《龜雖壽》

Though the Tortoise Lives Long

神龜雖壽，猶有竟時。

Though the tortoise blessed with magic powers lives long,
Its days have their allotted span;

騰蛇乘霧，終為土灰。

Though winged serpents ride high on the mist,
They turn to dust and ashes at the last;

老驥伏櫪，志在千里；

An old war-horse may be stabled,
Yet still it longs to gallop a thousand li;

烈士暮年，壯心不已。

And a noble-hearted man though advanced in years
Never abandons his proud aspirations.

盈縮之期，不但在天；

Man's span of life, whether long or short,
Depends not on Heaven alone;

養怡之福，可得永年。

One who eats well and keeps cheerful
Can live to a great old age.

幸甚至哉！歌以咏志。

And so, with joy in my heart,
I hum this song.

《短歌行》

Short Song Style

對酒當歌，人生幾何？

I lift my drink and sing a song,
for who knows if life is short or long?

譬如朝露，去日苦多。

Man's life is but the morning dew,
past days many, future ones few.

慨當以慷，憂思難忘。

The melancholy my heart begets,
comes from cares I cannot forget.;

何以解憂？唯有杜康。

What can unravel these woes of mine?
I know but one drink – Du Kang Wine.

青青子衿，悠悠我心。

Disciples dress in blue,
my heart worries for you.

但為君故，沈吟至今。

You are the cause,
of this song without pause.

呦呦鹿鳴，食野之蘋。

Across the bank a deer bleats,
in the wild where it eats.

我有嘉賓，鼓瑟吹笙。

Honored my guests I salute,
strike the harp! Play the flute!

明明如月，何時可掇？

Bright is the moon's spark,
when can I pick it apart?

憂從中來，不可斷絕。

Thoughts of you from deep inside,
cannot settle, cannot subside.

越陌度阡，枉用相存。

Friends drop by via a country road,
the respect they pay really show.

契闊談宴，心念舊恩。

A long due reunion we fest,
sharing past stories we possessed.

月明星稀，烏鵲南飛，

Stars around the moons are few,
southward the crows flew.

繞樹三匝，何枝可依？

Flying with no rest,
where shall they nest?

山不厭高，海不厭深。

No mountain too steep,
no ocean too deep.

周公吐哺，天下歸心。

Sage pauses [from meals] when guests call,
so at his feet the empire does fall!