Home›Themes›Family & reunion

Source-verified collection

Chinese Poems and Quotes About Family and Reunion

Family feeling in Chinese classics often gathers around home, festivals, health, longevity, and the moon shared by people who cannot be together.

May my family stay safeMay we share the same moonA blessing for health and longevity

Original lines

Read the Chinese, meaning, and source together

12 curated lines
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

海上生明月，天涯共此时。

Hǎi shàng shēng míng yuè, tiān yá gòng cǐ shí.

Close English reading

A bright moon rises over the sea; at the ends of the earth, we share this moment.

Plain meaningThough far apart, we are connected beneath the same moon.

Source
Zhang Jiuling· Tang dynasty · Gazing at the Moon and Thinking of Someone Far Away
Complete Tang Poems
Why it fitsThe moon creates a shared present for people separated by great distance.
Original context and translation note
海上生明月，天涯共此时。情人怨遥夜，竟夕起相思。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

谁言寸草心，报得三春晖。

Shuí yán cùn cǎo xīn, bào dé sān chūn huī.

Close English reading

Who says the inch-long grass can repay the radiance of three spring months?

Plain meaningA child's gratitude can never fully repay a mother's care.

Source
Meng Jiao· Tang dynasty · Song of the Traveling Son
Complete Tang Poems
Why it fitsThe small grass and spring sunlight turn unequal scale into an image of a child's debt to maternal love.
Original context and translation note
慈母手中线，游子身上衣。临行密密缝，意恐迟迟归。谁言寸草心，报得三春晖。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

举头望明月，低头思故乡。

Jǔ tóu wàng míng yuè, dī tóu sī gù xiāng.

Close English reading

I raise my head and gaze at the bright moon; I lower it and think of home.

Plain meaningMoonlight makes me miss my home.

Source
Li Bai· Tang dynasty · Quiet Night Thoughts
Complete Tang Poems
Why it fitsThe movement from looking up to lowering the head turns moonlight directly into homesickness.
Original context and translation note
床前明月光，疑是地上霜。举头望明月，低头思故乡。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

Dàn yuàn rén cháng jiǔ, qiān lǐ gòng chán juān.

Close English reading

May we both live long; though a thousand miles apart, we share the beauty of the moon.

Plain meaningEven far apart, may we be safe and connected under the same moon.

Source
Su Shi· Northern Song dynasty · Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright?
Dongpo Yuefu
Why it fitsThe shared moon becomes a bond between people who cannot physically reunite.
Original context and translation note
但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

露从今夜白，月是故乡明。

Lù cóng jīn yè bái, yuè shì gù xiāng míng.

Close English reading

From tonight the dew turns white; the moon is brightest in my homeland.

Plain meaningHome always seems brighter when you are far away.

Source
Du Fu· Tang dynasty · Moonlit Night, Remembering My Younger Brothers
Complete Tang Poems
Why it fitsThe claim is emotional rather than astronomical: distance makes the remembered moon of home feel brighter.
Original context and translation note
戍鼓断人行，边秋一雁声。露从今夜白，月是故乡明。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

哀哀父母，生我劬劳。

Āi āi fù mǔ, shēng wǒ qú láo.

Close English reading

How sorrowful for my parents, who bore and raised me through such toil.

Plain meaningI remember how much my parents endured to raise me.

Source
Anonymous· Pre-Qin China · Liao E
The Book of Songs
Why it fitsThis is a grieving and retrospective poem, so it suits remembrance and gratitude more than a light celebratory caption.
Original context and translation note
蓼蓼者莪，匪莪伊蒿。哀哀父母，生我劬劳。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

桃之夭夭，灼灼其华。之子于归，宜其室家。

Táo zhī yāo yāo, zhuó zhuó qí huá. Zhī zǐ yú guī, yí qí shì jiā.

Close English reading

The peach tree is young and lovely, its blossoms bright. This young woman goes to her marriage; may she bring harmony to her household.

Plain meaningMay the marriage be joyful and the new home flourish.

Source
Anonymous· Pre-Qin China · Tao Yao (The Peach Tree)
The Book of Songs
Why it fitsOne of the best-known traditional Chinese wedding blessings, joining bright blossoms with a harmonious household.
Original context and translation note
桃之夭夭，灼灼其华。之子于归，宜其室家。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

如月之恒，如日之升，如南山之寿，不骞不崩。如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。

Rú yuè zhī héng, rú rì zhī shēng, rú Nán Shān zhī shòu, bù qiān bù bēng. Rú sōng bǎi zhī mào, wú bù ěr huò chéng.

