琵琶行

By 白居易

Lyrics - Practice Pronunciation
白居易

White is easy.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

baak6
geoi1
jik6
潯陽江頭夜送客 楓葉荻花秋瑟瑟

The Yangtze River is a nighttime destination for visitors.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

cam4
joeng4
gong1
tau4
je6
sung3
haak3
fung1
sip3
waa6
cau1
sat1
sat1
主人下馬客在船 舉酒欲飲無管絃

The owner was riding a boat, drinking a lot of wine.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zyu2
jan4
haa6
maa5
haak3
zoi6
syun4
geoi2
zau2
juk6
jam3
mou4
gun2
jin4
醉不成歡慘將別 別時茫茫江浸月

I was drunk and I was so happy to be away.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zeoi3
fau2
seng4
fun1
caam2
zoeng3
bit6
bit6
si4
mong4
mong4
gong1
cam1
jyut6
忽聞水上琵琶聲 主人忘歸客不發

Suddenly, the master forgot to show his guests.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

fat1
man6
seoi2
soeng6
baa1
sing1
zyu2
jan4
mong6
kwai3
haak3
fau2
fat3
尋聲暗問彈者誰 琵琶聲停欲語遲

The sound asked who the player was, and the sound stopped and the voice spoke.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

cam4
sing1
am3
man6
taan4
ze2
seoi4
baa1
sing1
ting4
juk6
jyu6
zi6
移船相近邀相見 添酒回燈重開宴

The boatmen were nearby, and the wine came back and the party was reopened.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

yi4
syun4
soeng2
kan5
jiu1
soeng2
jin6
tim1
zau2
wui4
dang1
zung6
hoi1
jin3
千呼萬喚始出來 猶抱琵琶半遮面

A thousand cries began, and Job covered his face.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

cin1
hu1
maak6
lang3
ci2
ceot1
loi6
jau4
pou5
baa1
bun3
ze1
min2
轉軸撥絃三兩聲 未成曲調先有情

The three-and-a-half-axis chords are not perfect.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zyun3
zuk6
put3
jin4
saam3
loeng5
sing1
mei6
seng4
kuk1
tiu4
sin3
jau6
cing4
弦弦掩抑聲聲思 似訴平生不得志

Strings obscure the sound, and it's like a simple plea.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jyun4
jyun4
jim2
jik1
sing1
sing1
soi1
ci5
sou3
ping4
sang1
fau2
dak1
zi3
低眉信手續續彈 説盡心中無限事

The low-key, continuous bullet, which tells you the infinite.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

dai1
mei4
seon3
sau2
zuk6
zuk6
taan4
seoi3
zeon6
sam1
zung1
mou4
haan6
si6
輕攏慢撚抹復挑 初為霓裳後六麼

And then, slowly, and gently, you can pick and choose the first piece of clothing.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hing1
lung5
maan6
nin5
mut6
fuk6
tou1
co1
wai6
soeng4
hau6
luk6
mo5
大弦嘈嘈如急雨 小弦切切如私語

Strings are like rain, and strings are like a private word.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

taai3
jyun4
cou4
cou4
jyu4
gap1
jyu6
siu2
jyun4
cit3
cit3
jyu4
si1
jyu6
嘈嘈切切錯雜彈 大珠小珠落玉盤

Cut the ball, cut the ball, and the big pearls fall off the board.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

cou4
cou4
cit3
cit3
laap6
zaap6
taan4
taai3
zyu1
siu2
zyu1
lok6
juk6
pun2
間關鶯語花底滑 幽咽泉流水下灘

The flower beds are sliding, the water flows down the beach.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

haan4
gwaan1
ngang1
jyu6
waa6
dik1
waat6
jau1
jim3
cyun4
lau4
seoi2
haa6
taan1
水泉冷澀弦凝絕 凝絕不通聲漸歇

The water's freezing strings are frozen, and the sound of the water's freezing is quiet.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

seoi2
cyun4
laang5
sik1
jyun4
king4
zyut6
king4
zyut6
fau2
tung1
sing1
zim6
hit3
別有幽愁暗恨生 此時無聲勝有聲

Stop feeling sad and hateful, and be silent.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

bit6
jau6
jau1
sau4
am3
han6
sang1
ci2
si4
mou4
sing1
sing3
jau6
sing1
銀瓶乍破水漿迸 鐵騎突出刀槍鳴

