All poems

唐 Tang · 诗 Poem

赠汪伦

To Wang Lun

李白

Li Bai

友情Friendship 送别Farewell

李白乘舟将欲行，忽闻岸上踏歌声。
桃花潭水深千尺，不及汪伦送我情。

Li Bai aboard a boat, about to go,
When suddenly he hears footsteps and songs on shore.
The Peach Blossom Pool is a thousand fathoms deep,
Yet not so deep as Wang Lun’s love for me.

Listen

Meaning

Li Bai is leaving by boat and unexpectedly hears Wang Lun singing and stomping on the shore to see him off. Even though the Peach Blossom Pool is incredibly deep, it cannot compare to Wang Lun's deep friendship.

李白乘着小船正要启程离去，忽然听见岸上传来踏地打拍、唱歌相送的声音。纵使那桃花潭的水有千尺之深，也比不上汪伦送别我的这一片情谊。

Appreciation

The poem begins with a narrative of Li Bai about to depart, then suddenly hears the farewell song from the shore. The last two lines use the actual deep pool as a metaphor to compare with the intangible depth of friendship, turning the abstract into something concrete and vivid.

【白话串讲】汪伦用一句“这里有十里桃花、万家酒店”把李白骗去，结果桃花没有十里，酒店也没有万家。可李白走时，汪伦真的踏歌相送——“不及汪伦送我情”，把一个玩笑写成了千古友谊。【意象与手法】语浅情深，四句二十八字写尽送别之暖【情感与主旨】汪伦是泾县（今安徽）的村民，曾以“十里桃花”“万家酒店”诓邀李白来访，二人由此结下深厚情谊【名句点睛】常考“桃花潭水深千尺，不及汪伦送我情”以水深反衬（衬托）友情之深，属借景抒情、以实衬虚

Background

Wang Lun was a villager in Jing County (modern Anhui) who once tricked Li Bai into visiting by claiming 'ten miles of peach blossoms' and 'ten thousand taverns.' They became good friends. When Li Bai left, Wang Lun sang and stomped his feet to see him off, and Li Bai improvised this poem. It is a masterpiece of genuine emotion in plain language.

李白，字太白，号青莲居士，盛唐浪漫主义诗歌之巅。汪伦，泾县（今安徽宣城泾县）人，据宋蜀本李白集注及袁枚《随园诗话》载，汪伦曾为泾县桃花潭畔村民（一说泾县令），仰慕太白诗名，以十里桃花、万家酒店诓邀李白来访——实则以桃花潭水、万家姓之酒店相戏，二人由此结下深厚情谊。李白游泾县桃花潭时，汪伦热情相待；及太白乘舟将行，汪伦踏歌岸上、以民俗送别之礼相送，诗人感其诚挚，遂作此绝相赠。此诗具体作年难确，约在天宝中后期李白漫游宣城、秋浦一带时。在文学传统上，踏歌送别为江南民间古俗，以足踏地为节、连手而歌；李白以七绝记一时送别，语浅情深，开盛唐绝句中写平民交情、以实衬虚之清新一路，遂成送别诗之别调，千载传诵。在文学传统上，踏歌送别为江南民间古俗，以足踏地为节、连手而歌；李白以七绝记一时送别，语浅情深，开盛唐绝句中写平民交情、以实衬虚之清新一路。汪伦以桃花潭水、万家酒店相待，及太白将行，踏歌岸上相送，脱略形骸，最见交情之诚。此诗具体作年难确，约在天宝中后期李白漫游宣城、秋浦一带时，其真情不系于本事之详，足为送别诗之别调，千载传诵而不衰，遂成七绝写友情之范。

Art

Simple words yet deep emotion. The first two lines narrate the event plainly; the last two lines use the hyperbole of 'a thousand fathoms deep' to set up a contrast, then turn with 'not so deep as' to measure friendship by the depth of water. This comparison between tangible and intangible is fresh and apt, blending folk song style with literati poetry.

