海上升明月

Hǎi shàng shēng míng yuè

quotation

Meanings

1 the bright moon rises over the sea
2 a moonrise seen from afar, binding distant hearts
3 lit. on the sea rises the bright moon

Characters

to rise, ascend

Examples

HSK 7-9

中秋夜，我们在海边看海上升明月。

Zhōngqiū yè, wǒmen zài hǎibiān kàn hǎishàng shēng míngyuè.

On Mid-Autumn night, we watched the bright moon rise over the sea from the shore.

HSK 7-9

海上升明月的意境让他特别想家。

Hǎi shàng shēng míng yuè de yìjìng ràng tā tèbié xiǎng jiā.

The image of the bright moon rising over the sea made him especially homesick.

Tips

history

From Zhang Jiuling's (early Tang) 《望月怀远》: 海上生明月，天涯共此时, 'The bright moon rises over the sea; at the ends of the earth we share this very moment.' Note that the original text uses 生 ('is born, rises') rather than 升 ('ascends'); the input form 海上升明月 is the common modern misrendering. One of the most quoted couplets in Chinese culture.

usage

Classical text is 海上生明月 (with 生); 海上升明月 (with 升) is widespread but technically a misquotation. Both forms circulate today. Always paired with 天涯共此时.

Stroke Order

海 hǎi

上 shàng

升 shēng

明 míng

月 yuè