Encouragement to learn
(Tang Dynasty) Meng Jiao
When a stone is struck, there is fire.
If it is not struck, there will be no smoke.
People learn to know,
It is unnatural to not learn.
Everything must be done as planned,
He is not the one who is worthy of me.
Youth must be born early,
How can one grow into a young man?
Notes
1. Nai: talent.
2. Yuan: original, original.
3. Shi: just now.
4. Tao: the laws and laws of things. This refers to all kinds of knowledge.
5. No: No.
6. Natural: natural.
7. Luck: application.
8. Xian: Talent.
9. Youth: refers to a person’s youth.
10. Qi: Could it be?
11. Long: long term.
Translation
Only when the stone is hit, there will be sparks; if not hit, not even a little smoke will come out. The same is true for people. Only through learning can we master knowledge; if we don't learn, knowledge will not fall from the sky. Everything must be practiced by yourself; the knowledge obtained by others cannot replace your own talents. You should work hard as early as possible during your youth. Can a person remain a "youngster" forever?
Author
Meng Jiao (751-814) was a native of Wukang, Huzhou (now Deqing, Zhejiang Province). A famous poet in the Tang Dynasty.
Chang Ge Xing
The sunflower in the green garden,
The morning dew awaits the setting sun.
Budze in spring,
All things are radiant.
I am often afraid that the autumn festival is coming, and
the leaves of the yellow flowers will wither.
From the east to the sea, there are hundreds of rivers.
When will we return to the west?
If a young man does not work hard,
The old man will be sad.
Notes:
This poem is selected from Han Yuefu. Yuefu was a court music institution established since the Qin Dynasty. It was expanded on a large scale during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and a large number of poetry works were collected from the folk, with rich content and a wide range of themes. This poem is one of them.
Changgexing: the name of a Han Yuefu tune.
Kwai: an ancient vegetable.
Xi: dried in the sun.
Yangchun: It is spring, when there is sufficient sunshine and dew.
Cloth: spread, sprinkle.
Deze: Grace.
Autumn Festival: Autumn. Festival, season, season.
Kunhuang: withered yellow.
Hua: Same as "flower".
Bai: For the sake of rhyme, it can be read as in the ancient pronunciation.
Baichuan: countless rivers. Chuan, river.
Student: in vain, in vain.
Today’s translation:
The sunflowers in the garden are lush and green,
Soaring under the crystal dew in the sun.
Spring spreads hope all over the earth,
Everything is prosperous.
I am always afraid that the chilling autumn will come,
The leaves will turn yellow and the grass will wither.
A hundred rivers are rushing eastward to the sea.
When can we return to the west again?
If a young person does not work hard in time,
he will only regret his life when he grows old.
Encouragement to study
Yan Zhenqing
The lights are on at three o'clock and the chickens are on at five o'clock,
It is when men are studying.
Black-haired people don’t know how to study diligently early,
White-haired people regret studying late.