What’s the meaning of Chinese poem that Elon Musk posted on Twitter?
- Gao Si
- Nov 3, 2021
- 1 min read
Recently, Elon Musk posted a Chinese poem on his Twitter, what is the meaning of this Chinese poem that also show on Singapore P6(A) Chinese textbook (六年级A欢乐伙伴华文课本)?

Also show on Singapore P6A Higher Chinese textbook

This Chinese Poem is 《七步诗》written by Cao Zhi (son of Cao Cao from the Three Kingdomes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26EivpCPHnQ)
background: Cao Zhi's old brother Cao Pi is the King who was jealous of Cao Zhi's talent and wanted to kill Cao Zhi. One day ,Cao Pi asked Cao Zhi to compose a poem within seven steps, otherwise he will be killed. So Cao Zhi wrote down this poem
《七步诗》
Seven Steps Poem
煮豆燃豆萁 (煮:cook; 豆:beans; 燃:burn;豆萁:beanstalk)
The beans are cooked while the (dry) beanstalk is burning (to heat the pot)
豆在釜中泣 (釜: pot 泣: sob)
The beans sob in the pot
本是同根生 (本是: originally is; 同:same 根:root 生:grow)
(the beans and beanstalk) originate from the same root
相煎何太急 (相:each other;煎:fry 何:why 太急:too harshly)
Why they sabotage each other so harshly
This poem expresses the poet's sadness of fratricide.
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