li-sao: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareLiterary, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “li-sao” mean?
A classical Chinese poem by Qu Yuan.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A classical Chinese poem by Qu Yuan; literally translated as 'Encountering Sorrow' or 'On Encountering Trouble'.
Refers to the specific 4th-century BC poem, its style, its profound themes of political disillusionment and exile, and its influence as a foundational work of Chinese literature and the Chu Ci ('Songs of Chu') tradition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences. Usage is equally rare in both and confined to sinological or comparative literature contexts.
Connotations
Conveys deep literary and historical scholarship. No regional connotative shift.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, appearing almost exclusively in academic papers, translations, and specialised courses on Chinese literature.
Grammar
How to Use “li-sao” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] (requires no article)the [Proper Noun] of Qu YuanVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “li-sao” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Li-Sao-esque imagery was striking.
- A Li-Sao-inspired lament
American English
- The Li-Sao-like imagery was striking.
- A Li-Sao-style lament
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature, sinology, history, and comparative poetry departments. E.g., 'Her thesis analyzes the botanical symbolism in the *Li Sao*.'
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a technical term in literary criticism and translation studies of classical Chinese texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “li-sao”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “li-sao”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “li-sao”
- Using an article ('a Li Sao') - it's a title.
- Pronouncing 'sao' like 'say-oh'.
- Using it as a common noun for any sad poem.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a direct transliteration (Pinyin) of the Chinese title 離騷 into the English alphabet. It is used as a loanword/proper noun in English academic discourse.
Use it as a proper noun, typically without an article. For example: 'The imagery in Li Sao is richly symbolic.' It can also be used with 'the' when specifying: 'the Li Sao of Qu Yuan'.
The most common translation is 'Encountering Sorrow' or 'On Encountering Trouble'. 'Li' means 'to encounter' or 'to leave', and 'Sao' means 'sorrow', 'lament', or 'trouble'.
It is a foundational text of Chinese literature, representing the 'Chu Ci' poetic tradition. It established the persona of the loyal minister in exile and used elaborate symbolism to explore themes of political integrity, disillusionment, and spiritual longing.
A classical Chinese poem by Qu Yuan.
Li-sao is usually literary, academic, historical in register.
Li-sao: in British English it is pronounced /liː ˈsaʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /li ˈsaʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Lee saw' sorrow. 'Li' (the poet) 'saw' trouble, which inspired the poem 'Encountering Sorrow'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LITERARY JOURNEY IS AN EXILE (the poem uses a spiritual journey as a metaphor for political exile and moral search).
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'Li Sao' primarily?