guī qù lái xī cí bìng xù
归 去 来 兮 辞 · 并 序
Returning Home Lament and Preface

wèi jìn táo yuān míng
( 魏 晋 ) 陶 渊 明
(Wei Jin) Tao Yuanming

yú jiā pín gēng zhí bù zú yǐ zì jǐ
余 家 贫 ， 耕 植 不 足 以 自 给 。
My family is poor, and farming is insufficient to support us.

yòu zhì yíng shì píng wú chǔ sù
幼 稚 盈 室 ， 瓶 无 储 粟 ，
With many young children in the house and no stored grain in the bottle,

shēng shēng suǒ zī wèi jiàn qí shù
生 生 所 资 ， 未 见 其 术 。
I have not yet found a way to sustain our lives.

qīn gù duō quàn yú wéi zhǎng lì tuō rán yǒu huái qiú zhī mǐ tú
亲 故 多 劝 余 为 长 吏 ， 脱 然 有 怀 ， 求 之 靡 途 。
Relatives and friends often advised me to become a high-ranking official, but I had no interest in pursuing such a path.

huì yǒu sì fāng zhī shì zhū hóu yǐ huì ài wéi dé
会 有 四 方 之 事 ， 诸 侯 以 惠 爱 为 德 ，
There happened to be matters concerning all four directions, and the princes regarded benevolence and love as virtues.

jiā shū yǐ yú pín kǔ suì jiàn yòng yú xiǎo yì
家 叔 以 余 贫 苦 ， 遂 见 用 于 小 邑 。
My uncle, seeing my poverty and suffering, helped me obtain a position in a small town.

yú shí fēng bō wèi jìng xīn dàn yuǎn yì péng zé qù jiā bǎi lǐ
于 时 风 波 未 静 ， 心 惮 远 役 ， 彭 泽 去 家 百 里 ，
At that time, the winds and waves had not yet calmed, and I was apprehensive about being sent far away. Pengze was a hundred miles away from home,

gōng tián zhī lì zú yǐ wéi jiǔ gù biàn qiú zhī
公 田 之 利 ， 足 以 为 酒 。 故 便 求 之 。
and the profits from the public fields were enough to make wine. So I gladly sought this position.

jí shǎo rì juàn rán yǒu guī yú zhī qíng hé zé
及 少 日 ， 眷 然 有 归 欤 之 情 。 何 则 ？
After a few days, I felt a strong desire to return home. Why was that?

zhì xìng zì rán fēi jiǎo lì suǒ dé jī dòng suī qiè wéi jǐ jiāo bìng
质 性 自 然 ， 非 矫 厉 所 得 。 饥 冻 虽 切 ， 违 己 交 病 。
My nature is inherently simple, and it cannot be achieved through artificial means. Although hunger and cold are pressing issues, going against my own nature brings even more suffering.

cháng cóng rén shì jiē kǒu fù zì yì
尝 从 人 事 ， 皆 口 腹 自 役 。
I have tried to serve others, but it always led to self-enslavement for the sake of food and clothing.

yú shì chàng rán kāng kǎi shēn kuì píng shēng zhī zhì
于 是 怅 然 慷 慨 ， 深 愧 平 生 之 志 。
Thus, I felt a deep sense of melancholy and indignation, ashamed of my life’s aspirations.

yóu wàng yī rěn dāng liǎn cháng xiāo shì
犹 望 一 稔 ， 当 敛 裳 宵 逝 。
I still hoped to wait for one harvest, and then I would leave at night with my clothes gathered.

xún chéng shì mèi sāng yú wǔ chāng
寻 程 氏 妹 丧 于 武 昌 ，
I then learned of the death of my younger sister’s husband in Wuchang,

qíng zài jùn bēn zì miǎn qù zhí
情 在 骏 奔 ， 自 免 去 职 。
and I was eager to rush there, so I resigned from my position.

zhòng qiū zhì dōng zài guān bā shí yú rì
仲 秋 至 冬 ， 在 官 八 十 余 日 。
From mid-autumn to winter, I served in the official post for more than 80 days.

yīn shì shùn xīn mìng piān yuē guī qù lái xī
因 事 顺 心 ， 命 篇 曰 《 归 去 来 兮 》 。
As things went smoothly, I named this piece “Returning and Coming Back.”

yǐ sì suì shí yī yuè yě
乙 巳 岁 十 一 月 也 。
It was in the 11th month of the Yi Si year.

guī qù lái xī tián yuán jiāng wú hú bù guī
归 去 来 兮 ， 田 园 将 芜 胡 不 归 ？
Returning home, the garden is overgrown; why not go back?

jì zì yǐ xīn wèi xíng yì xī chóu chàng ér dú bēi
既 自 以 心 为 形 役 ， 奚 惆 怅 而 独 悲 ？
Having already enslaved my heart to my body, why be melancholic and sorrowful alone?

wù yǐ wǎng zhī bù jiàn zhī lái zhě zhī kě zhuī
悟 已 往 之 不 谏 ， 知 来 者 之 可 追 。
Realizing the past cannot be admonished, knowing the future can be pursued.

shí mí tú qí wèi yuǎn jué jīn shì ér zuó fēi
实 迷 途 其 未 远 ， 觉 今 是 而 昨 非 。
Truly lost in the path, but not too far gone; realizing today is right and yesterday was wrong.

zhōu yáo yáo yǐ qīng yáng fēng piāo piāo ér chuī yī
舟 遥 遥 以 轻 飏 ， 风 飘 飘 而 吹 衣 。
The boat drifts far and light, the wind flutters and blows my clothes.

