“Lifelong Mistake” is a song written by Cao Xueqin, a novelist in the Qing Dynasty, from the fifth chapter of “Dream of Red Mansions”. This song mainly describes the attitude of Jia Baoyu, the protagonist of Dream of Red Mansions, towards Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu. It describes how Jia Baoyu still misses the dead Lin Daiyu after marriage, and how Xue Baochai has the false name of “golden and jade good marriage” but is actually lonely for life. The whole song uses a strong contrast technique, and through Baoyu’s mouth, the author expresses the author’s denial and criticism of the so-called good marriage that conforms to the feudal order and the interests of the feudal family.
Translation: It is said that Jinsuo and Baoyu are a good match for each other, but I only remember the alliance with Daiyu in the previous life. Every day, I face Xue Baochai, who is considered dignified and steady by people, but I can never forget Lin Daiyu, who is as smart and lonely as a fairy. Alas, I only believe today that there are always shortcomings in the beautiful things in the world. Even if Baochai is as virtuous as Meng Guang in the Han Dynasty, it cannot eliminate my deep affection for Lin Daiyu.
《终身误》是清代小说家曹雪芹所作的一首曲子，出自《红楼梦》第五回。这首曲子主要描写红楼梦的主角贾宝玉对薛宝钗和林黛玉的态度，写贾宝玉婚后仍不忘怀死去的林黛玉，写薛宝钗徒有”金玉良姻”的虚名而实际上则终身寂寞。整首曲以强烈的对比手法，通过宝玉之口表现了作者对符合封建秩序和封建家族利益的所谓美好姻缘的否定和批判。
译文：说金锁和宝玉相配才是美好的姻缘，我只念念不忘和黛玉的前世之盟。每天面对人们都认为是端庄稳重的薛宝钗，却始终忘不了仙女一样聪明寂寞的林黛玉。可叹啊，我今天才相信人世间美好的事情总有不足。纵然宝钗像汉代的孟光一样贤惠，也不能消除我对林妹妹的一片深情。
《红楼梦·终身误》
都道是金玉良缘，
俺只念木石前盟。
空对着，
山中高士晶莹雪，
终不忘，
世外仙姝寂寞林。
叹人间，
美中不足今方信。
纵然是齐眉举案，
到底意难平。
The Mistaken Marriage
Let others all
Commend the marriage rites of gold and jade;
I still recall
The bond of old by stone and flower made;
And while my vacant eyes behold
Crystalline snows of beauty pure and cold,
From my mind cannot be banished
That fairy wood forlorn that from the world has vanished.
How true I find
That every good some imperfection bolds!
Even a wife so courteous and so kind
No comfort’ brings to my afflicted mind.
