黄河之水天上来

黃河之水天上來

huánghézhīshuǐtiānshànglái

phrase

Meanings

1 the waters of the Yellow River come from the sky
2 an awe-inspiring, unstoppable force
3 opening image of Li Bai's 'Bring in the Wine'

Characters

(classical possessive)

Examples

站在壶口瀑布前，才真正体会到黄河之水天上来的气势。

Zhàn zài Hǔkǒu pùbù qián, cái zhēnzhèng tǐhuì dào Huánghé zhī shuǐ tiān shàng lái de qìshì.

Standing before Hukou Falls, you truly feel the force of 'the waters of the Yellow River pouring down from the sky.'

他朗诵起“黄河之水天上来”，声音激昂有力。

Tā lǎngsòng qǐ "Huánghé zhī shuǐ tiān shàng lái", shēngyīn jī'áng yǒulì.

He recited 'the waters of the Yellow River come from the sky,' his voice powerful and stirring.

Tips

history

Opening of Li Bai's (李白, Tang dynasty) 《将进酒》 (Qiāng Jìn Jiǔ, 'Bring in the Wine'): 君不见黄河之水天上来，奔流到海不复回 — 'Do you not see the waters of the Yellow River coming from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return?' Pairs with 人生得意须尽欢 to frame the poem's seize-the-day mood.

usage

将 in 将进酒 is read qiāng here (an archaic hortative, 'please / come'), not jiāng. The poem is often cited as one of the greatest in Chinese literature.

Stroke Order

黄 huáng

河 hé

之 zhī

水 shuǐ

天 tiān

上 shàng

来 lái