On Mid-Autumn night he stood alone on the balcony, lifting his cup to invite the bright moon.
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From 李白's (Tang dynasty) 《月下独酌》 ('Drinking Alone Under the Moon'): 花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲。举杯邀明月，对影成三人 - 'A jug of wine among the flowers, I drink alone with no friend near. I raise my cup to invite the bright moon - with my shadow, that makes three.' One of the most beloved drinking poems in the Chinese canon.
usage
邀 means 'to invite' and treats the moon as a guest. The line is frequently referenced at Mid-Autumn gatherings, in toasts, and in any context of solitary drinking made poetic.
