zuó rì xiàng nà dōng liú shuǐ

Yesterday was like the eastward flowing water

lí wǒ yuǎn qù bù kě liú

Departed far from me, it cannot stay

jīn rì luàn wǒ xīn duō fán yōu

Today, it disturbs my heart with much worry

chōu dāo duàn shuǐ shuǐ gèng liú

Drawing a sword to cut water, the water flows even more

jǔ bēi xiāo chóu chóu gèng chóu

Raising a glass to drown sorrows, the sorrows grow deeper

míng zhāo qīng fēng sì piāo liú

Tomorrow morning, the cool breeze will drift everywhere

yóu lái zhǐ wén xīn rén xiào

Since long ago, one only hears the new lovers' laughter

yǒu shéi tīng dào jiù rén kū

Has anyone ever heard the old lovers' crying?

ài qíng liǎng gè zì hǎo xīn kǔ

The two words "Love" are so laborious and painful

shì yào wèn yī gè míng bái

Is it to ask for a clear answer?

hái shì yào zhuāng zuò hú tú

Or is it to pretend to be confused and muddled?

zhī duō zhī shǎo nán zhī zú

Knowing much or knowing little, it's hard to be content

kàn sì gè yuān yāng hú dié

Looking like mandarin ducks and butterflies

bù yìng gāi de nián dài

In an era that shouldn't have been

kě shì shéi yòu néng bǎi tuō rén shì jiān de bēi āi

But who can shake off the sorrows of the human world?

huā huā shì jiè yuān yāng hú dié

In the bustling world, mandarin ducks and butterflies

zài rén jiān yǐ shì diān

In the human world, it's already madness

hé kǔ yào shàng qīng tiān

Why bother trying to reach the blue heavens?

bù rú wēn róu tóng mián

Better to sleep gently together