Jīng Kē zài Yìshuǐ biān kāngkǎi-bēigē, ránhòu tàshàng le qù Qínguó de lù.
Jing Ke sang a stirring, sorrowful song by the Yi River, then set out for Qin.
Tips
history
The words go back to the 《史记》 account of 项羽 surrounded at 垓下, where the king "sang in grief and passion" (悲歌慷慨) before his last battle. Today the order 慷慨悲歌 is the usual one.
culture
It is often said of the old northern states of Yan and Zhao, home of heroes like 荆轲: 燕赵多慷慨悲歌之士, "Yan and Zhao have many men who sing with passion and grief", meaning men ready to die for a cause.
