一千三百多年前的唐朝，是中国诗的黄金时代。
The Tang dynasty, more than one thousand three hundred years ago, was the golden age of Chinese poetry.
那时候，几乎人人都会写诗：皇帝写，士兵写，连卖酒的人也写。
At that time, almost everyone could write poems: emperors wrote them, soldiers wrote them, and even wine sellers wrote them.
《全唐诗》里保存了将近五万首诗，作者超过两千人。
The Complete Tang Poems preserves nearly fifty thousand poems, by more than two thousand authors.
唐诗的美，首先在于它的声音：每首诗都像一首小小的歌，读出来特别好听。
The beauty of Tang poetry lies first of all in its sound: every poem is like a tiny song, and reading it aloud is especially pleasant.
其次，诗人们善于用最简单的字，表达最深的感情。
Secondly, the poets were good at using the simplest characters to express the deepest feelings.
比如想家的时候，他们不说“我很难过”，而是写月亮、写秋天的树叶。
For example, when they missed home, they did not say "I am sad", but instead wrote about the moon, or about autumn leaves.
今天，中国孩子上学后背的第一首诗，往往还是唐诗。
Today, the first poem Chinese children memorize after starting school is still usually a Tang poem.
在手机时代，很多年轻人把唐诗做成音乐和短视频，古老的诗又活了过来。
In the smartphone era, many young people turn Tang poems into music and short videos, and the ancient poems have come back to life.
也许这就是唐诗的美：时间一直在变，人的感情却没有变。
Perhaps this is the beauty of Tang poetry: time keeps changing, yet human feelings have not.
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Key words 生词
唐朝Tángcháothe Tang dynasty
全唐诗Quán Táng Shīthe Complete Tang Poems (anthology)
首shǒu(measure word for poems and songs)
背bèito recite from memory
短视频duǎnshìpínshort video
古老gǔlǎoancient; age-old
Grammar note 语法点
在于 (to lie in; to consist in)
Points out where the essence or key of something is found: 唐诗的美，首先在于它的声音。
学好外语的关键在于每天练习。 — The key to mastering a foreign language lies in daily practice.
善于 (to be good at)
A more formal way to say someone does something skillfully, usually followed by a verb phrase: 诗人们善于用最简单的字，表达最深的感情。
她善于跟不同的人交流。 — She is good at communicating with different kinds of people.
连…也… (even…)
连 highlights an extreme example, and 也 (or 都) completes it: 连卖酒的人也写。
他忙得连饭也忘了吃。 — He was so busy that he even forgot to eat.
Check yourself 小测验
1. According to the text, where does the beauty of Tang poetry lie first of all?
2. How many poems does the Complete Tang Poems preserve?
3. How are the ancient poems coming back to life today?
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