Li Bai: speed and a great waterfall

轻舟顺着长江快速前行。

qīng zhōu shùn zhe cháng jiāng kuài sù qián xíng。

The light boat travels swiftly along the Yangtze River.

两岸不断传来猿声。

liǎng àn bù duàn chuán lái yuán shēng。

Gibbon calls keep sounding from both banks.

庐山瀑布从高处奔流而下。

lú shān pù bù cóng gāo chù bēn liú ér xià。

The waterfall on Mount Lu rushes down from high above.

诗人站在远处遥看瀑布。

shī rén zhàn zài yuǎn chù yáo kàn pù bù。

The poet views the waterfall from a distance.

阳光下的水流让诗人想到银河。

yáng guāng xià de shuǐ liú ràng shī rén xiǎng dào yín hé。

The sunlit water makes the poet think of the Milky Way.

诗中的夸张突出了瀑布的高度和气势。

shī zhōng de kuā zhāng tū chū le pù bù de gāo dù hé qì shì。

The poem's exaggeration emphasises the waterfall's height and power.

朝辞白帝彩云间，

zhāo cí bái dì cǎi yún jiān，

At dawn I leave White Emperor City among coloured clouds,

千里江陵一日还。

qiān lǐ jiāng líng yí rì huán。

Far away in Jiangling, I return within a single day.

两岸猿声啼不住，

liǎng àn yuán shēng tí bú zhù，

Gibbon calls from both banks have not yet ceased,

轻舟已过万重山。

qīng zhōu yǐ guò wàn chóng shān。

Yet my light boat has passed countless mountains.

日照香炉生紫烟，

rì zhào xiāng lú shēng zǐ yān，

Sunlight on Incense Burner Peak raises purple mist,

遥看瀑布挂前川。

yáo kàn pù bù guà qián chuān。

From afar the waterfall hangs above the stream.

飞流直下三千尺，

fēi liú zhí xià sān qiān chǐ，

The torrent plunges straight down from a tremendous height,

疑是银河落九天。

yí shì yín hé luò jiǔ tiān。

As if the Milky Way were falling from the heavens.

A 朝辞里的朝怎样读？

zhāo cí lǐ de zhāo zěn yàng dú？

How is the first character in the phrase meaning ‘leaving at dawn’ pronounced?

B 读第一声，表示早晨。

dú dì yī shēng， biǎo shì zǎo chén。

It is pronounced zhāo and means morning.

A 万重山里的重是重量吗？

wàn chóng shān lǐ de chóng shì zhòng liàng ma？

Does the character in the phrase about layered mountains mean weight?

B 不是，读第二声，表示一层又一层。

bú shì， dú dì èr shēng， biǎo shì yì céng yòu yì céng。

No. It is pronounced chóng and suggests layer upon layer.

A 三千尺一定是实际测量吗？

sān qiān chǐ yí dìng shì shí jì cè liáng ma？

Must the poem’s “three thousand chi” be an actual measurement?

B 不是，这里用夸张表现瀑布的壮观。

bú shì， zhè lǐ yòng kuā zhāng biǎo xiàn pù bù de zhuàng guān。

No. Here exaggeration conveys the waterfall's grandeur.