Xīn Jià Niáng CíThe New Bride 新嫁娘词
Wang Jian on a new bride cooking on her third day, asking her sister-in-law to taste first.
Original Chinese text with pinyin
三日入厨下
sān rì rù chú xià
洗手作羹汤
xǐ shǒu zuò gēng tāng
未谙姑食性
wèi ān gū shí xìng
先遣小姑尝
xiān qiǎn xiǎo gū cháng
Simplified characters; traditional title: 新嫁娘詞.
English translation
On the third day she goes into the kitchen,
washes her hands and makes a soup.
Not yet knowing her mother-in-law's taste,
she first has her husband's little sister try it.
Original translation by Poetune — literal but poetic, written for this site.
Line by line
Meaning and imagery
Wang Jian on a new bride cooking on her third day, asking her sister-in-law to taste first. The scene stays with you.
Background
Wang Jian on a new bride cooking on her third day, asking her sister-in-law to taste first.
Key words
- 厨下 chú xià
- in the kitchen; below at the stove
- 羹汤 gēng tāng
- broth and soup — simple fare
- 小姑 xiǎo gū
- husband's younger sister; little sister-in-law
About the poet: Wang Jian
Wang Jian is known for palace lyrics and yuefu that sketch court and ordinary life.
Lifetime: c. 767–c. 830. Other famous works: Gazing at the Full Moon (十五夜望月); The New Bride (新嫁娘词); Rain Passing a Mountain Village (雨过山村).