Here is the translation of the full poem 《水调歌头》 by Su Shi: --- Prelude to Water Melody On the Mid-Autumn Festival of the year Bingchen, while happily drinking till dawn, I wrote this piece in deep reflection, also thinking of my brother Ziyou. When will the moon be bright and clear? With a cup of wine in hand, I ask the blue sky. I don't know what season it would be in the heavens, And what year it is tonight. I wish to ride the wind and return there, But I fear that in those crystal and jade palaces, On high, the cold would be unbearable. I rise and dance with my moonlit shadow; It does not feel like the human world. The moon turns around the vermilion towers, Low over the silk-paneled doors, Shining on the sleepless. Shouldn't it hold no grudge, Why does it shine full only when people are apart? People experience sorrow and joy, parting and reunion, The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane, This has been going on since the beginning of time. May we all be blessed with longevity, Though thousands of miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.
In Sino-Vietnamese text : Thủy điệu ca đầu - Tô Thức. You can copy and paste the text into google translate and click the "Listen" icon for pronunciation. You can also compare the Mandarin sound with current Sino-Vietnamese sound. Minh nguyệt kỷ thời hữu? Bả tửu vấn thanh thiên. Bất tri thiên thượng cung khuyết, Kim tịch thị hà niên. Ngã dục thừa phong quy khứ, Hựu khủng quỳnh lâu ngọc vũ, Cao xứ bất thắng hàn. Khởi vũ lộng thanh ảnh, Hà tự tại nhân gian. Chuyển chu các, Đê ỷ hộ, Chiếu vô miên. Bất ưng hữu hận, Hà sự trường hướng biệt thời viên. Nhân hữu bi, hoan, ly, hợp, Nguyệt hữu âm, tình, viên, khuyết, Thử sự cổ nan toàn. Đãn nguyện nhân trường cửu, Thiên lý cộng thiền quyên
< 独上西楼 Du Shang Xi Lou > lyrics: 无言独上西楼 in solitude I ascend the west loft 月如钩 the moon resembles a hook 寂寞梧桐 a lonesome parasol tree 深院锁清秋 the courtyard encapsulating autumn sparseness 剪不断 ties that won't be cut 理还乱 the mind still in chaos 是离愁 it's the sorrow of parting 别有一番滋味 a particular sensation 在心头 at the crest of my heart
