君住长江尾

君住長江尾

jūn zhù Chángjiāng wěi

quotation

Meanings

1 you live at the Yangtze's tail (its lower reaches)
2 (fig.) we are bound to the same river, but kept far apart
3 (lit.) you live at the Long River's tail

Characters

you (respectful, often the beloved)

to live / dwell

river (长江 = Yangtze)

tail / end (长江尾 = Yangtze's lower reaches)

Examples

HSK 4

我在重庆，她在上海，正是君住长江尾。

Wǒ zài Chóngqìng, tā zài Shànghǎi, zhèngshì jūn zhù Chángjiāng wěi.

I'm in Chongqing, she's in Shanghai - truly 'you live at the Yangtze's tail.'

HSK 4

长江边的朋友互相问候，我住长江头，君住长江尾。

Chángjiāng biān de péngyǒu hùxiāng wènhòu, wǒ zhù Chángjiāng tóu, jūn zhù Chángjiāng wěi.

Friends along the Yangtze greet each other: 'I live at the river's head, you live at the river's tail.'

Tips

history

From 李之仪《卜算子·我住长江头》 (Li Zhiyi, Northern Song, early 12th c.): 我住长江头，君住长江尾 (I live at the Yangtze's head, you at its tail). A woman's voice longing for an absent lover; the shared river is the only connection. One of the Song's most beloved ci lyrics.

usage

Inseparable from 我住长江头 (the matching companion line). 长江尾 = the lower Yangtze, roughly Jiangsu/Shanghai. 长江头 = upper Yangtze, Sichuan. Quote for long-distance relationships along any river or any separation.

Stroke Order

君 jūn

住 zhù

长 cháng

江 jiāng

尾 wěi