Jing Ye Si (静夜思) – A Chinese Poem Explained for Learners
Thoughts on a Quiet Night
By Lǐ Bái (李白) • Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE)
Jing Ye Si (静夜思) is one of the most famous Chinese poems by Li Bai.
In this guide, you'll learn its meaning, cultural background, and the key Chinese characters used in the poem.
"Bright moonlight shines in front of my bed."
"I wonder if it is frost on the ground."
"I raise my head and gaze at the bright moon."
"I lower my head and think of my hometown."
All unique characters in the poem, sorted by appearance. Click any character to learn its stroke order.
Some sounds in this poem can be tricky for English speakers. Here are tips for the hardest characters:
The 'sh' sound is retroflex — curl your tongue back. 'uang' rhymes with 'wong' but starts with 'oo'.
The 'x' sound is like 'sh' but with teeth together. 'iang' sounds like 'ee-ahng'.
The 'j' is softer than English 'j'. The 'ü' sound is like saying 'ee' with rounded lips.
Simple 'ee' sound with rising tone (2nd tone). Practice going from low to high pitch.
Li Bai
李白 (Lǐ Bái) • 701–762 CE
"Poet Immortal (诗仙)"
- Wrote over 1,000 poems, with about 990 surviving today
- Known for his romantic and imaginative style
- Favorite themes: nature, friendship, wine, and the moon
- Legend says he drowned trying to embrace the moon's reflection
- One of the 'Two Immortals of Poetry' alongside Du Fu (杜甫)
Around 726 CE, when Li Bai was about 25 years old
Likely in Yangzhou (扬州) or during his travels away from home
Written during one of Li Bai's many journeys far from his hometown in Sichuan
This poem captures a universal experience — homesickness during travels — making it relatable across cultures and centuries.
Why the Moon Matters in Chinese Culture
In Chinese culture, the moon often symbolizes:
- Distance and separation
The physical distance between loved ones who are far apart.
- Family and reunion
The roundness of the full moon represents completeness and family gathering (团圆 - tuányuán).
- Shared experience
The comforting idea that people in different places are all looking at the same moon.
When Li Bai looks at the moon, he knows that the same moon is shining over his hometown. This idea — we see the same moon even when we are far apart
— appears again and again in Chinese literature.
Practice Writing These Characters
Create a free printable worksheet with all the characters from this poem. Practice stroke order with our guided worksheets.
Or explore each character individually:
春晓
Chūn Xiǎo
Spring Dawn
Meng Haoran (孟浩然)
Coming Soon登鹳雀楼
Dēng Guàn Què Lóu
Climbing Stork Tower
Wang Zhihuan (王之涣)
Coming Soon悯农
Mǐn Nóng
Pity the Farmers
Li Shen (李绅)
Coming SoonWhat is the meaning of Jing Ye Si (静夜思)?
Who wrote the poem 静夜思?
What does the moon symbolize in Chinese poetry?
Why is Jing Ye Si good for Chinese learners?
How do you pronounce Jing Ye Si?
What is the original vs popular version of the poem?
Final Thoughts
This poem shows how powerful simplicity can be. With only twenty characters, Li Bai captures a universal feeling that almost everyone understands: lying awake at night, thinking about home.
That is why Jing Ye Si has been remembered and recited for more than a thousand years.
If you are learning Chinese characters, exploring poems like this can help you see how characters live beyond dictionaries — inside real emotions and real moments.