One of the Twelve Sample Essays in Chinese by DSE - Li Bai "Solo Discretion Under the Moon(i)
Collection of worksheets on benevolence, filial piety, and being a gentleman
When you are preparing for the DSE, are you worried about how to read DSE Chinese, or do you not know where to start? TodayGETUTOR Hong Kong Tutor AssociationLet's talk about one of the 12 DSE sample essays - Li Bai's "A Solitary Wine under the Moon" (一) from the Three Poems for students who are preparing for DSE. We have consolidated the translation, main idea and key points of Li Bai's "A Solitary Wine under the Moon" (一), so that it is easy for you to revise the text!
Li Bai's "Solitude Under the Moon" (月下獨酌)(i)Full Translation
Original text:
A bottle of wine in the flower room, drinking alone without any relatives.
Raise your glass and invite the moon to come out, and you will be in the company of three.
The moon does not know how to drink, and the shadow follows me.
The moon will be with us for a while, and we must enjoy ourselves until spring.
I sing of the wandering moon, I dance of shadows in disorder.
When we wake up, we have fun together, but when we are drunk, we are scattered.
We are bound for ever by an unloving tour, and we will meet each other far away in the clouds and Han.
Translation:
I poured myself a drink without a single friend or relative around me.
Translation
1. Kindred: to love one another, to be close to one another. This refers to people who are close to each other.
2. Three: This refers to Li Bai, the moon and Li Bai's shadow.
3. Vain: only, but.
4. Will: and, together.
5. and spring: to take advantage of spring. and: take advantage of, multiply.
6. Dance, this refers to the sword dance.
7. Emotionlessness: i.e. forgetfulness.
8. Taipei: far away.
9. Yunhan: Yinhan, Galaxy, Heaven.
Author's background
Background to the article
Article Structure
Source:Hong Kong Education Bureau
Work Paper
1. Explain the meaning of the following words: (4 marks)
a) Raise your glass to the moon: _______
b) The moon will be with you for a while: _______
2. Translate the following sentences into vernacular: (4 marks)
"A jug of wine in the flower room, drinking alone without a relative."
3. What kind of scene is depicted in the poem? Describe it. (4 marks)
4. Explain the meaning of the line "If heaven does not love wine, the wine star is not in heaven" and its function in the poem. (3 marks)
5. What kind of emotion does the poet express in the poem? (3 marks)
6. What are the different meanings of the word "shadow" in the poem? Please explain. (4 marks)
7. Translate the following sentences into modern Chinese: (4 marks)
"When we wake up, we have fun together, but when we get drunk, we scatter."
8. Briefly describe the main idea of the poem and analyse how the poet expresses his feelings through imagination. (4 marks)
Extended reading: Interpretation and Analysis of the Twelve Sample Essays of DSE in Chinese
1. The Analects of Confucius (on benevolence, filial piety and the gentleman)
2. Mencius, "What the Fish Desires.
3. Chuang Tzu's "Easy Ride" (Abridged)
4. Xunzi's "Exhortation to Learning" (extract)
5. Sima Qian, "Biography of Lian Bo (廉頗藺相如列传) (extract)
6. ZHUGE Liang's "Table of the Exodus of the Master" (出師表)
7. Han Yu's The Teacher's Discourse
8. Liu Zongyuan's Record of a Banquet in the Western Mountains
9. Fan Zhongyan's Records of Yueyang House
10. Su Xun, A Treatise on the Six Kingdoms
11. Three Poems
- Wang Wei's Autumn Night in a Mountain Dwelling
- Li Bai's "Discretion under the Moon" (I)
- Du Fu's "Ascending a Building" (登樓)
12. Three Lyrics
- Su Shi, "Nian Nu Jiao - Reminiscences of Red Cliff" (念奴嬌-赤壁懷古)
- Li Qingzhao, "The Sound of Sound. Autumn Love
- Xin Wuji, "The Case of the Green Jade..." (The Case of the Green Jade) The Night of the First Day of the Lunar New Year
