"Ask the canal how clear it is, so that there is a source of living water" indicates that writing requires continuous accumulation.

"Articles are made by nature, and skillful hands accidentally obtain them", indicating that writing inspiration needs to be accumulated .

"Read thousands of volumes, write like a god" shows that reading a lot of books is the foundation of writing.

Original text of the work

Presented to Wei Zuocheng twenty-two Rhyme

The dandy will not starve to death, but the Confucian scholar will miss his body⑴.

My father-in-law, I would like to listen quietly, but I would like to ask you to give me a statement (2).

When I was young, I visited the state guests early in my life.

I have read thousands of volumes, and I feel like I am inspired when writing.

The poems praise the heroic enemies, and the poems look at the children establishing relatives⑸.

Li Yong wanted to know his friends, while Wang Han wanted to know his neighbors.

He claims to be quite bold and stands on the important road ⑺.

To the kings Yao and Shun, and to make customs pure.

This meaning is actually depressed, and the singing is not hidden⑼.

Riding a donkey for thirteen years, traveling in Beijing and Huachun⑽.

Keep a rich man’s door in the morning, and follow the fat horse dust in the evening.

The broken cup and the cold food are full of sadness and bitterness everywhere.

The Lord saw the sign in an instant, and he was eager to stretch out.

Qing Ming, however, has his wings hanging down and kicking without any vertical scales.

I feel ashamed that my father-in-law is kind, but I know that my father-in-law is true.

Every time I go to a hundred officials, I recite a new verse.

It is a pleasure to steal the tribute and pay tribute to the public, but it is difficult to accept the original constitution and poverty⒁.

How can I feel unhappy and just walk around?

Now I want to go east to the sea, and I am about to go west to Qin ⒃.

I still pity Zhongnan Mountain and look back at Weibin in the Qing Dynasty.

I often planned to report a meal, but Kuang Huai resigned from the minister.

If the white gull is not powerful, who can tame it thousands of miles away? [1]?

Annotation and translation

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Word and sentence annotation

⑴ Dandy: refers to the rich and powerful. Don’t starve to death: If you don’t learn or have skills, you won’t have to worry about hunger. Many Confucian scholars miss the mark: Confucian scholars who are full of knowledge are poor. This sentence is the outline of the whole poem. "Qianxi Poetry Eyes" says: "This is the intention of this article."

⑵ Father-in-law: a respectful title for elders. This refers to Wei Ji. Scoundrel: A self-titled term for those who are young and of low status. This is Du Fu's self-proclaimed name. Please, means please allow me. Ju Chen: Please elaborate.

⑶ The two sentences "Fu Xi" refer to the fact that Du Fu took the Jinshi examination in Luoyang in the 23rd year of Kaiyuan (735) as a rural tribute (selected by prefectures and counties). Du Fu was only twenty-four years old at the time, and he was already a state guest at the "Guan Guo Zhi Guang" (visiting the royal capital), so he "charged early". The phrase "watching the country's guests" comes from "Book of Changes·Guan Gua·Xiang Ci": "Guan Guo's light is also a guest".

⑷Breaking ten thousand volumes: describes reading a lot of books. If there is a god: Describes quick thinking and writing as if there is a god.

⑸Yang Xiong: Ziyun, a Western Han Dynasty poet. Material: Almost the same. Enemy: rival. Zijian: Name of Cao Zhi, son of Cao Cao, a famous writer during the Jian'an period. See: Comparison. Dear: Close.

⑹Li Yong: A literary giant and calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty, he once served as the prefect of Beihai County. When Du Fu was a boy in Luoyang, Li Yong was so impressed by his talent that he took the initiative to get to know him. Wang Han: A famous poet at that time and the author of "Liangzhou Ci".

⑺Stand out: outstanding. Lideng Yaolujin: I will get an important position soon.

⑻Yao and Shun: the legendary ancient sage kings. These two sentences say that if he is reused, he can assist the emperor to achieve a deed that surpasses Yao and Shun, and restore the corrupted social customs to the simplicity and honesty of ancient times. This was the highest political ideal of ordinary Confucians at that time.

⑼ The two sentences "This means" mean that I did not expect that my political ambitions came to nothing. Although I also write some poetry, I am not an escapist hermit.

