归去来兮辞 Going Home

归去来兮，田园将芜胡不归？ guī qù lái xī, tián yuán jiāng wú hú bù guī?
Let me go home! The fields and garden are going to weed; why not go back?

既自以心为形役，奚惆怅而独悲？ jì zì yǐ xīn wéi xíng yì, xī chóu chàng ér dú bēi?
Since I myself let my heart be the servant of my body, why be downcast and grieve alone?

悟已往之不谏，知来者之可追。 wù yǐ wǎng zhī bù jiàn, zhī lái zhě zhī kě zhuī.
I see that what is past cannot be mended, and know that what is to come can still be caught.

实迷途其未远，觉今是而昨非。 shí mí tú qí wèi yuǎn, jué jīn shì ér zuó fēi.
Truly I had not strayed far down the wrong road; I feel that today is right and yesterday was wrong.

舟遥遥以轻飏，风飘飘而吹衣。 zhōu yáo yáo yǐ qīng yáng, fēng piāo piāo ér chuī yī.
The boat rocks gently as it glides along; the wind flutters and fills my clothes.

问征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。 wèn zhēng fū yǐ qián lù, hèn chén guāng zhī xī wēi.
I ask a traveller about the road ahead, and resent how faint the morning light still is.

乃瞻衡宇，载欣载奔。 nǎi zhān héng yǔ, zài xīn zài bēn.
Then I catch sight of my humble roof, and I am glad and I run.

僮仆欢迎，稚子候门。 tóng pú huān yíng, zhì zǐ hòu mén.
The servants come out happily to meet me; the little ones wait at the gate.

三径就荒，松菊犹存。 sān jìng jiù huāng, sōng jú yóu cún.
The three paths have gone to waste, but the pines and chrysanthemums are still there.

携幼入室，有酒盈樽。 xié yòu rù shì, yǒu jiǔ yíng zūn.
Taking the children by the hand I go inside, where wine fills the jar.

引壶觞以自酌，眄庭柯以怡颜。 yǐn hú shāng yǐ zì zhuó, miǎn tíng kē yǐ yí yán.
I draw the pot and cup towards me and pour for myself, and the sight of the trees in the courtyard brings a smile.

倚南窗以寄傲，审容膝之易安。 yǐ nán chuāng yǐ jì ào, shěn róng xī zhī yì ān.
I lean at the south window and let my pride rest there, knowing how easy it is to be content in a room that barely holds my knees.

园日涉以成趣，门虽设而常关。 yuán rì shè yǐ chéng qù, mén suī shè ér cháng guān.
The garden gives me pleasure as I walk it every day; there is a gate, but it is usually shut.

策扶老以流憩，时矫首而遐观。 cè fú lǎo yǐ liú qì, shí jiǎo shǒu ér xiá guān.
With a stick to lean on I wander and rest, and now and then lift my head to look into the distance.

云无心以出岫，鸟倦飞而知还。 yún wú xīn yǐ chū xiù, niǎo juàn fēi ér zhī huán.
Clouds drift from the peaks with nothing in mind; birds tire of flying and know to come home.

景翳翳以将入，抚孤松而盘桓。 jǐng yì yì yǐ jiāng rù, fǔ gū sōng ér pán huán.
The light dims as the sun is about to set, and I linger, my hand on a lone pine.

归去来兮，请息交以绝游。 guī qù lái xī, qǐng xī jiāo yǐ jué yóu.
Let me go home! Let me break off my connections and give up going about.

世与我而相违，复驾言兮焉求？ shì yǔ wǒ ér xiāng wéi, fù jià yán xī yān qiú?
The world and I are at odds; if I harnessed the carriage again, what would I be after?

悦亲戚之情话，乐琴书以消忧。 yuè qīn qī zhī qíng huà, lè qín shū yǐ xiāo yōu.
I enjoy the warm talk of my family, and take pleasure in my zither and books to melt away care.

农人告余以春及，将有事于西畴。 nóng rén gào yú yǐ chūn jí, jiāng yǒu shì yú xī chóu.
The farmers tell me spring has come, and there will be work in the western fields.

或命巾车，或棹孤舟。 huò mìng jīn chē, huò zhào gū zhōu.
Sometimes I call for the covered cart, sometimes I row a lone boat.

既窈窕以寻壑，亦崎岖而经丘。 jì yǎo tiǎo yǐ xún hè, yì qí qū ér jīng qiū.
Now I follow a deep winding valley, now I climb a rough hill.

木欣欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。 mù xīn xīn yǐ xiàng róng, quán juān juān ér shǐ liú.
The trees are thriving and coming into leaf; the springs trickle and begin to run.

善万物之得时，感吾生之行休。 shàn wàn wù zhī dé shí, gǎn wú shēng zhī xíng xiū.
I admire how everything has found its season, and feel that my own life is drawing to its close.

已矣乎！寓形宇内复几时？曷不委心任去留？胡为乎遑遑欲何之？ yǐ yǐ hū! yù xíng yǔ nèi fù jǐ shí? hé bù wěi xīn rèn qù liú? hú wéi hū huáng huáng yù hé zhī?
Enough! How much longer will this body lodge in the world? Why not follow my heart and let living or dying take their course? Why this hurrying, and where to?

富贵非吾愿，帝乡不可期。 fù guì fēi wú yuàn, dì xiāng bù kě qī.
Wealth and rank are not what I want, and the land of the immortals cannot be counted on.

怀良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。 huái liáng chén yǐ gū wǎng, huò zhí zhàng ér yún zǐ.
On a fine morning I go out alone, or plant my staff in the ground and weed and bank the soil.

登东皋以舒啸，临清流而赋诗。 dēng dōng gāo yǐ shū xiào, lín qīng liú ér fù shī.
I climb the eastern bank and let out a long whistle, or stand by the clear stream and make a poem.

聊乘化以归尽，乐夫天命复奚疑！ liáo chéng huà yǐ guī jìn, lè fú tiān mìng fù xī yí!
Let me ride the changes of things to my end, glad of what heaven has given, and doubt no more!