Close English reading

May you endure like the waxing moon, rise like the sun, live as long as the Southern Mountain, unshaken and unfailing; flourish like pine and cypress, with all blessings continuing.

Plain meaningMay your life be long, steady, and ever flourishing.

Source
Anonymous· Pre-Qin China · Tian Bao (Heaven Protects)
The Book of Songs
Why it fitsA classical blessing for longevity and enduring flourishing, built from the moon, sun, mountain, pine, and cypress.
Original context and translation note
天保定尔，亦孔之固。俾尔单厚，何福不除？如月之恒，如日之升，如南山之寿，不骞不崩。如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

父母在，不远游，游必有方。

Fù mǔ zài, bù yuǎn yóu; yóu bì yǒu fāng.

Close English reading

While one's parents are alive, do not travel far; if one must travel, have a definite destination.

Plain meaningWhen you go far away, remain responsible to the family who worries about you.

Source
Confucius· Pre-Qin China · Analects 4: Li Ren
The Analects
Why it fitsThe line reflects an ancient family structure; a modern reading can preserve its concern for communication and responsibility without treating all travel as wrong.
Original context and translation note
父母在，不远游，游必有方。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

身体发肤，受之父母，不敢毁伤，孝之始也。

Shēn tǐ fà fū, shòu zhī fù mǔ, bù gǎn huǐ shāng, xiào zhī shǐ yě.

Close English reading

Body, hair, and skin are received from one's parents; not daring to injure them is the beginning of filial conduct.

Plain meaningTaking care of yourself can also be a responsibility to those who love you.

Source
Traditionally transmitted through Zengzi· Pre-Qin China · Classic of Filial Piety: Opening Explanation
Classic of Filial Piety
Why it fitsThis reflects an ancient account of filial duty. It is presented as historical ethical context, not as medical guidance or a judgment about illness and injury.
Original context and translation note
身体发肤，受之父母，不敢毁伤，孝之始也；立身行道，扬名于后世，以显父母，孝之终也。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

五福：一曰寿，二曰富，三曰康宁，四曰攸好德，五曰考终命。

Wǔ fú: yī yuē shòu, èr yuē fù, sān yuē kāng níng, sì yuē yōu hǎo dé, wǔ yuē kǎo zhōng mìng.

Close English reading

The five blessings are longevity, wealth, health and peace, love of virtue, and a fulfilled natural end.

Plain meaningA full life includes health, security, character, and longevity.

Source
Anonymous· Pre-Qin China · Hong Fan (The Great Plan)
Book of Documents
Why it fitsThe list shows that classical blessing joins material well-being to health, virtue, and a complete life.
Original context and translation note
五福：一曰寿，二曰富，三曰康宁，四曰攸好德，五曰考终命。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
✓ Verified sourceBilingual

仓廪实而知礼节，衣食足而知荣辱。

Cāng lǐn shí ér zhī lǐ jié, yī shí zú ér zhī róng rǔ.

Close English reading

When granaries are full, people understand rites; when food and clothing are sufficient, they understand honor and shame.

Plain meaningMaterial security supports social dignity and order.

Source
Sima Qian· Western Han dynasty · Biographies of Guan Zhong and Yan Ying
Records of the Grand Historian
Why it fitsThe line links moral and social order to the material conditions in which people live.
Original context and translation note
仓廪实而知礼节，衣食足而知荣辱。

English wording on Gu Ren Said is an original reading aid, not a claim that there is only one valid literary translation.

Open result page
Translation note: These English readings are original explanations prepared for Gu Ren Said. The Chinese original and source are the authoritative objects being verified; literary translations can reasonably differ.

Keep exploring

Other themes in the classics

All themes →
LoveVerified lines from classical Chinese poetry about affection, romance, and a heart that cannot forget.Missing someoneClassical Chinese lines for longing, absence, and someone who remains on your mind.BeautyElegant classical Chinese lines for praising a smile, eyes, presence, and unforgettable beauty.FriendshipVerified classical Chinese lines about true friends, distance, understanding, and harmony without conformity.

Every displayed Chinese line is tied to a work and source in the verified corpus. English explanations may expand, but the source line is never replaced with generated text.

Search in your own words →