明月几时有 (míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu, when did the bright moon first appear?) opens Su Shi's 水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu), the poem everyone quotes at the Mid-Autumn Festival. Su Shi wrote it at the festival in 1076, after a night of drinking, while thinking of his younger brother Su Zhe, whom he had not seen for years. It ends with a famous wish: 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟 (dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān), may we all live long and share this lovely moon, even a thousand li apart. This worksheet uses the opening four lines and the closing five, with pinyin above each character for copying and then writing from memory; the full poem, an English translation and notes on 宫阙 (gōng què, palaces), 婵娟 (chán juān, the moon) and 不胜寒 (bù shèng hán, too cold to bear) appear below. It suits older children, heritage learners and adults. Print it free or save the PDF for the next full moon.
水调歌头·明月几时有 (shuǐ diào gē tóu míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu) with pinyin and English
The full poem. The worksheet uses the opening four lines and the closing five.
- 明月几时有？ míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu: When did the bright moon first appear?
- 把酒问青天。 bǎ jiǔ wèn qīng tiān: Cup in hand, I ask the blue sky.
- 不知天上宫阙， bù zhī tiān shàng gōng què: I wonder, in the palaces of heaven,
- 今夕是何年。 jīn xī shì hé nián: what year it is tonight.
- 我欲乘风归去， wǒ yù chéng fēng guī qù: I would like to ride the wind back up there,
- 又恐琼楼玉宇， yòu kǒng qióng lóu yù yǔ: but I am afraid those jade towers
- 高处不胜寒。 gāo chù bù shèng hán: are too cold so high up.
- 起舞弄清影， qǐ wǔ nòng qīng yǐng: So I dance with my clear shadow:
- 何似在人间。 hé sì zài rén jiān: how could heaven compare with life down here?
- 转朱阁， zhuǎn zhū gé: The moon circles the red pavilion,
- 低绮户， dī qǐ hù: sinks low past the carved windows,
- 照无眠。 zhào wú mián: and shines on those who cannot sleep.
- 不应有恨， bù yīng yǒu hèn: The moon should hold no grudge,
- 何事长向别时圆？ hé shì cháng xiàng bié shí yuán: so why is it always full when people are apart?
- 人有悲欢离合， rén yǒu bēi huān lí hé: People have sorrow and joy, partings and reunions;
- 月有阴晴圆缺， yuè yǒu yīn qíng yuán quē: the moon is dim or bright, full or waning;
- 此事古难全。 cǐ shì gǔ nán quán: nothing has been perfect since ancient times.
- 但愿人长久， dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ: I only wish that we may all live long,
- 千里共婵娟。 qiān lǐ gòng chán juān: and share this lovely moon, though a thousand li apart.
About the poem
水调歌头·明月几时有 (shuǐ diào gē tóu míng yuè jǐ shí yǒu), Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Moon Be Bright?: by 苏轼 (Sū Shì), Song dynasty (960-1279).
Written for the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1076. The kids' worksheet uses the opening four lines and the closing five lines.
胜: read shèng (also shēng). 不胜寒 'cannot bear the cold': modern standard Mandarin reads shèng; older dictionaries give shēng for 'bear'.
More Chinese poems for kids
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- 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
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Frequently asked questions
What does 水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu) mean?
水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu) is the name of the tune Su Shi wrote to, not a description. The poem asks the bright moon when it first appeared, wonders about the palaces in the sky and ends wishing that loved ones far apart can share the same moon.
Who wrote 水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu)?
水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu) was written by 苏轼 (Sū Shì), also known as Su Dongpo, one of the greatest writers of the Song dynasty. Su Shi wrote it for the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1076, thinking of his younger brother, Su Zhe.
How long is 水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu)?
The full 水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu) has 19 lines and 95 characters. The worksheet uses the opening four lines and the closing five, the parts most people know; the whole poem is on this page with pinyin and English.
What does 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟 (dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān) mean?
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟 (dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān) means 'I only wish we live long, and share this lovely moon though a thousand li apart'. 婵娟 (chán juān) is a poetic name for the moon. It is the classic Mid-Autumn wish.
Is this worksheet free to print?
Yes. The 水调歌头 (shuǐ diào gē tóu) 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.