wèn zhēng fū yǐ qián lù hèn chén guāng zhī xī wēi
问 征 夫 以 前 路 ， 恨 晨 光 之 熹 微 。
Asking the traveler about the road ahead, regretting the faint morning light.

nǎi zhān héng yǔ zài xīn zài bēn
乃 瞻 衡 宇 ， 载 欣 载 奔 。
Then I gaze at the balance of the universe, filled with joy and haste.

tóng pú huān yíng zhì zǐ hòu mén
僮 仆 欢 迎 ， 稚 子 候 门 。
Servants welcome, children wait at the door.

sān jìng jiù huāng sōng jú yóu cún
三 径 就 荒 ， 松 菊 犹 存 。
Three paths have become wild, but pine and chrysanthemums still remain.

xié yòu rù shì yǒu jiǔ yíng zūn
携 幼 入 室 ， 有 酒 盈 樽 。
Leading the young ones into the room, wine fills the cup.

yǐn hú shāng yǐ zì zhuó miǎn tíng kē yǐ yí yán
引 壶 觞 以 自 酌 ， 眄 庭 柯 以 怡 颜 。
Pouring wine to self-enjoy, gazing at the courtyard trees to please my face.

yǐ nán chuāng yǐ jì ào shěn róng xī zhī yì ān
倚 南 窗 以 寄 傲 ， 审 容 膝 之 易 安 。
Leaning against the south window to express pride, realizing the ease of contentment in a simple life.

yuán rì shè yǐ chéng qù mén suī shè ér cháng guān
园 日 涉 以 成 趣 ， 门 虽 设 而 常 关 。
The garden becomes interesting through daily walks, the gate is open but often closed.

cè fú lǎo yǐ liú qì shí jiǎo shǒu ér xiá guān
策 扶 老 以 流 憩 ， 时 矫 首 而 遐 观 。
Supporting the old with a cane to rest, occasionally raising my head and looking far.

yún wú xīn yǐ chū xiù niǎo juàn fēi ér zhī huán
云 无 心 以 出 岫 ， 鸟 倦 飞 而 知 还 。
Clouds drift without intention, birds grow tired of flying and know to return.

jǐng yì yì yǐ jiāng rù fǔ gū sōng ér pán huán
景 翳 翳 以 将 入 ， 抚 孤 松 而 盘 桓 。
The scenery becomes dim as it approaches, caressing the lonely pine and lingering.

guī qù lái xī qǐng xī jiāo yǐ jué yóu
归 去 来 兮 ， 请 息 交 以 绝 游 。
Returning home, please stop socializing and cease wandering.

shì yǔ wǒ ér xiāng wéi fù jià yán xī yān qiú
世 与 我 而 相 违 ， 复 驾 言 兮 焉 求 ？
The world contradicts me, so where should I seek?

yuè qīn qī zhī qíng huà lè qín shū yǐ xiāo yōu
悦 亲 戚 之 情 话 ， 乐 琴 书 以 消 忧 。
Delighting in the affectionate conversations with relatives, enjoying the music and books to dispel sorrow.

nóng rén gào yú yǐ chūn jí jiāng yǒu shì yú xī chóu
农 人 告 余 以 春 及 ， 将 有 事 于 西 畴 。
The farmer informs me of the coming spring, and I shall have work in the western fields.

huò mìng jīn chē huò zhào gū zhōu
或 命 巾 车 ， 或 棹 孤 舟 。
Or command a carriage, or paddle a solitary boat.

jì yǎo tiǎo yǐ xún hè yì qí qū ér jīng qiū
既 窈 窕 以 寻 壑 ， 亦 崎 岖 而 经 丘 。
Both winding through valleys and traversing rugged hills.

mù xīn xīn yǐ xiàng róng quán juān juān ér shǐ liú
木 欣 欣 以 向 荣 ， 泉 涓 涓 而 始 流 。
Trees rejoice in their growth, while springs begin to trickle.

shàn wàn wù zhī dé shí gǎn wú shēng zhī xíng xiū
善 万 物 之 得 时 ， 感 吾 生 之 行 休 。
Marveling at the prosperity of all things, I feel content with my life’s journey and rest.

yǐ yǐ hū yù xíng yǔ nèi fù jǐ shí
已 矣 乎 ！ 寓 形 宇 内 复 几 时 ？
Alas! How long can my form dwell within this universe?

hé bù wěi xīn rèn qù liú hú wèi hū huáng huáng yù hé zhī
曷 不 委 心 任 去 留 ？ 胡 为 乎 遑 遑 欲 何 之 ？
Why not yield to fate and let things be, instead of restlessly seeking what to pursue?

fù guì fēi wú yuàn dì xiāng bù kě qī
富 贵 非 吾 愿 ， 帝 乡 不 可 期 。
Wealth and nobility are not my desires, nor can I expect the imperial realm.

huái liáng chén yǐ gū wǎng huò zhí zhàng ér yún zǐ
怀 良 辰 以 孤 往 ， 或 植 杖 而 耘 耔 。
Cherishing the good times, I shall wander alone, or plant my staff and till the soil.

dēng dōng gāo yǐ shū xiào lín qīng liú ér fù shī
登 东 皋 以 舒 啸 ， 临 清 流 而 赋 诗 。
Climbing the eastern mound, I shall let out a long cry, or compose poetry by the clear stream.

liáo chéng huà yǐ guī jìn lè fú tiān mìng fù xī yí
聊 乘 化 以 归 尽 ， 乐 夫 天 命 复 奚 疑 ！
For now, I shall embrace the transformation and accept the end, with no doubts about the happiness bestowed by destiny!