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Li Bai

Li Bai

1 8.9
A famous Chinese poet from the Tang dynasty who wrote beautiful emotional poems about nature and friends
  • proper noun
  • Literature
: Li Bai
  • Scholars often compare Li Bai and Du Fu as the two great poets of the Tang dynasty.

Examples

  • The poetry of Li Bai is revered for its beauty and emotion.

  • Many of Li Bai's verses celebrate nature, friendship, and wine.

  • The works of Li Bai are studied in many universities.

  • Did you read any poems by Li Bai?

  • Many of Li Bai's verses celebrate nature, friendship, and wine.

  • The poetry of Li Bai is revered for its beauty and emotion.

  • Scholars often compare Li Bai and Du Fu as the two great poets of the Tang dynasty.

Surface Forms

Li Bai main

Morphology

Li + Bai

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person; the constituent elements 'Li' and 'Bai' (here not defined) do not convey the poet's identity or biographical details. Personal names are arbitrary labels cross-linguistically and do not transparently encode the meaning 'celebrated Tang-dynasty Chinese poet', so a B1 learner knowing the parts would not be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Li Bai is the name of a famous Chinese poet from long ago who often wrote about nature, friendship, and wine. Picture him by a river with a cup of wine, writing under the moon — that image is why his name brings to mind 'romantic and imaginative poetry'.