Rain in Early Spring by Han Yu

Rain in Early Spring《初春小雨》

Tiān jiē xiǎo yǔ rùn rú sū,

天街小雨润如酥，

The royal streets are moistened by a creamlike rain;

cǎo sè yáo kàn jìn què wú.

草色遥看近却无。

Green grass can be perceived afar but not nearby.

Zuì shì yīnián chūn hǎo chù,

最是一年春好处，

It's the best time of a year, 

jué shèng yān liǔ mǎn huáng dū.

绝胜烟柳满皇都。

With its capital veiled in willows to outvie the late spring.

This four-line poem, composed of seven characters, praises the beauty of early spring. The first line poetically describes the light showers of early spring as "润如酥,"or, fine and dewy. The second line links closely to the first, in its depiction of the tender grass in the dewy mist after the spring rain. The third and fourth lines continue to praise the beauty of early spring.

这是一首描写和赞美早春美景的七言绝句。第一句写初春的小雨，以"润如酥"来形容它的细滑润泽，准确地写出了春雨的特点，遣词用句十分优美。第二句紧承首句，写刚刚冒出的小草沾雨后的景色，描画出了初春小草的朦胧景象。三、四两句则是对初春景色大加赞美。

This poem celebrates the beauty of the rain in early spring. The evocative images of the rain are only eclipsed by its importance as the bringer of water for the harvest. Thus, the saying "最是一年春好处" developed. The poet perfectly grasps the nature of the early spring rain, while simultaneously celebrating its beauty. The characters are so powerful they practically overflow with joy.

这首诗极力地赞美早春细雨。春雨中的景色是最美的，而一年的收成也皆依赖于春雨，所以说"最是一年春好处"。诗人准确地把握住了初春小雨的特点，赞美早春的美景，字里行间洋溢着喜悦之情。