烈烈北风凉。
Fierce, and fierce indeed the northern wind blows.
展转不能寐，
I toss and turn, unable to fall asleep;
披衣起彷徨。
I rise and roam in thoughts profound and deep.
彷徨忽已久，
When I wander in the open air,
白露沾我裳。
The heavy dew-drops soak the coat I wear.
俯视清水波，
When I look down, the stream comes into sight;
仰看明月光。
When I look up, the moon is shedding light.
天汉回西流，
When the Milky Way points to the west,
三五正纵横。
The stars are twinkling sparsely at their best.
草虫鸣何悲，
In the grass, the crickets make their moan;
孤雁独南翔。
In the sky, a swan flies south alone.
郁郁多悲思，
With a sea of woe and pain I roam,
绵绵思故乡。
Obsessed by thoughts profound and deep for home.
愿飞安得翼，
Without my wings, I cannot sour o'er ridges;
欲济河无梁。
I cannot cross the streams without the bridges.
向风长叹息，
Toward the wind I heave a long, long sigh;
断绝我中肠。
I can't suppress my sorrow though I try.