Four principal strategies are commonly observed in the English translation of ancient Chinese poetry: verbal translation, rhyming translation, formal translation, and free translation. For Chinese translators, the rhyming approach predominates, defining the so-called metrical school of translators. Translators often advocate for “poetic translation”, yet its definition remains contested. A common misconception equates rhyming translation with poetry itself. However, true poetic translation does not demand rigid adherence to the original,s lexicon or rhyme scheme. Rather, fidelity to the poem,s lyrical essence and artistic vision constitutes the core of authentic poetic translation. Only by adopting a flexible and poetic approach can a translator achieve this ideal and produce translations that are poems in their own right. Moreover, end rhyme alone does not define a metrical translation. When alliteration and assonance are employed with sufficient density and artistry, the resulting work may also be considered part of the metrical tradition. Thus, whether translating words, sound, or form, the ultimate aim must be the translation of meaning—this represents the highest aspiration of translating poetry.