The Beauty of Chinese

Some students complain about how difficult the Chinese language is.

I think the beauty of the language overshadows all reasons why one shouldn’t learn Mandarin.

Here’s a good example.
This is an English poem.

You say that you love rain,
but you open your umbrella when it rains.
You say that you love the sun,
but you find a shadow spot when the sun shines.
You say that you love the wind,
but you close your windows when wind blows.
This is why I am afraid, you say that you love me too.

Sounds good. Wait till you see the different versions of the poem when it’s translated into Chinese.

(文艺版):
你说烟雨微芒,
兰亭远望;
后来轻揽婆娑,
深遮霓裳。
你说春光烂漫,
绿袖红香;
后来内掩西楼,
静立卿旁。
你说软风轻拂,
醉卧思量;
后来紧掩门窗,
漫帐成殇。
你说情丝柔肠,
如何相忘;
我却眼波微转,
兀自成霜。

(诗经版):
子言慕雨,
启伞避之。
子言好阳,
寻荫拒之。
子言喜风,
阖户离之。
子言偕老,
吾所畏之。

(离骚版):
君乐雨兮启伞枝,
君乐昼兮林蔽日,
君乐风兮栏帐起,
君乐吾兮吾心噬。

(七言绝句版):
恋雨却怕绣衣湿,
喜日偏向树下倚。
欲风总把绮窗关,
叫奴如何心付伊。

(七律压轴版):
江南三月雨微茫,
罗伞叠烟湿幽香。
夏日微醺正可人,
却傍佳木趁荫涼。
霜风清和更初霁,
轻蹙蛾眉锁朱窗。
怜卿一片相思意,
尤恐流年拆鸳鸯。

Yes, it is tough. But imagine the magic you can do once you master the language.