愴然

愴然

1. (literary) sad; sorrowful

   • 暮色漸起，戍角悲吟。予懷愴然，感慨今昔，因自度此曲。千巖老人以為有《黍離》之悲也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     暮色渐起，戍角悲吟。予怀怆然，感慨今昔，因自度此曲。千岩老人以为有《黍离》之悲也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1176, Dec 14, Jiang Kui (姜夔), 《揚州慢•淮左名都》

     Mùsè jiàn qǐ, shùjiǎo bēi yín. Yú huái chuàngrán, gǎnkǎi jīnxī, yīn zì dù cǐ qǔ. Qiānyánlǎorén yǐwéi yǒu “Shǔlí” zhī bēi yě. [Pinyin]

     Night veil slowly fell. Mournful bugle sounds rang out. I was overwhelmed with gloom. In lamenting over changes now from the past, I composed this song. Qianyan elder thought its poignancy rivaled “Shuli”.

   • 鄉園多故，不能不動客子之愁，至於長者之抱才而困，則又令我愴然有感。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     乡园多故，不能不动客子之愁，至于长者之抱才而困，则又令我怆然有感。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. mid-1500s, Zong Chen（宗臣）,《報劉一丈書》

     Xiāngyuán duōgù, bùnéngbù dòng kèzǐ zhī chóu, zhìyú zhǎngzhě zhī bàocái ér kùn, zé yòu lìng wǒ chuàngrán yǒugǎn. [Pinyin]

     My hometown has been experiencing an eventful time, which aroused nostalgia in me. That a talented man like you can find no way to realize your ambition further grieved me.