Yǒng É (咏鹅) – A Chinese Poem Explained for Learners
Ode to the Goose
By Luò Bīnwáng (骆宾王) • Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE)
Yǒng É (咏鹅) is one of the most beloved children's poems in Chinese literature, written by a seven-year-old prodigy. It captures the simple beauty of a goose swimming on water.
With only 18 characters, this poem demonstrates how Chinese poetry can paint vivid pictures with minimal words. It's often the very first poem Chinese children learn.
"Bending its neck, it sings toward the sky."
"White feathers float on green water."
"Red feet paddle through clear waves."
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:
Pronounced like 'uh' with rising tone (2nd tone). The mouth is relaxed and open. This is the sound a goose makes!
The 'q' is like 'ch' but with lips spread. The 'ü' is a rounded 'ee' sound — say 'ee' while rounding your lips.
The 'ü' sound is tricky — say 'ee' while rounding your lips like 'oo'. Fourth tone falls sharply.
The 'zh' is retroflex — curl your tongue back. 'ang' sounds like 'ahng'. Third tone dips then rises.
Luo Binwang
骆宾王 (Luò Bīnwáng) • 619–687 CE
"Child Prodigy Poet (神童诗人)"
- Wrote this famous poem at just 7 years old
- One of the "Four Paragons of the Early Tang" (初唐四杰)
- Known for his precocious literary talent from childhood
- Later became involved in a rebellion against Empress Wu Zetian
- His fate after the failed rebellion remains a mystery
Around 626 CE, early Tang Dynasty
Likely in his hometown of Yiwu, Zhejiang Province
According to legend, the seven-year-old Luo Binwang composed this poem spontaneously when a guest asked him to write about a goose swimming in a pond
This poem showcases the remarkable literary culture of Tang Dynasty China, where even children were trained in poetry. It remains the most famous example of a child prodigy's work in Chinese literature.
The Goose in Chinese Culture
The goose holds special meaning in Chinese culture:
- Symbol of fidelity
Geese mate for life, making them symbols of loyalty and faithful marriage in Chinese tradition.
- Literary inspiration
The graceful movement of geese on water has inspired countless Chinese poems and paintings.
- Child prodigy tradition
This poem represents China's long tradition of valuing early literary education and celebrating young talent.
A seven-year-old's simple observation of a goose became one of China's most enduring poems. It teaches us that great art can come from seeing ordinary things with fresh eyes.
Practice Writing These Characters
Generate a free printable worksheet with all 16 unique characters from this poem. Practice stroke order with our guided worksheets.
Generate Worksheet (16 Characters)Or explore each character individually:
What is the meaning of Yǒng É (咏鹅)?
Who wrote the poem 咏鹅?
Why is 咏鹅 so famous?
What colors are mentioned in the poem?
How do you pronounce Yǒng É?
Why does the poem repeat 鹅 three times?
Is this poem good for beginners learning Chinese?
Final Thoughts
This poem shows how powerful simplicity can be. With just twenty characters, Luo Binwang creates a complete sensory world.
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.