…兮（文言语气词）
a sighing particle at the end or middle of a line of verse, like 啊
Structure
诗句 兮 ， 诗句 兮
What it means
兮 (xī) is a sighing particle with no meaning of its own: it stretches the line and adds feeling, much like 啊 in a modern song.
How it is built
Line of verse + 兮, at the end or in the middle of a line: 大风起兮云飞扬 (a great wind rises, and the clouds fly high).
When to use it
Common in the 《诗经》 and all through the 《楚辞》 (in 《离骚》 it closes every other line). In modern Chinese it appears only in quotations, titles and playful imitations of ancient style.
Watch out
Recognise it, but do not use it in ordinary prose or speech: ✗今天天气很好兮. Read it xī, first tone.
Examples
彼采葛兮，一日不见，如三月兮！
There she gathers vines! One day without her is like three months!
巧笑倩兮，美目盼兮。
Her artful smile, how sweet; her lovely eyes, how bright! (《卫风·硕人》)
大风起兮云飞扬。
A great wind rises, and the clouds fly high. (刘邦《大风歌》)
Learn this in Lesson 230 · HSK 9+: 诗经：最早的歌 (The Book of Songs)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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