全诗四句，章法以叙事起、以比喻结，由实入虚、由景入情。前联李白乘舟将欲行，忽闻岸上踏歌声，纯用白描叙事：将欲行方起，忽闻二字陡转，踏歌声以听觉写送别之热烈，不见人而闻其声，先声夺人，质朴中见真情。后联桃花潭水深千尺，不及汪伦送我情，以潭水之深作比，再以不及二字翻进，以实（水深）衬虚（情深），将无形之谊化为可量之象而又超越之。修辞上以夸张（千尺）与比较（不及）见巧，不假雕饰而自然动人；意象上乘舟、踏歌、桃花潭水层叠，色声兼具。其妙在全以常语写至情，不诉离愁而挚谊自见，于盛唐送别诗中别开以乐写别、以浅写深之格，与王维渭城朝雨之婉约、王勃海内存知之豪迈并见唐人送别之多姿。其妙在全以常语写至情，不诉离愁而挚谊自见，于盛唐送别诗中别开以乐写别、以浅写深之格。前联白描叙事，将欲行、忽闻踏歌声，先声夺人；后联以潭水之深作比，再以不及二字翻进，以实衬虚。修辞上夸张与比较见巧，意象乘舟、踏歌、桃花潭水层叠，色声兼具。盛唐诗人重天然，此篇正是不雕而工、以景写情之胜，与王维渭城之婉约、王勃海内存知之豪迈并见唐人送别之多姿，足为七绝写友情之清新范式，千载并传。

Allusions

'Peach Blossom Pool' is located in Jing County, Anhui. 'Step-singing' is a folk custom of singing while stomping the foot to keep rhythm. Wang Lun, a villager, reportedly invited Li Bai with the lure of 'ten miles of peach blossoms and ten thousand taverns,' and this farewell story became a well-known anecdote, showing their genuine friendship.

诗中意象与风俗多有所本。踏歌为江南古俗，以足踏地为节、连手而歌，多见于六朝乐府与唐人笔记，汪伦以之送李白，是民间送别之礼，亦见二人交情之脱略形骸。桃花潭在泾县西南，今存其地名胜，因李诗而显；潭水深千尺虽夸张，实写其水之澄深。字词训诂方面，将欲行之将犹将、方也，写启程之顷；忽闻之忽极写意外之喜与感动；不及之及谓比得上，以否定比较收束，情逾潭水。汪伦其人，唐人范传正《李白新墓碑》未载，宋以后笔记始详，注家或疑诓邀之事为后起传说，然诗之真挚不系于本事之详。全诗用事皆依民俗常景，不深奥而贴切，正见盛唐诗人以白描写交情之高明。要之，全诗用事皆依民俗常景，不深奥而贴切。踏歌为江南古俗，汪伦以之送李白，是民间送别之礼，亦见二人交情之脱略形骸。桃花潭在泾县西南，今存其地名胜，因李诗而显；潭水深千尺虽夸张，实写其水之澄深。将欲行之将犹方也，写启程之顷；忽闻之忽极写意外之喜。汪伦其人，唐人碑志未载，宋以后笔记始详，注家或疑诓邀之事为后起传说，然诗之真挚不系于本事之详，正见盛唐以白描写交情之高明，举重若轻。

Commentary

Though based on a folk tale, the poem's natural sincerity makes it a gem among farewell quatrains. Critics praise its 'plain words but profound feeling,' showing Li Bai's unadorned brilliance.

此诗向为李白七绝中语浅情深之代表，明人唐汝询《唐诗解》称其触景感怀，情致自然。清蘅塘退士《唐诗三百首》录之，与渭城曲并列为送别名篇。历代评家多赏其不事雕琢而真挚动人，以桃花潭水深千尺、不及汪伦送我情为以实衬虚之范式。其经典地位在于打破送别诗多写宦游沦落、黯然销魂的惯例，转写平民间诚挚欢畅的送别，清新可喜；潭水深情之喻更成汉语表达友情深厚之成语式意象。传播史上，此诗童蒙能诵，现代语文教育尤重其借景抒情、以实衬虚之法；桃花潭亦因诗成名，今为皖南胜迹。它证明真正的诗可以极平易而又极深厚，是盛唐七绝情韵之又一标尺。其经典地位在于打破送别诗多写宦游沦落、黯然销魂的惯例，转写平民间诚挚欢畅的送别，清新可喜；潭水深情之喻更成汉语表达友情深厚之成语式意象。传播史上，此诗童蒙能诵，现代语文教育尤重其借景抒情、以实衬虚之法；桃花潭亦因诗成名，今为皖南胜迹。它证明真正的诗可以极平易而又极深厚，是盛唐七绝情韵之又一标尺，千载以下犹能动人心魄，信非偶然，足为送别诗之别调。

