Translation: 回乡偶书
I’ve decided to start translating Chinese poetry. I’m not trained in this, so I have no idea about the traditions/shades of meaning in these words. I’m planning to learn as I go. Criticism is warmly welcomed. For my first attempt, I’ve started with a poem that I’ve been told is easy – “one you learn when you’re 10 years old.” Let’s see how it goes…
回乡偶书
（贺知章）
少小离家老大回，
乡音无改鬓毛衰。
儿童相见不相识，
笑问客从何处来。
+++
“A Homecoming, Some Thoughts”
(He Zhizhang)
I was young when I left home
Old when I returned again.
The way I spoke didn’t change,
Not like this hair behind my ears.
Children saw me
But they didn’t know who I was.
Smiling, they asked me like a stranger,
Where are you from?
第三句是：儿童相见不“相”识。
Comment by DDL — November 18, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
The title could be more appropriately translated as: Some random thoughts during a return to my hometown.
^.^
Comment by DDL — November 18, 2010 @ 3:54 pm
题目“偶”的意思是“偶然”，“书”的意思是“写”
Comment by Amber — November 21, 2010 @ 6:17 pm
Maybe: Random lines on returning home
Comment by Amber — November 21, 2010 @ 10:29 pm
I’ve taken my commentators’ advice and changed my translation of the title of the poem from
“Returning Home with a Few Books”
to
“A Homecoming, Some Thoughts”
Comment by ferret — November 26, 2010 @ 4:51 pm
[…] and oftentimes end up inking questionable symbols on their bodies. Brad, however, got a pretty cool Chinese poem tattooed on his […]
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