寂寞空庭春欲晚

jìmòkōngtíngchūnyùwǎn

phrase

Meanings

1 in the lonely empty courtyard, spring is about to end
2 a deserted courtyard with spring drawing to a close
3 (lit.) lonesome empty courtyard, spring wishes to grow late

Characters

lonely / silent

about to / wishes to

Examples

旧宅荒废多年，如今真是寂寞空庭春欲晚。

Jiù zhái huāngfèi duō nián, rújīn zhēn shì jìmò kōng tíng chūn yù wǎn.

The old house has been derelict for years — now truly 'a lonely empty courtyard as spring draws to its close.'

这首词营造出寂寞空庭春欲晚的氛围。

Zhè shǒu cí yíngzào chū jìmò kōng tíng chūn yù wǎn de fēnwéi.

The ci poem conjures the mood of a lonely empty courtyard at late spring.

Tips

history

From Liu Fangping's (刘方平) Tang-dynasty poem 《春怨》 (Spring Complaint). Full quatrain: 『纱窗日落渐黄昏，金屋无人见泪痕。寂寞空庭春欲晚，梨花满地不开门』— a palace lady at twilight, her golden chamber empty, spring ending, pear blossoms scattered, the gate unopened. An archetypal 闺怨 (boudoir-lament) poem.

usage

Almost always appears in tandem with 『梨花满地不开门』. Evokes quiet, fading beauty and loneliness — used in descriptions of empty old homes, abandoned gardens, or the mood of lost love.

Stroke Order

寂 jì

寞 mò

空 kōng

庭 tíng

春 chūn

欲 yù

晚 wǎn