《国风·周南·关雎》是周代著名文学作品《诗经》中的第一篇诗歌，通常认为是一首描写男女恋爱的情歌。此诗在艺术上巧妙地采用了“兴”的表现手法。首章以雎鸟相向合鸣，相依相恋，兴起淑女陪君子的联想。以下各章，又以采荇菜这一行为兴起主人公对女子疯狂地相思与追求。全诗语言优美，善于运用双声、叠韵和重叠词，增强了诗歌的音韵美和写人状物、拟声传情的生动性。

《诗经--国风·周南·关雎》

关关雎鸠，
在河之洲。
窈窕淑女，
君子好逑。

参差荇菜，
左右流之。
窈窕淑女，
寤寐求之。

求之不得，
寤寐思服。
悠哉悠哉。
辗转反侧。

参差荇菜，
左右采之。
窈窕淑女，
琴瑟友之。

参差荇菜，
左右毛之。
窈窕淑女。
钟鼓乐之。

The Cooing

The waterfowl would coo
Upon an islet in the brook.
A lad would like to woo
A lass with nice and pretty look.

There grows the water grass
The folk are fond to pick;
There lives the pretty lass,
For whom the lad is sick.

Ignored by the pretty lass,
The lad would truly yearn.
The lad is hard to pass;
All night he'll toss and turn.

There grows the water grass
The folk are fond to choose;
There lives the pretty lass
Whom the lad pursues.

There grows the water grass
The folk are fond to gain;
There lives the pretty lass
The lad would entertain.