⑽ Riding a donkey: Compare with a dignitary riding a horse. Thirteen years: from the 23rd year of Kaiyuan (735) when Du Fu took the Jinshi examination to the sixth year of Tianbao (747), exactly thirteen years. Travel food: sending food. Jinghua: Capital, refers to Chang'an.

⑾The Lord: refers to Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. Qing: Not long ago. See the recruitment: be recruited. Xeran: suddenly. Desire to stretch: Hope to express one's talents and realize the aspirations of Jun, Yao and Shun.

⑿ Qing Ming dropped his wings: the bird dropped its wings and fell from the sky. Rubbing: It is difficult to move forward. No vertical scales: This means that the fish cannot swim long distances. This means that ideals cannot be realized. The facts mentioned in the above four sentences are: In the sixth year of Tianbao (747), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty issued an edict to recruit people with skills to go to Beijing to take the exam, and Du Fu also participated. Prime Minister Li Linfu was so jealous of talents that he failed all those who took the exam. He also congratulated him: "There are no talents left in the wild." This was a heavy blow to Du Fu, who was eager to display his ambitions at the time.

⒀The two sentences "Every Yu" mean that thanks to you, you often recite the best lines from my new poems in front of the officials, and you try your best to reward and recommend them.

⒁Gong Gong: Gong Yu, a native of the Western Han Dynasty. He became friends with Wang Ji and heard that Ji was a noble person. He was so happy that he celebrated because he knew that he would also become prominent. Du Fu said that he had also compared himself with Gong Yu, and hoped that Wei Ji would recommend him. Difficult to endure: Difficult to endure. Yuan Xian; student of Confucius, famous for his poverty.

⒂怏怏: Angry and unfair. 踆踆: To advance and retreat at the same time.

⒃East into the sea: refers to living in seclusion from the world. Confucius once said: "If you don't follow the Way, you will ride on a boat and float in the sea." (The Analects of Confucius) Going to Qin: leaving Chang'an.

⒄Repay a meal: repay the kindness of a meal.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, Lingzhuo repaid Zhao Xuanzi (see "Zuo Zhuan: The Second Year of Xuangong"), and in the Han Dynasty, Han Xin repaid Piao Mu (see "Historical Records: Biography of Marquis of Huaiyin"). They are all famous stories of repayment in history. Bidding farewell to the minister: refers to bidding farewell to Wei Ji. These two sentences explain the reason for the gift of poetry.

⒅White Ou: The poet compares himself. No vastness: throw yourself into the vastness of smoke. Who can tame: who can restrain me? [2-3]?

Vernacular translation

Children from rich families will not starve to death, while poor scholars will mostly bring trouble to themselves.

Master Wei, you can listen quietly and I will tell you my past.

When I was a boy, I had long been a guest visiting the royal capital.

I have read tens of thousands of books by heart, and when I write articles, I feel like I have a knack for writing.

My poetry rivals that of Yang Xiong, and my poetry is close to that of Cao Zhi.

Li Yong sought an opportunity to meet with me, and Wang Han was willing to become my close neighbor.

Thinking that he is an extraordinary and outstanding person, he must soon be in a position of power.

Assist the king to make him superior to Yao and Shun, and make the social customs honest and honest.

All the ambitions in life have come to nothing, and singing in sorrow is definitely not about leisure and retirement.

I rode a donkey for thirteen years and spent many New Years in Chang'an.

Knocked on the door of the rich in the morning, followed the fat horse in the evening and was covered in dust.

Eating other people’s leftovers makes people secretly feel hardship everywhere.

Not long after he was recruited by the emperor, he suddenly felt that his ambition could be stretched.

But I am like a bird that breaks its wings and falls from the sky, and like a carp that cannot jump over the dragon gate.

I am very ashamed that you are so generous to me. I know that you treat me with sincerity.

Recommend my poems to officials, recite good lines, and praise the fresh style.

I want to imitate Gong Yu and let others promote me, but I can't bear to be as poor as Yuan Xian.

How could I make my heart so depressed and angry, always moving forward and backward?

I will run eastward into the sea and will soon leave the ancient Western Qin.

I miss the majestic Zhongnan Mountain, and I also want to look back at the clear shore of the Wei River.

I want to repay your "kindness of a meal" and say goodbye to the many ministers who care about me.

Let me appear like a white gull in the mighty waves of smoke, floating thousands of miles away. Who can capture me?