The silver bottle broke the water, the iron went out with a knife.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngan4
ping3
zok3
po3
seoi2
zoeng1
bing2
tit3
ke4
duk1
ceot1
dou1
coeng1
meng5
曲終收撥當心畫 四弦一聲如裂帛

The song ends with a heart-painted four strings that sound like cracks.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

kuk1
zung1
sau1
put3
dong3
sam1
waak6
sei3
jyun4
jat1
sing1
jyu4
lit3
baak6
東船西舫悄無言 唯見江心秋月白

The east and west sides of the ship were silent, but the autumn moon was in the middle of the river.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

dung1
syun4
sai1
fong2
ciu5
mou4
jin4
wai4
jin6
gong1
sam1
cau1
jyut6
baak6
沈吟放撥插弦中 整頓衣裳起斂容

And he wept, and put his garments in the ropes, and his garments were all made to shine.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

sam2
ngam4
fong3
put3
caap3
jyun4
zung1
zing2
duk6
ji3
soeng4
hei2
lim6
jung4
自言本是京城女 家在蝦蟆陵下住

She was a native of Beijing, and she lived underneath the tomb.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zi6
jin4
bun2
si6
jyun4
sing4
neoi6
ze1
zoi6
haa1
maa4
ling4
haa6
zyu6
十三學得琵琶成 名屬教坊第一部

13 to get to the first class.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

sap6
saam3
hok6
dak1
baa1
seng4
ming4
zuk6
gaau3
fong4
dai6
jat1
bou6
曲罷曾教善才服 妝成每被秋娘妒

"Let the song teach good to obey, and make every one jealous of his daughter".

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

kuk1
pei4
zang1
gaau3
sin6
coi4
fuk6
zong1
seng4
mei5
pei5
cau1
noeng4
五陵年少爭纏頭 一曲紅綃不知數

Five years of fighting, a song of red roses, countless songs.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ng5
ling4
nin4
siu3
zaang1
zin6
tau4
jat1
kuk1
hung4
fau2
zi3
sou3
鈿頭銀篦擊節碎 血色羅裙翻酒污

The silver-headed man broke his jaw, and the blood of the man was poured over the wine.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

tin4
tau4
ngan4
bai1
gik1
zit3
seoi3
hyut3
sik1
lo4
kwan2
faan1
zau2
wu3
今年歡笑復明年 秋月春風等閒度

It's a fun year, and it's a spring, and it's a fall, and it's a spring, and it's a winter.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gam1
nin4
fun1
siu3
fuk6
ming4
nin4
cau1
jyut6
ceon1
fung3
ting2
haan4
dou6
弟走從軍阿姨死 暮去朝來顏色故

My brother died of a broken heart and died of color.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

teoi4
zau2
zung6
gwan1
ngo1
ji1
si2
mou6
heoi3
zyu1
loi6
ngaan4
sik1
gu3
門前冷落車馬稀 老大嫁作商人婦

The old bride was a businesswoman.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

mun4
cin4
laang5
lok6
geoi1
maa5
hei1
lou5
taai3
gaa3
zok3
soeng1
jan4
fu5
商人重利輕別離 前月浮梁買茶去

Businessmen are more likely to buy tea than they did last month.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

soeng1
jan4
zung6
lei6
hing1
bit6
lei4
cin4
jyut6
fau4
loeng4
maai5
caa4
heoi3
去來江口守空船 繞船月明江水寒

Come to the river and guard the empty boat, and go round the river and see the cold.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

heoi3
loi6
gong1
hau2
sau3
hung3
syun4
jiu5
syun4
jyut6
ming4
gong1
seoi2
hon4
夜深忽夢少年事 夢啼妝淚紅闌干

In the middle of the night, I dream about a boy, and I dream about tears and tears.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

je6
sam1
fat1
mung6
siu3
nin4
si6
mung6
tai4
zong1
leoi6
hung4
gon1
我聞琵琶已嘆息 又聞此語重唧唧

I heard the moans crying and the words were loud.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
man6
baa1
ji5
taan1
sik1
jau6
man6
ci2
jyu6
zung6
zik1
zik1
同是天涯淪落人 相逢何必曾相識

And I'm a guy who's been down forever.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

tung4
si6
tin1
ji4
leon4
lok6
jan4
soeng2
pung4
ho6
bit1
zang1
soeng2
zi3
我從去年辭帝京 謫居卧病潯陽城

I resigned from Qing last year, and I was in Yangon City.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
zung6
heoi3
nin4
ci4
dai3
jyun4
zaak6
geoi1
ngo6
beng6
cam4
joeng4
sing4
潯陽地僻無音樂 終歲不聞絲竹聲

