Translation of the song 但願人長久 artist Teresa Teng

明月幾時有

When will the moon be clear and bright?

把酒問青天

With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky.

不知天上宮闕

In the heavens on this night,

今夕是何年

I wonder what season it would be?

我欲乘風歸去

I'd like to ride the wind to fly home.

唯恐瓊樓玉宇

Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions

高處不勝寒

are much too high and cold for me.

起舞弄清影

Dancing with my moonlit shadow,

何似在人間

It does not seem like the human world.

轉朱閣低綺戶照無眠

The moon rounds the red mansion, stoops to silk-pad doors, shines upon the sleepless,

不應有恨何事長向別時圓

Bearing no grudge,why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?

人有悲歡離合

People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart,

月有陰晴圓缺

The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane,

此事古難全

This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time.

但願人長久

May we all be blessed with longevity,

千里共嬋娟

Though thousand miles apart we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.

我欲乘風歸去

I'd like to ride the wind to fly home.

唯恐瓊樓玉宇

Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions

高處不勝寒

are much too high and cold for me.

起舞弄清影

Dancing with my moonlit shadow,

何似在人間

It does not seem like the human world.

轉朱閣低綺戶照無眠

The moon rounds the red mansion, stoops to silk-pad doors, shines upon the sleepless,

不應有恨何事長向別時圓

Bearing no grudge,why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?

人有悲歡離合

People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart,

月有陰晴圓缺

The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane,

此事古難全

This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time.

但願人長久

May we all be blessed with longevity,

千里共嬋娟

Though thousand miles apart we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together