lǐbái: 李白 - Li Bai (Chinese Poet)

• Keywords: Li Bai, Lǐ Bái, Chinese poet, Tang Dynasty poetry, 诗仙, shī xiān, Poet Immortal, 静夜思, Jìng Yè Sī, Quiet Night Thought, greatest Chinese poet, Chinese literature
• Summary: Li Bai (李白, Lǐ Bái) is arguably the greatest and most beloved poet in Chinese history. A towering figure of the Tang Dynasty, he is known as the “Poet Immortal” (诗仙, Shī Xiān) for his seemingly effortless genius, romantic themes, and vivid imagination. His works, often celebrating nature, friendship, and wine, are cornerstones of Chinese culture, with famous poems like “Quiet Night Thought” (静夜思) being memorized by nearly every Chinese child.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): Lǐ Bái
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (As a proper noun, Li Bai is not on the HSK vocabulary list, but his poems and stories are common in higher-level HSK reading materials and textbooks.)
• Concise Definition: Li Bai (701–762 AD) was a celebrated Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty, revered for his profound influence on poetry and his unrestrained, romantic spirit.
• In a Nutshell: Think of Li Bai as the William Shakespeare of China. His name is synonymous with poetic mastery and a free-spirited, almost mythical, personality. He represents a form of genius that is spontaneous, divine, and unbound by earthly conventions. While his poems can express deep sorrow and longing, his overarching image is one of a brilliant, wine-loving wanderer who saw the world with wonder and captured its beauty in timeless verse.

• 李 (lǐ): A very common Chinese surname. The character's original meaning is “plum.”
• 白 (bái): This character means “white,” “pure,” or “bright.”
• The characters in a name don't combine to form a literal meaning in the same way as a regular word. However, the choice of characters is significant. 白 (bái), meaning “white” or “bright,” carries connotations of purity, clarity, and brilliance, which perfectly suit the legacy of a great poet.

• The Poet Immortal (诗仙, Shī Xiān): Li Bai's most famous title is the “Poet Immortal.” This wasn't just a flattering nickname; it captured how people viewed his talent. It was considered so extraordinary that it couldn't be merely human—it had to be divine, effortless, and transcendent. His poetry often features mythical figures, celestial journeys, and a powerful connection to nature, reinforcing this “immortal” image.
• Comparison to the “Poet Sage”: To truly understand Li Bai, it's essential to compare him with his contemporary, Du Fu (杜甫). Du Fu is known as the “Poet Sage” (诗圣, Shī Shèng). While Li Bai was a romantic, Du Fu was a realist. Li Bai's poetry soars with imagination and Daoist ideals of freedom; Du Fu's poetry is grounded, reflecting the suffering of the people and Confucian values of duty and social responsibility. This dichotomy—the Immortal and the Sage—defines the two main pillars of Tang poetry.
• Influence of Daoism (Taoism): Li Bai's work is deeply infused with Daoist philosophy. This is seen in his reverence for nature (山水, shānshuǐ), his disdain for the rigid life of a court official, his praise of spontaneity, and his frequent celebration of wine as a means to achieve a state of freedom and connection with the cosmos. For a learner, understanding this helps explain why he wrote about the moon and mountains so much—it was a philosophical and spiritual pursuit.

While you won't use “Li Bai” as a verb or adjective in a sentence, his name and legacy are deeply embedded in modern Chinese life.

• In Education and Upbringing: Li Bai is not just a historical figure; he's a part of growing up. His simpler poems, like “Quiet Night Thought,” are among the first pieces of literature Chinese children learn by heart. His name is a constant presence in textbooks from primary school through university.
• As a Cultural Benchmark: Invoking Li Bai's name is a common way to praise someone's literary talent or free-spirited nature.
  • “Wow, your writing is beautiful, you're a modern-day Li Bai!” (你真是个当代李白！ Nǐ zhēn shì ge dāngdài Lǐ Bái!)
• In Pop Culture and Commerce: His name and image are used to lend a sense of culture, tradition, and quality. You'll find restaurants, parks, and especially brands of liquor (白酒, báijiǔ) named after him or his poems.
• Source of Idioms (成语, chéngyǔ): Legends about his life have become famous idioms. The most notable is 铁杵磨成针 (tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn), which means “an iron pestle can be ground down to a needle.” The story goes that a young Li Bai was inspired to continue his studies after seeing an old woman patiently grinding an iron rod to make a needle, teaching him the value of perseverance.