Prosody

Form Seven-character quatrain (qijue)七言绝句（记桃花潭送别，属友情送别题材）

Rhyme Even tone with first line rhyming, in the Geng rhyme (行, 声, 情).押平声庚韵（或八庚），行、声、情三句末字属平水韵下平八庚，首句入韵，一韵到底，声情清亮而温厚，最宜发诚挚欢畅之慨。

Tone pattern Line 1: 仄仄平平平仄平; Line 2: 仄平平仄仄平平; Line 3: 仄平平仄平平仄; Line 4: 仄仄平平仄仄平.平仄合七绝仄起首句入韵格：仄平平平平仄平，仄平仄仄仄平平。平平仄平平平仄，仄仄平平仄仄平。首句李白乘舟为仄仄平平，行平收，格律自然。

Reading note The last two lines use depth of water to contrast depth of friendship, turning abstraction into concrete imagery, a model of ingeniously crafted farewell poetry.此诗四句，声律暗合七绝仄起首句入韵之格，行、声、情三平声在庚韵中清亮温厚，与踏歌送别之明快相得益彰。首句以仄起平收写启程之从容，忽闻岸上以平仄相错写歌声之骤起；后联潭水深千尺仄起，不及汪伦以平收，声情由叙而扬。盛唐七绝重天然音节，此篇不刻意雕琢而自然合度，语似白话而平仄暗谐，读来朗朗上口而终觉情长。其韵脚之选与首句之舒，使短章兼具歌唱之畅与吟咏之深，宜乎千载传诵、童蒙能诵而不厌，足为送别七绝以浅写深之标本。要之，此诗声情与辞情互为表里，行声情三平声在庚韵中清亮温厚，与踏歌送别之明快相得益彰。盛唐七绝重天然音节，此篇不刻意雕琢而自然合度，语似白话而平仄暗谐，读来朗朗上口而终觉情长。其韵脚之选与首句之舒，使短章兼具歌唱之畅与吟咏之深，宜乎千载传诵、童蒙能诵而不厌，足为送别七绝以浅写深之标本，论者谓太白七绝如话而味永，此诗正其证，声情与辞情互为表里。

Line by line

李白乘舟将欲行，忽闻岸上踏歌声。

Li Bai aboard a boat, about to depart, suddenly hears from the shore the sound of stomping and singing.

李白乘着小船正要启程离去，忽然听见岸上传来踏地打拍、唱歌相送的声音。

Li Bai embarks, about to leave; suddenly on the bank he hears stamping-song farewell.

前联以白描叙事起手，将欲行写启程之顷，方理舟楫而别意未生；忽闻二字陡转，踏歌声以听觉先至，不见送者而闻其声，先声夺人，质朴中见真情。踏歌为江南民间送别古俗，以足踏地为节、连手而歌，汪伦以此相送，脱略形骸，最见交情之诚。此联妙在不写叮咛执手之常套，而写歌声忽起之惊喜，于平淡叙事中立见温暖。李白二字直书己名入诗，唐人绝句中少见，反显率真如话、不避俚俗之态。盛唐诗人重天然，此联正是不雕而工，以叙事带情，为后联潭水之比蓄足人气，章法由实入虚、由景入情，极见七绝白描之胜。

The first couplet opens in plain narrative, about to leave writes the moment of departure - just embarking, the farewell feeling not yet born; suddenly hears two characters turn abruptly, the stamping-song sound arriving first through hearing - the farewell giver unseen, yet his sound heard, sound first winning, plain yet showing true feeling. Stamping-song is Jiangnan folk ancient farewell custom, feet stamping the ground for beat, hands linked in song; Wang Lun using this to see him off, free of formalities, most showing the friendship's sincerity. This couplet's subtlety lies in not writing the usual clasped-hand exhortation, but the surprise of song suddenly rising; within plain narrative the warmth at once. Li Bai two characters directly writing his own name into poetry is rare among Tang quatrains, instead showing the artless-as-talk, vulgarity-avoided air. High-Tang poets prized the natural; this couplet is precisely uncarved yet refined, narrative carrying feeling, storing full human warmth for the later pool-water metaphor; craft from solid to void, from scenery to feeling, most showing the seven-character quatrain's plain description triumph.

