I know many fans are non-Chinese and are curious about the literal translation to Wuji. So here it is!!
The lines doesn’t really connect, but I did what I can with my level of understanding. So there may be errors in translation and/or interpretation.
[square bracket] is literal dictionary meaning/translation
(brackets) for added words for ease of grammatical understanding
/slash/ for possible alternate meanings
wén dí sheng dú chóu chàng
Listen for the melody of a flute, alone in sorrow
[hear flute sound, alone (in) depression]
The nights in the clouds are long
[cloud deep night not yet over]
*yun shen is also short for Cloud Recesses, but I thought I’d go with the metaphor
Once together, now it’s all in the past
[is together (but) now already in the past]
xǐng lái le zěn néng dāng mèng yī cháng
In wakefulness, how can I brush everything away as a dream?
[awaken already how can pretend as one dream]
hóng chén zhōng huǐ yù dé shī rú hé qù liáng
In this world, the good and evil done, how does one remember?
[in mortal world, damage/slander praise/reputation gain(ed) how to measure]
xiāo xiāo xuè rè dāo fēng liáng
Just as thick blood warms a cold blade
[pitter patter (of) blood hot (on) cold sword/knife edge]
From the mountains yonder to the seas beyond
[mountain tall water far]
The qin sounds once again
[again hear (the) qin make sound]
Echoes feelings yet to disappear
[telling feelings not yet vanish]
*chen qing is also WWX’s flute
Like the quiet silvergrass reflecting the frosty moon
[lying miscanthus sacchariflorus moon like frost]
zhǔ yī hú shēng sǐ bēi huān jì shào nián láng
Teach these young ones life and death’s joy and grief
[cook/boil one pot of life-death-sad-happy (and) offer to youngsters]
míng yuè yī jiù hé lái chàng wǎng
As constant as the bright moon waxes and wanes
[bright moon like before why/how come listless/distracted]
*I interpreted this as the moon being depressed, or waning
bù rú xiāo xiāo sǎ sǎ lì biàn fēng hé làng
So soar high and free as a bird with the winds and waves
[why not free and easy experience everywhere (on) wind and wave]
tiān yá yī qǔ gòng yōu yang
And sing this one song to the world
[(to) the other end of the world one song melodious together]
chuān wàn shuǐ guò qiān shān
Travelling down thousands of rivers, crossing thousands of mountains
[passing through ten thousand water (and) one thousand mountain]
Endless people awaits at journey’s end
[finish/end road people boundless]
Once together, now it’s all in the past
[is together (but) now already in the past]
xǐng lái le jiù dāng tā mèng yī cháng
In wakefulness, let’s pretend it was all a dream
[awaken already just pretend as one dream]
hóng chén zhōng huǐ yù dé shī rú hé qù liáng
In this world, the good and evil done, how does one remember?
[in mortal world, damage/slander praise/reputation gain(ed) how to measure]
xiāo xiāo xuè rè dāo fēng liáng
Just as thick blood warms a cold blade
[pitter patter (of) blood hot (on) cold sword/knife edge]
From the mountains yonder to the seas beyond
[mountain tall water far]
The qin sounds once again
[again hear (the) qin make sound]
Echoes feelings yet to disappear
[telling feelings not yet vanish]
xiào shì shì duō wú cháng
Smiling at the ever-changing world
[smile/laugh (at) affairs of life often changing]
zhǔ yī hú shēng sǐ bēi huān jì shào nián láng
Teach these young ones life and death’s joy and grief
[cook/boil one pot of life-death-sad-happy (and) offer to youngsters]
míng yuè yī jiù hé lái chàng wǎng
As constant as the bright moon waxes and wanes
[bright moon like before why/how come listless/distracted]
bù ruò tǎn tǎn dàng dàng lì biàn fēng hé làng
So spread your wings and flutter with the winds and waves
[why not broad and level experience everywhere wind and wave]
tiān yá yī qǔ gòng yōu yang
And sing this one song to the world
[(to) the other end of the world one song melodious together]
zhǔ yī hú shēng sǐ bēi huān jì shào nián láng
Teach these young ones life and death’s joy and grief
[cook/boil one pot of life-death-sad-happy (and) offer to youngsters]
míng yuè yī jiù hé lái chàng wǎng
As constant as the bright moon waxes and wanes
[bright moon like before why/how come listless/distracted]
bù ruò tǎn tǎn dàng dàng lì biàn fēng hé làng
So spread your wings and flutter with the winds and waves
[why not broad and level experience everywhere wind and wave]
tiān yá yī qǔ gòng yōu yang
And sing this one song to the world
[(to) the other end of the world one song melodious together]
tiān yá yī qǔ gòng yōu yang
And sing this one song to the world
[(to) the other end of the world one song melodious together]
How was the literal translation? It can get crazy metaphorical and poetic at times that it can be hard to translate and interpret, especially without any understanding of the drama/novel. But I hope you had fun!
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