本是后山人，偶做前堂客。
醉舞经阁半卷书，坐井说天阔。
大志戏功名，海斗量福祸。
论到囊中羞涩时，怒指乾坤错。
Translation:
“Once a recluse beyond the hills, now an occasional guest in halls of fame,
Drunk on half-read scrolls, I dance—a frog in a well boasting of skies untamed.
Great dreams mock worldly honors, oceans measure fortune’s tide,
Yet when my pockets echo empty, I rage—blame heaven and earth awry.”
Translation Notes:
- “后山人” → “recluse beyond the hills”: Keeps the rustic, hermit imagery while avoiding overly literal “back-mountain person.”
- “醉舞经阁半卷书” → “Drunk on half-read scrolls, I dance”: Captures the irony of pretentiousness (“half-read” implies superficial knowledge).
- “坐井说天阔” → “a frog in a well boasting of skies untamed”: Uses the classic Chinese idiom (井底之蛙) to critique narrow-minded arrogance.
- “海斗量福祸” → “oceans measure fortune’s tide”: “海斗” (sea-measure) becomes a metaphor for life’s unpredictable scale.
- “怒指乾坤错” → “rage—blame heaven and earth awry”: “乾坤” (cosmos) is personified as flawed, emphasizing the speaker’s defiant futility.
Style: The translation balances poetic flow (e.g., “halls of fame,” “fortune’s tide”) with the original’s self-mocking tone. Rhyme is sacrificed for clarity, but allusions (like the frog) bridge cultural gaps.
(Note: The song link is preserved as-is for listeners to explore the original.)
Describe a Singer You Like
One singer who deeply moves me is Zhou Yunlong, a contemporary artist who blends classical Chinese music with modern vocals. He’s best known for his ethereal performance in “Zhuang Zhou Dreams of Butterflies” (庄周梦蝶), a song accompanied by the ancient guqin, which revives the philosophical elegance of traditional Chinese culture.
Zhou Yunlong’s personality is as refined as his music. In interviews, he speaks softly but with profound insight, often discussing Taoist philosophy and the artistic spirit of China’s past. Unlike flashy pop stars, he carries himself with quiet dignity, embodying the very essence of the literati tradition—a scholar-artist devoted to beauty and meaning.
His musical style belongs to “New Chinese Folk” (新国风), where classical instruments like the guqin and xiao (flute) merge with poetic lyrics drawn from Tang and Song dynasty verses. The arrangement of “Zhuang Zhou Dreams of Butterflies”, for example, mimics the fluidity of a ink-wash painting—sometimes sparse, sometimes sweeping, always deeply meditative.
What makes Zhou Yunlong extraordinary is how he translates ancient wisdom into modern resonance. Listening to his songs feels like wandering through a classical garden: the melodies are layered with symbolism (e.g., the butterfly representing transformation in Daoism), yet his voice—clear and haunting—makes them accessible. As someone who studied Chinese literature, I’m captivated by how he turns Zhuangzi’s 2,300-year-old parable into a living, breathing art form. When I hear him sing, time seems to dissolve.
Why This Scores 7-8:
- Cultural Depth – References to guqin, Zhuangzi, and Tang/Song poetry showcase sophisticated lexical resources.
- Cohesive Flow – Clear transitions from description (who he is) to analysis (why he matters).
- Emotional Engagement – Personal connection (“studied Chinese literature”) and vivid imagery (“wandering through a classical garden”).
- Pronunciation-Friendly – Key terms (guqin, Daoism) are italicized for stress practice.
To Elevate Further (8+):
- Add a brief anecdote: “The first time I heard him, I was visiting a teahouse in Hangzhou—his voice floated over the lake, and suddenly, the city’s noise vanished.”
- Contrast with mainstream music: “While most singers chase viral hits, Zhou Yunlong’s work feels like a whispered conversation with history.”
This response balances specificity (song titles, instruments), cultural insight, and personal passion—exactly what examiners look for in high-band answers. Would you like adjustments for tone (e.g., more conversational)?
Describe a Singer You Like
Let me tell you about Zhou Yunlong, a contemporary Chinese singer who specializes in reviving classical Chinese music with a modern touch. He’s particularly famous for his breathtaking performance of “Zhuang Zhou Dreams of Butterflies,” where his ethereal voice blends perfectly with the ancient guqin melodies.
What strikes me most about Zhou is his serene and thoughtful personality. Unlike many flashy pop stars, he carries himself with quiet dignity, often speaking about the philosophical meanings behind his songs. His interviews reveal a deep respect for traditional Chinese culture and a genuine desire to keep these ancient art forms alive.
Zhou’s music belongs to the “New Chinese Folk” genre, which creatively combines classical instruments like the guqin and xiao with contemporary arrangements. His rendition of “Zhuang Zhou Dreams of Butterflies” is particularly remarkable – the music flows like water, sometimes gentle and sometimes powerful, perfectly capturing the Taoist philosophy behind the ancient fable.
I admire Zhou Yunlong because he makes ancient Chinese culture accessible to modern listeners. As someone who studied Chinese literature, I’m moved by how he brings Zhuangzi’s 2,300-year-old parable to life. His music creates a peaceful atmosphere that helps me relax after a stressful day. What’s more, his work serves as a beautiful bridge between generations – both my grandparents and my younger cousins enjoy his music, though for different reasons. That’s the magic of his artistry – it speaks to people across ages and backgrounds.
Why this scores Band 7:
- Uses a wider range of vocabulary (“ethereal,” “rendition,” “parable”)
- Includes more complex sentence structures
- Provides deeper cultural context
- Explains personal connection more elaborately
- Maintains good fluency and coherence
- Shows better grammatical control
- Offers more specific descriptions of the music
The answer remains natural to speak while demonstrating stronger language skills than the Band 6 version. It balances personal reflection with cultural insight, which examiners look for in higher-band responses.