桃花潭水深千尺，不及汪伦送我情。

Though the Peach Blossom Pool is a thousand fathoms deep, it is not as deep as Wang Lun's affection in seeing me off.

纵使那桃花潭的水有千尺之深，也比不上汪伦送别我的这一片情谊。

Peach Blossom Pool's water, a thousand feet deep, still cannot match Wang Lun's farewell love for me.

后联为全诗情核，以桃花潭水深千尺设喻，再以不及二字翻进，将无形之谊化为可量之象而又超越之。潭水千尺虽夸张，实写其澄深，先立一实可感之深；不及汪伦送我情以否定比较收束，言情之深逾于水之深，以实（水深）衬虚（情深），举重若轻。此联所以成千古名句，正在其道出友情深厚之不可量度，而又以最朴之喻出之，童蒙能解而意味深长。唐人送别多重悲，太白却以水深衬情、以欢写别，清新可喜。其妙在不呼号而挚谊自见，不雕琢而自然入妙，遂成汉语表达交情之成语式意象，足证盛唐七绝以浅写深、以实写虚之极笔。

The latter couplet is the poem's emotional core, using Peach Blossom Pool's water, a thousand feet deep as metaphor, then turning further with still cannot match, converting the intangible friendship into a measurable image and yet transcending it. The pool water's thousand feet though hyperbolic, writes its clarity and depth, first establishing a solid, sensible depth. Still cannot match Wang Lun's farewell love for me closes in negative comparison, writing the feeling's depth exceeding the water's depth; using solid (water depth) to set off void (feeling depth), handling the heavy lightly. This couplet becoming an age-famous line lies precisely in speaking the friendship's immeasurable depth, yet using the simplest metaphor - children can understand it yet the meaning is long. Tang farewell poems prized grief, yet Taibai uses water depth to set off feeling, uses joy to write parting, fresh and delightful. Its subtlety lies in no shouting yet the sincere friendship self-showing, no carving yet naturally entering the exquisite; hence becoming the idiomatic image in Chinese for expressing friendship - proof of the High-Tang seven-character quatrain's extreme brush of writing depth through the shallow, writing the void through the solid.

Study

Word focus

忽 A key expression in the poem. Read it as an image, mood, or grammar point in context. 忽字为全诗情感转捩之眼，将欲行、忽闻岸上踏歌声，以突如其来的听觉打破启程的平淡。忽最重，写诗人本以为悄然离去、不惊动友人，却于舟将发时骤闻踏歌，意外之喜与感动一时迸发；若无忽字，则送别成预谋之常，情味大减。此字以最朴之形涵最厚之真，见汪伦送别之出于至诚、不期而挚，亦见诗人受触动之骤。唐人炼字多重炼景，太白却于叙事中炼一忽字写心理起伏，举重若轻。盛唐诗人以气韵胜，此字正是不炼之炼，足证李白白描写情之高手笔，遂开七绝叙事带情、先声夺人之格，千载以下读之犹觉歌声在耳。

不及 not as good as; turns the comparison, using measurable depth to contrast immeasurable friendship 不及二字为全诗比喻之枢，桃花潭水深千尺，不及汪伦送我情，以否定比较收束全篇。及谓比得上，不及即言情之深逾于千尺潭水，将前句所立之实（水深）一举翻作陪衬，以实衬虚、以有量衬无量。此词最妙在举重若轻：先极写水之深，再一笔推倒，情之不可量度顿显。唐人写友情多重叙述，太白却以不及二字立一峻切之比，傲然逾于万象。盛唐诗人炼意于常语，不及正是不炼之炼，以最朴之否定词写最厚之挚谊，足证其以浅写深、以实写虚之极笔。自此联出，潭水深情遂成汉语友情意象之经典，不及二字定其千古之格。

赠汪伦