将进酒
jiāng jìn jiǔ
Bring in the Wine
李白 (Li Bai) · Tang Dynasty · 701–762
Original Text
君不见，黄河之水天上来，
jūn bú jiàn, huáng hé zhī shuǐ tiān shàng lái,
奔流到海不复回。
bēn liú dào hǎi bù fù huí.
君不见，高堂明镜悲白发，
jūn bú jiàn, gāo táng míng jìng bēi bái fà,
朝如青丝暮成雪。
zhāo rú qīng sī mù chéng xuě.
人生得意须尽欢，
rén shēng dé yì xū jìn huān,
莫使金樽空对月。
mò shǐ jīn zūn kōng duì yuè.
天生我材必有用，
tiān shēng wǒ cái bì yǒu yòng,
千金散尽还复来。
qiān jīn sàn jìn hái fù lái.
烹羊宰牛且为乐，
pēng yáng zǎi niú qiě wéi lè,
会须一饮三百杯。
huì xū yī yǐn sān bǎi bēi.
岑夫子，丹丘生，
cén fū zǐ, dān qiū shēng,
将进酒，杯莫停。
jiāng jìn jiǔ, bēi mò tíng.
与君歌一曲，
yǔ jūn gē yī qǔ,
请君为我倾耳听。
qǐng jūn wèi wǒ qīng ěr tīng.
钟鼓馔玉不足贵，
zhōng gǔ zhuàn yù bù zú guì,
但愿长醉不愿醒。
dàn yuàn cháng zuì bù yuàn xǐng.
古来圣贤皆寂寞，
gǔ lái shèng xián jiē jì mò,
惟有饮者留其名。
wéi yǒu yǐn zhě liú qí míng.
陈王昔时宴平乐，
chén wáng xī shí yàn píng lè,
斗酒十千恣欢谑。
dǒu jiǔ shí qiān zì huān xuè.
主人何为言少钱，
zhǔ rén hé wéi yán shǎo qián,
径须沽取对君酌。
jìng xū gū qǔ duì jūn zhuó.
五花马，千金裘，
wǔ huā mǎ, qiān jīn qiú,
呼儿将出换美酒，
hū ér jiāng chū huàn měi jiǔ,
与尔同销万古愁。
yǔ ěr tóng xiāo wàn gǔ chóu.
English Translation
Do you not see the waters of the Yellow River come from heaven, rushing to the sea, never to return? Do you not see the mirrors in high halls reflecting white hair in grief — black silk at dawn, snow by dusk? When life goes well, enjoy it to the fullest; don't let your golden cup sit empty under the moon. Heaven gave me talents that must be put to use; a thousand gold coins spent will all come back again. Roast your mutton, slaughter your cattle, and make merry — we must drink three hundred cups in one sitting! Master Cen, young Danqiu — bring in the wine, don't stop the cups! Let me sing you a song — please lend me your ears and listen. Bells, drums, fine food and jade are not what I prize — I only wish to stay drunk and never wake up. Since ancient times, sages and wise men have all been forgotten — only the great drinkers leave their names behind. The Prince of Chen once feasted at the Pleasure Palace, spending ten thousand on wine and reveling freely. Why does our host say he has too little money? Just go buy more wine so we can drink together! My dappled horse, my thousand-gold fur coat — call the boy to take them out and trade for fine wine, and together we'll dissolve the sorrows of ten thousand ages.
Historical Background
This is Li Bai's most famous drinking poem and one of the greatest Chinese poems ever written. He composed it around 752 AD while visiting friends Cen Xun and Danqiu in the mountains. The poem is a defiant celebration of life in the face of mortality, a rebellion against the conventional values of wealth and status, and a passionate argument for living fully in the present moment.
Literary Analysis
The poem opens with two of the grandest images in Chinese poetry: the Yellow River flowing from heaven and hair turning from black to white in a single day. Both convey the terrifying speed at which life passes. From this existential crisis, Li Bai pivots not to despair but to ecstasy — if life is short, then seize joy now. The escalation is relentless: drink 300 cups, never stop, trade your horse and furs for more wine. The line "天生我材必有用" (Heaven gave me talents that must be used) has become one of the most motivational phrases in Chinese, while "与尔同销万古愁" (together dissolve the sorrows of ten thousand ages) captures the poem's defiant spirit.
Details
Form
Ancient Verse (古体诗)
Theme
Life & Philosophy
About Li Bai (李白)
Li Bai is one of the most celebrated poets in Chinese history, known as the "Immortal Poet" (诗仙). Born in Central Asia and raised in Sichuan, he was famous for his romantic imagination, love of wine, and Daoist-influenced worldview. His poetry combines grandeur with effortless elegance.
5 poems by Li Bai in our collection
Traditional Chinese
君不見，黃河之水天上來，奔流到海不復回。君不見，高堂明鏡悲白髮，朝如青絲暮成雪。人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月。天生我材必有用，千金散盡還復來。烹羊宰牛且為樂，會須一飲三百杯。岑夫子，丹丘生，將進酒，杯莫停。與君歌一曲，請君為我傾耳聽。鐘鼓饌玉不足貴，但願長醉不願醒。古來聖賢皆寂寞，惟有飲者留其名。陳王昔時宴平樂，斗酒十千恣歡謔。主人何為言少錢，徑須沽取對君酌。五花馬，千金裘，呼兒將出換美酒，與爾同銷萬古愁。