English Rendering
The brimming waves delight the eye on sunny days;
The dimming hills give a rare view in rainy haze.
The West Lake looks like the fair lady at her best;
Whether she is richly adorned or plainly dressed.
Drinking at the Lake First in Sunny and then in Rainy Weather
- Poetry of Su Shi
《饮湖上初睛后雨》Original Text (中文原文)
水光潋滟睛方好，山色空濛雨亦奇。
欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜。
Analysis & Context
1073
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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