Thoughts in the Silent Night
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

《静夜思》
Thoughts in the Silent Night by Li Bai (Li Po)
English Translation

So bright a gleam on the foot of my bed --

Could there have been a frost already?

Lifting myself to look, I found that it was moonlight.

Sinking back again, I thought suddenly of home.

Five-character-quatrain

This popular Chinese poem was penned by one of the most famous Tang dynasty poets of all time – Li Bai (701-762). The poem expresses the poet’s loneliness, pensiveness, and homesickness as he gazes up at the bright moon.

中文原文( Chinese )
Simplified Chinese Version

床前明月光，疑是地上霜。

举头望明月，低头思故乡。

Traditional Chinese Version

床前明月光， 疑是地上霜。

舉頭望明月， 低頭思故鄉。

Thoughts in the Silent Night
- Last updated: 2025-06-28 10:40:31
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Why Chinese poems is so special?
The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
How to read a Chinese poem?
Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

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