锄禾日当午 (chú hé rì dāng wǔ, hoeing the crops under the noon sun) begins the second of Li Shen's two poems called Pity the Farmers, 悯农 (mǐn nóng), the poem Chinese parents quote whenever a child leaves rice in the bowl. In twenty characters it shows a farmer sweating in the field, then asks who remembers that every grain on our plates came from that work: 谁知盘中餐，粒粒皆辛苦 (shuí zhī pán zhōng cān, lì lì jiē xīn kǔ). This worksheet sets out the four lines with pinyin for copying and then writing from memory, followed by an English translation and notes on 锄禾 (chú hé, hoeing the crops), 当午 (dāng wǔ, at noon) and 辛苦 (xīn kǔ, hard work). It is a short, meaningful text for kids and beginners and a good way to start a conversation about food and gratitude. Print it free or save the PDF, and read it aloud before your next meal.
悯农（其二） (mǐn nóng qí èr) with pinyin and English
- 锄禾日当午， chú hé rì dāng wǔ: Hoeing the crops under the noon sun,
- 汗滴禾下土。 hàn dī hé xià tǔ: the farmer's sweat drips onto the soil.
- 谁知盘中餐， shuí zhī pán zhōng cān: Who knows that the food on our plates,
- 粒粒皆辛苦。 lì lì jiē xīn kǔ: every single grain, comes from hard work?
About the poem
悯农（其二） (mǐn nóng qí èr), Pity the Farmers (II): by 李绅 (Lǐ Shēn), Tang dynasty (618-907).
谁: read shuí (also shéi). Poems are usually recited with shuí; everyday speech uses shéi.
More Chinese poems for kids
- Chinese poems for kids: Thirty short classical poems that Chinese children learn first, each with pinyin, an English translation and a copy-the-lines worksheet.
- Jing Ye Si (静夜思): Copy Li Bai's 静夜思 (jìng yè sī), Quiet Night Thoughts, line by line with pinyin. 床前明月光 疑是地上霜 举头望明月 低头思故乡
- Chun Xiao (春晓): Copy Meng Haoran's 春晓 (chūn xiǎo), Spring Morning, line by line with pinyin. 春眠不觉晓 处处闻啼鸟 夜来风雨声 花落知多少
- Yong E (咏鹅): Copy Luo Binwang's 咏鹅 (yǒng é), Ode to the Goose, the first poem many children learn. 鹅鹅鹅 曲项向天歌 白毛浮绿水 红掌拨清波
- Deng Guan Que Lou (登鹳雀楼): Copy Wang Zhihuan's 登鹳雀楼 (dēng guàn què lóu), with the famous line 更上一层楼 (gèng shàng yì céng lóu). 白日依山尽 黄河入海流 欲穷千里目 更上一层楼
- Jiang Xue (江雪): Copy Liu Zongyuan's 江雪 (jiāng xuě), River Snow, line by line with pinyin. 千山鸟飞绝 万径人踪灭 孤舟蓑笠翁 独钓寒江雪
- Yuan Ri (元日): Copy Wang Anshi's 元日 (yuán rì), the classic Chinese New Year poem, line by line with pinyin. 爆竹声中一岁除 春风送暖入屠苏 千门万户曈曈日 总把新桃换旧符
- You Zi Yin (游子吟): Copy Meng Jiao's 游子吟 (yóu zǐ yín), the classic poem about a mother's love, with pinyin. 慈母手中线 游子身上衣 临行密密缝 意恐迟迟归
- Shui Diao Ge Tou (水调歌头): Copy the best-known lines of Su Shi's Mid-Autumn poem 水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu), with pinyin. 明月几时有 把酒问青天 不知天上宫阙 今夕是何年
Frequently asked questions
What does 悯农 (mǐn nóng) mean?
悯农 (mǐn nóng) means 'Pity the Farmers'. A farmer hoes his crops under the noon sun, his sweat dripping onto the soil, and the poem asks who remembers that every grain of rice on our plate came from that hard work.
Who wrote 悯农 (mǐn nóng)?
悯农 (mǐn nóng) was written by 李绅 (Lǐ Shēn), a Tang poet and official who wrote two poems called 悯农 (mǐn nóng); this is the second. Li Shen wrote it in the Tang dynasty.
How long is 悯农 (mǐn nóng)?
悯农 (mǐn nóng) has four lines of five characters, 20 characters in all, all of them everyday words. The worksheet gives each line its own row of grids with pinyin above.
What does 粒粒皆辛苦 (lì lì jiē xīn kǔ) mean?
粒粒皆辛苦 (lì lì jiē xīn kǔ) means 'every single grain is hard work'. It closes the poem after 谁知盘中餐 (shuí zhī pán zhōng cān), 'who knows that the food on our plate', and parents still quote it to children who leave rice in the bowl.
Is this worksheet free to print?
Yes. The 悯农 (mǐn nóng) worksheet is free to print or save as a PDF, with no account or email needed, and you can print as many copies as you like for a class. Choose A4 or US Letter before you press Print or Save PDF.