子之汤兮，宛丘之上兮，洵有情兮，而无望兮。 坎其击鼓，宛丘之下，无冬无夏，值其鹭羽。 坎其击缶，宛丘之道，无冬无夏，值其鹭翿。
How you sway and dance, On the top of Wan Hill! Truly you have feeling — But there is no hope. Thud-thud sounds the drum, At the foot of Wan Hill. Through winter and summer, You wave the egret's feather. Thud-thud sounds the earthen drum, On the road of Wan Hill. Through winter and summer, You wave the egret's plume.
东门之枌，宛丘之栩。子仲之子，婆娑其下。 谷旦于差，南方之原。不绩其麻，市也婆娑。 谷旦于逝，越以鬷迈。视尔如荍，贻我握椒。
The elm at the eastern gate, The oak on Wan Hill. The son of Zi-zhong Dances beneath them. We choose an auspicious morning, On the plain of the south. She spins not her hemp, But dances in the market-place. We pass an auspicious morning, And the crowd moves on together. I look at you as at the mallow-flower — You give me a handful of pepper.
衡门之下，可以栖迟。泌之洋洋，可以乐饥。 岂其食鱼，必河之鲂。岂其取妻，必齐之姜。 岂其食鱼，必河之鲤。岂其取妻，必宋之子。
Beneath the balancing gate, One may rest and linger. By the pellucid waters of Bi, One may satisfy hunger. If we would eat fish, Must it be the bream of the river? If we would take a wife, Must she be a Jiang of Qi? If we would eat fish, Must it be the carp of the river? If we would take a wife, Must she be a Zi of Song?
东门之池，可以沤麻。彼美淑姬，可与晤歌。 东门之池，可以沤纻。彼美淑姬，可与晤语。 东门之池，可以沤菅。彼美淑姬，可与晤言。
In the pools by the eastern gate, One may ret the hemp. That lovely lady of the Ji — One may sing with her. In the pools by the eastern gate, One may ret the china-grass. That lovely lady of the Ji — One may converse with her. In the pools by the eastern gate, One may ret the sedge. That lovely lady of the Ji — One may talk with her.
月出皎兮，佼人僚兮，舒窈纠兮，劳心悄兮。 月出皓兮，佼人懰兮，舒懮受兮，劳心慅兮。 月出照兮，佼人燎兮，舒夭绍兮，劳心惨兮。
The moon comes forth in her brightness, How lovely is the lady! Slowly she moves in her elegance, My sorrowing heart is stirred. The moon comes forth in her whiteness, How charming is the lady! Slowly she moves in her grace, My sorrowing heart is troubled. The moon comes forth and shines, How radiant is the lady! Slowly she moves in her beauty, My sorrowing heart is wrung.
彼泽之陂，有蒲与荷。有美一人，伤如之何。寤寐无为，涕泗滂沱。 彼泽之陂，有蒲与蕑。有美一人，硕大且卷。寤寐无为，中心悁悁。 彼泽之陂，有蒲菡萏。有美一人，硕大且俨。寤寐无为，辗转伏枕。
On the banks of that marsh, Grow the rushes and the lotus. There is a beautiful lady — I yearn — what shall I do? Waking and sleeping I know no peace, My tears fall in streams. On the banks of that marsh, Grow the rushes and the lotus-leaves. There is a beautiful lady, Tall and graceful. Waking and sleeping I know no peace, My heart is full of grief. On the banks of that marsh, Grow the rushes and the lotus-blooms. There is a beautiful lady, Tall and stately. Waking and sleeping I know no peace, I toss and turn upon my pillow.