霖雨

霖雨

1. long spell of heavy rain

   • 若歲大旱，用汝作霖雨。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     若岁大旱，用汝作霖雨。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Documents, circa 4^th – 3^rd century BCE

     Ruò suì dàhàn, yòng rǔ zuò línyǔ. [Pinyin]

     Suppose me in a year of great drought; I will use you as a copious rain.

   • 如有霖雨，旬日不霽，必盈溢。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     如有霖雨，旬日不霁，必盈溢。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Han, circa 1^st century CE

     Rú yǒu línyǔ, xúnrì bù jì, bì yíngyì. [Pinyin]

     If there is heavy rain for ten days without abatement, it will surely overflow.

   • 霖雨長安時孟秋，^嶠南歸客獨登樓。 [Korean Literary Sinitic, trad.]

     From: 《聽曉鐘》("Listening to Bells at Dawn") by Kim Byeong'yeon (金炳淵), 1800s

     Imu jang'an si maengchu, Gyonam gwi gaek dok deung nu. [Sino-Korean]

     The heavy rain is in the capital, and the time is early autumn; the traveler returning from Yeongnam climbs the pavilion alone.

2. (figurative) bounties and favor (e.g. by a monarch to a courtier)