There was no music, no bamboo all the time.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

cam4
joeng4
deng6
bui6
mou4
jam1
ngok6
zung1
seoi3
fau2
man6
si1
zuk1
sing1
住近湓城地低濕 黃蘆苦竹繞宅生

They live in the lowest terrain near the city of Phoenix, and they live in the middle of nowhere.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zyu6
kan5
pun6
sing4
deng6
dai1
sap1
wong4
lou4
fu2
zuk1
jiu5
zaak2
sang1
其間旦暮聞何物 杜鵑啼血猿哀鳴

And then, as soon as I heard it, the monkey cried.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

kei4
haan4
daan3
mou6
man6
ho6
mat6
dou6
tai4
hyut3
yun4
ngoi1
meng5
春江花朝秋月夜 往往取酒還獨傾

Springflower often talks alone in the autumn night to get a drink.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ceon1
gong1
waa6
zyu1
cau1
jyut6
je6
wong5
wong5
ceoi2
zau2
waan4
duk6
king1
豈無山歌與村笛 嘔啞嘲哳難為聽

Is there no mountain song, and no village flute, and no vomit, and no mockery?

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hoi2
mou4
saan1
go1
jyu6
cyun1
dek6
heoi1
ngak1
zaau1
no4
wai6
teng1
今夜聞君琵琶語 如聽仙樂耳暫明

Tonight, you're going to hear the sound of a little bit of a whisper.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gam1
je6
man6
gwan1
baa1
jyu6
jyu4
teng1
sin1
ngok6
ji5
zaam6
ming4
莫辭更坐彈一曲 為君翻作琵琶行

I'm gonna sit down and play a song for you.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

mok6
ci4
gang3
zo6
taan4
jat1
kuk1
wai6
gwan1
faan1
zok3
baa1
hong6
感我此言良久立 卻坐促弦弦轉急

I felt like I was doing this, but I was just going to jump on the string.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gam2
ngo5
ci2
jin4
loeng4
gau2
lap6
koek3
zo6
cuk1
jyun4
jyun4
zyun3
gap1
悽悽不似向前聲 滿座重聞皆掩泣

Unlike the front, the whole audience was crying.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

fau2
ci5
hoeng3
cin4
sing1
mun6
zo2
zung6
man6
gaai1
jim2
jap1
座中泣下誰最多 江州司馬青衫濕

Who cried the most in the seat?

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zo2
zung1
jap1
haa6
seoi4
zeoi3
do1
gong1
zau1
si1
maa5
cing1
saam1
sap1
About This Song

"," a renowned poem by the Tang Dynasty poet , encapsulates the profound themes of alienation, nostalgia, and empathy through the emotive playing of the pipa, a traditional Chinese string instrument. This work seamlessly intertwines a poignant tale of a chance encounter between a traveler and a pipa player against the backdrop of a desolate autumn evening. The emotional core of the poem unfolds as the protagonist grapples with feelings of longing and melancholy, accentuated by the sorrowful strains of the pipa that evoke the shared experiences of loss and yearning.

The narrative begins with the speaker bidding farewell to a friend amidst the autumnal scenery of the Xunyang River, where he hears the distant sound of the pipa. This introduces a mysterious pipa player, whose music serves as both a reflection of her own struggles and a mirror to the speaker's feelings. The story unfolds through the shared experience of music, highlighting the universality of human emotion. This connection forms a bridge between two isolated soulseach touched by personal griefwho find solace in the beauty of music and their mutual understanding of hardship.

Musically, the poem is rich with auditory imagery that captures the intricate sounds and emotions of the pipa. White's clever use of similes and metaphors enhances the texture of the reading experiencecomparing the large strings to the sound of heavy rain and the small strings to whispers, creating a delicate balance between chaos and harmony. The use of enjambment mirrors the flowing nature of music, providing a sense of rhythm akin to the pipa's melody. Notably, the poem's structure artfully evokes the listener's emotional response, using cadences that mimic the rise and fall of music itself.

Culturally, "" serves as a powerful reminder of art's ability to transcend time and space, emphasizing how music can express the complexity of human experiences. The poem encapsulates elements of the Tang Dynasty's rich artistic tradition, showcasing the significance of music in Chinese culture and its role in forging connections. Moreover, it reflects on the themes of social mobility and the fleeting nature of life, making it relevant to both historical and contemporary audiences.

Song Details
Singer:
白居易
Total Lines:
45