春(chūn)晓(xiǎo)

孟(mènɡ)浩(hào)然(rán)〔唐(tánɡ)代(dài)〕

春(chūn)眠(mián)不(bù)觉(jué)晓(xiǎo)，

处(chù)处(chù)闻(wén)啼(tí)鸟(niǎo)。

夜(yè)来(lái)风(fēnɡ)雨(yǔ)声(shēnɡ)，

花(huā)落(luò)知(zhī)多(duō)少(shǎo)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

On a spring day, I slept deeply and didn’t realize that dawn had arrived, with birds chirping everywhere.
Recalling the bursts of wind and rain heard last night, I wondered how many delicate spring flowers had been blown away.

Annotations

  • 晓 (xiǎo): The time when the sky just begins to lighten,.
  • 春晓 (chūn xiǎo): The morning of spring.
  • 不觉晓 (bù jué xiǎo): Without realizing that dawn had come.
  • 啼鸟 (tí niǎo): The chirping sounds of birds.
  • 知多少 (zhī duō shǎo): How many (I don’t know).

Creative Background

Meng Haoran, in his early years, lived in reclusion on Lumen Mountain. Later, he went to Chang’an to seek official positions but failed the imperial examination and returned to his hometown. “Spring Morning” was written during his period of reclusion on Lumen Mountain.