 。
Exiled and bedridden, I lived in Xinyang City. Xinyang is a remote place without music,

xún yáng dì pì wú yīn yuè
浔 阳 地 僻 无 音 乐 ，
All year round, I never heard the sound of strings or bamboo flutes.

zhōng suì bù wén sī zhú shēng
终 岁 不 闻 丝 竹 声 。
Living close to the Pengjiang River and in a damp area,

zhù jìn pén jiāng dì dī shī
住 近 湓 江 地 低 湿 ，
Reeds and bitter bamboos grow around my dwelling.

huáng lú kǔ zhú rào zhái shēng
黄 芦 苦 竹 绕 宅 生 。
What did I hear during the day and night?

qí jiān dàn mù wén hé wù
其 间 旦 暮 闻 何 物 ？
The cuckoo’s bloody cries and the gibbon’s mournful howls.

dù juān tí xuè yuán āi míng
杜 鹃 啼 血 猿 哀 鸣 。
During the spring’s blooming and the autumn’s moonlit nights,

chūn jiāng huā zhāo qiū yuè yè
春 江 花 朝 秋 月 夜 ，
I often took wine and drank alone.

wǎng wǎng qǔ jiǔ hái dú qīng
往 往 取 酒 还 独 倾 。
Aren’t there any folk songs or village flutes?

qǐ wú shān gē yǔ cūn dí
岂 无 山 歌 与 村 笛 ？
The harsh and grating sounds are hard to listen to.

ōu yā zhāo zhā nán wéi tīng
呕 哑 嘲 哳 难 为 听 。
Tonight, I hear your pipa’s voice,

jīn yè wén jūn pí pá yǔ
今 夜 闻 君 琵 琶 语 ，
It’s like listening to celestial music, my ears momentarily enlightened.

rú tīng xiān yuè ěr zàn míng
如 听 仙 乐 耳 暂 明 。
Don’t refuse to play another tune,

mò cí gèng zuò tán yī qǔ
莫 辞 更 坐 弹 一 曲 ，
For you, I will rewrite “The Song of the Pipa Player.”

wèi jūn fān pí pá xíng
为 君 翻 作 《 琵 琶 行 》 。
Touched by my words, you stood for a long time,

gǎn wǒ cǐ yán liáng jiǔ lì
感 我 此 言 良 久 立 ，
Then sat back down, urging the strings to play more urgently.

què zuò cù xián xián zhuǎn jí
却 坐 促 弦 弦 转 急 。
The sound was no longer like before,

qī qī bù sì xiàng qián shēng
凄 凄 不 似 向 前 声 ，
Sorrowful and unlike the voices of before

mǎn zuò chóng wén jiē yǎn qì
满 座 重 闻 皆 掩 泣 。
Full seats, heavy news, all concealed, weeping.

zuò zhōng qì xià shuí zuì duō
座 中 泣 下 谁 最 多 ？
Among the seats, who weeps the most?

jiāng zhōu sī mǎ qīng shān shī
江 州 司 马 青 衫 湿 。
The Governor of Jiangzhou, his blue robe wet.