李白
七言绝句
Character Explanations
Click on a character in the poem to display its explanation here.
朝
"morning" (read as zhāo). 朝辞 "at dawn, I take my leave".
辞
"to take leave, depart". 朝辞 "depart at dawn".
白
"white; (Bai)". 白帝 "Baidi", the city of the White Emperor.
帝
"emperor". 白帝城 "the city of Baidi".
彩
"colorful, multicolored". 彩云 "colorful clouds".
云
"cloud". 彩云 "the clouds of dawn hues".
间
"between, amidst". 彩云间 "amidst the clouds".
千
"thousand". 千里 "a thousand li".
里
"li (unit of distance)". 千里江陵 "Jiangling, a thousand li away".
江
"river; (Jiang)". 江陵 "Jiangling", a downstream city.
陵
"mound; (Ling)". 江陵 "Jiangling".
一
"one". 一日 "in a single day".
日
"day". 一日还 "return in a day".
还
"to return, come back" (read as huán). 一日还 "reached in a day".
两
"two". 两岸 "the two banks".
岸
"shore, bank". 两岸 "the two banks".
猿
"gibbon, monkey". 猿声 "the gibbons' cries".
声
"sound, cry". 猿声 "the monkeys' cries".
啼
"to cry out (animal)". 啼不住 "cry endlessly".
不
"not". 不住 "without stopping".
住
"to stop, cease". 啼不住 "do not cease crying".
轻
"light". 轻舟 "the light boat".
舟
"boat". 轻舟 "the swift skiff".
已
"already". 已过 "has already passed".
过
"to pass, cross". 已过 "has crossed".
万
"ten thousand". 万重山 "ten thousand peaks".
重
"layer, range" (read as chóng). 万重山 "layer upon layer of mountains".
山
"mountain". 万重山 "countless mountains".
Literal Translation
At dawn I depart from Baidi amid the colorful clouds;
A thousand li to Jiangling, reached in a single day.
On both banks, the gibbons' cries never cease;
The light boat has already crossed ten thousand mountains.
Historical and Biographical Context
This poem, 早发白帝城 (), "Morning Departure from Baidi City," describes the dizzying descent through the Yangzi Gorges, carried by the poet's relief and joy.
Literary Analysis
Structure and Form
A quatrain of seven characters. The speed of the journey structures the poem: departure at dawn, arrival the same day, mountains crossed "already" in the final line.
Imagery and Symbolism
The colorful clouds, gorges, gibbons' cries, and swift skiff create an exhilarating descent where nature mirrors the poet's elation.
Movement and Gesture
Everything is speed and fluidity: the "light" boat glides so fast that the mountains are crossed before one even notices them.
Language and Tone
Vivid and cheerful language; the tone is euphoric, reflecting the happiness of regained freedom.
Main Themes
Regained Freedom
The rapid descent down the river expresses the poet's relief at being pardoned.
Speed and Momentum
The poem is a celebration of movement, lightness, and joy.
Harmony with Nature
The landscape of the gorges seems to embrace and amplify the traveler's joy.
