[updated October 2022]
Beautiful Women Come From the South
美 人 出 南 国
美 人 出 南 国
灼 灼 芙 蓉 姿。
皓 齿 终 不 发
芳 心 空 自 持。
由 来 紫 宫 女
共 妒 青 蛾 眉。
归 去 潇 湘 沚
沉 吟 何 足 悲？
Mei Ren Chu Nan Guo
Mei ren chu nan guo
Zhuo zhuo fu rong zi.
Hao chi zhong bu fa
Fang xin kong zi chi.
You lai zi gong nu
Gong du qing e mei.
Gui qu xiao xiang zhi
Chen yin he zu bei?
Beautiful Women Come From the South
Beautiful women come from the south
Appearances like luminous and bright lotus flowers.
Their white teeth not revealed very often
Young lady’s heart-minds only controlled by themselves.
Up to now palace women create
Eunuchs are envious of their blue and delicate eyebrows.
Return to the islets of the Xiao and Xiang rivers
How sad and melancholy is this poem, recited in a low voice?
Notes:
Xiang River: Major tributary to the Changjiang (Yangzi River) in Hunan Province.