三(sān)衢(qú)道(dào)中(zhōnɡ)

曾(cénɡ)几(jǐ)〔宋(sònɡ)代(dài)〕

梅(méi)子(zǐ)黄(huánɡ)时(shí)日(rì)日(rì)晴(qínɡ),

小(xiǎo)溪(xī)泛(fàn)尽(jìn)却(què)山(shān)行(xínɡ)。

绿(lǜ)阴(yīn)不(bù)减(jiǎn)来(lái)时(shí)路(lù),

添(tiān)得黄鹂四五声。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

When the plums ripen, it’s sunny every day. Take a boat to the end of the stream and then walk on the mountain path.

The ancient trees on the mountain path are lush and are not inferior in scenery to the water route. The cheerful chirping of orioles in the deep forest adds some tranquility.

Annotations

三衢道中（sān qú dào zhōng）：On the road to Sanqu Prefecture. Sanqu, now Changshan County in Zhejiang Province, named for the Sanqu Mountains within its borders.
梅子黄时（méi zi huáng shí）：Refers to May, the season when plums ripen.
小溪泛尽（xiǎo xī fàn jìn）：To the end of a small stream by boat. 小溪（xiǎo xī）, a small river or stream. 泛（fàn）, to travel by boat. 尽（jìn）, the end.
却山行（què shān xíng）：Then continue on the mountain path. 却（què）, meaning again or further.
阴（yīn）：Tree shade.
不减（bù jiǎn）：Not much less, almost the same.
黄鹂（huáng lí）：Yellow-rumped warbler.

Creation Background

This poem was likely composed during the time when Zeng Ji served as the Provincial Judge of Jiangxi and Western Zhejiang.

During the transition from late spring to early summer, as the poet traveled back and forth on the road to Quzhou, he deeply felt the scenery and customs along the way, which inspired him to write this poem.