• Example 1:
  • 我最喜欢的唐代诗人是李白。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de Tángdài shīrén shì Lǐ Bái.
  • English: My favorite Tang Dynasty poet is Li Bai.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct statement of preference, common when discussing literature or history.
• Example 2:
  • 每个中国孩子都会背李白的《静夜思》。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge Zhōngguó háizi dōu huì bèi Lǐ Bái de “Jìng Yè Sī”.
  • English: Every Chinese child can recite Li Bai's “Quiet Night Thought.”
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the immense cultural penetration and educational importance of Li Bai's work. `背 (bèi)` means “to recite from memory.”
• Example 3:
  • 人们称李白为“诗仙”。
  • Pinyin: Rénmen chēng Lǐ Bái wéi “Shī Xiān”.
  • English: People call Li Bai the “Poet Immortal.”
  • Analysis: This introduces his essential nickname. `称…为… (chēng…wéi…)` is a common structure for “to call… as…” or “to refer to… as…”.
• Example 4:
  • 李白的诗充满了浪漫主义的想象力。
  • Pinyin: Lǐ Bái de shī chōngmǎn le làngmàn zhǔyì de xiǎngxiànglì.
  • English: Li Bai's poetry is full of romantic imagination.
  • Analysis: A good sentence for describing the style and tone of his work. `充满了 (chōngmǎn le)` means “is full of.”
• Example 5:
  • 你觉得李白和杜甫，谁更伟大？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde Lǐ Bái hé Dù Fǔ, shéi gèng wěidà?
  • English: Who do you think is greater, Li Bai or Du Fu?
  • Analysis: This question frames the classic literary debate in China, showing how Li Bai is often discussed in comparison to Du Fu.
• Example 6:
  • 据说李白斗酒诗百篇。
  • Pinyin: Jùshuō Lǐ Bái dǒu jiǔ shī bǎi piān.
  • English: It is said that Li Bai could write a hundred poems after drinking a dipper of wine.
  • Analysis: This is a famous line from a Du Fu poem about Li Bai, which has become a popular saying. It perfectly captures his image as a wine-loving, spontaneous genius.
• Example 7:
  • 这家餐厅的名字来源于李白的一首诗。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de míngzì láiyuán yú Lǐ Bái de yī shǒu shī.
  • English: The name of this restaurant comes from one of Li Bai's poems.
  • Analysis: This illustrates how his legacy is used in a modern commercial context. `来源于 (láiyuán yú)` means “to originate from.”
• Example 8:
  • 很多人去马鞍山，是为了参观李白墓。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén qù Mǎ'ānshān, shì wèile cānguān Lǐ Bái mù.
  • English: Many people go to Ma'anshan in order to visit Li Bai's tomb.
  • Analysis: This shows Li Bai as a figure of historical tourism and pilgrimage. `为了 (wèile)` means “in order to.”
• Example 9:
  • 他的性格非常洒脱，真像个现代李白。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xìnggé fēicháng sǎtuō, zhēn xiàng ge xiàndài Lǐ Bái.
  • English: His personality is very free and easy, just like a modern-day Li Bai.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates using his name as a modern cultural reference for a certain type of personality. `洒脱 (sǎtuō)` is a key adjective meaning “free and unconventional.”
• Example 10:
  • “铁杵磨成针”这个成语讲的就是李白小时候的故事。
  • Pinyin: “Tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn” zhè ge chéngyǔ jiǎng de jiù shì Lǐ Bái xiǎoshíhou de gùshi.
  • English: The idiom “grinding an iron pestle into a needle” tells the story of Li Bai's childhood.
  • Analysis: This connects Li Bai directly to a famous idiom, showing his influence beyond just poetry.

• Pronunciation: For English speakers, the name is often mispronounced. It's Lǐ Bái (lee bwai), not “Lee Bai” (lee bye). The rising tone on `Lǐ` and the dipping-then-rising tone on `Bái` are crucial for being understood.
• Don't Confuse with Du Fu: A common pitfall for beginners is to mix up Li Bai and Du Fu. Remember the core difference: Li Bai = The Romantic Immortal (Daoist influence); Du Fu = The Realistic Sage (Confucian influence). Li Bai's poetry soars; Du Fu's poetry reflects.
• More Than a Drunkard: While his love for wine is legendary, it's a mistake to reduce Li Bai to just a “drunken poet.” In the cultural context, wine was seen as a catalyst for inspiration, a way to break free from rigid social norms, and a path to a more authentic, Daoist state of being. His drinking is symbolic of his quest for spiritual and creative freedom.

• 杜甫 (Dù Fǔ) - The “Poet Sage,” Li Bai's great contemporary and friend, representing a more realistic and socially-conscious style of poetry.
• 唐诗 (Táng shī) - Tang Dynasty Poetry. Li Bai is the foremost representative of this golden age of Chinese literature.
• 诗仙 (Shī Xiān) - “Poet Immortal.” Li Bai's essential title, encapsulating his divine talent and romantic spirit.
• 静夜思 (Jìng Yè Sī) - “Quiet Night Thought.” His most famous and accessible poem, a masterpiece of expressing homesickness.
• 月光 (yuèguāng) - Moonlight. The single most important recurring image in Li Bai's poetry, symbolizing home, purity, beauty, and solitude.
• 喝酒 (hē jiǔ) - To drink alcohol. Central to the popular image and many legends surrounding Li Bai.
• 道家 (Dàojiā) - Daoism (Taoism). The philosophical school that heavily influenced Li Bai's worldview and his poetry's focus on nature and freedom.
• 铁杵磨成针 (tiě chǔ mó chéng zhēn) - “Grind an iron pestle into a needle.” An idiom about perseverance that originates from a story about a young Li Bai.
• 洒脱 (sǎtuō) - Free and easy; unconventional. An adjective often used to describe Li Bai's personality and the spirit of his poetry.