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不染 (Bù Rǎn) Lyrics & Pinyin | Learn Chinese with Mao Buyi

Interactive Lyrics

Key HSK Vocabulary

Word Pinyin Meaning HSK Action
回首 huí shǒu turn one's head, turn round HSK 7
是非 shì fēi right and wrong, quarrel HSK 7
心中 xīn zhōng in one's heart, in one's mind HSK 2
春秋 Chūn qiū year, spring and autumn
花香 huā xiāng fragrance of a flower
心扉 xīn fēi the door of one's heart, one's heart/mind/thought
沉醉 chén zuì get drunk, become intoxicated
清酒 qīng jiǔ sake
枯萎 kū wěi withered, shriveled

Grammar Notes

📌 不願... 怎料...
This pattern expresses a contrast between an initial strong desire or intention (often negative, 'don't want to' or 'not willing to') and an unexpected, often undesirable, outcome that one 'couldn't have expected.' '不願' (bù yuàn) means 'not willing to' or 'don't want to,' and '怎料' (zěn liào) means 'how could one expect/anticipate.'

我不願涉足是非,怎料卻身陷其中。

Wǒ bù yuàn shèzú shìfēi, zěn liào què shēn xiàn qízhōng.

I didn't want to get involved in right and wrong, but how could I have expected to get caught in it?

📌 V + 不回
In this context, 'V + 不回' indicates that the action (V) is irreversible, or the subject/object of the verb cannot return. '不回' (bù huí) functions as a complement indicating an inability to return or a permanent departure.

美好的舊時光一去不回,只能留在回憶裡。

Měihǎo de jiù shíguāng yī qù bù huí, zhǐ néng liú zài huíyì lǐ.

The beautiful old times, once gone, will not return; they can only remain in memories.

📌 但願... / 願只願...
These structures express a strong wish, hope, or desire. '但願' (dàn yuàn) means 'I only wish,' 'I hope that,' or 'if only.' '願只願' (yuàn zhǐ yuàn) intensifies this, meaning 'my only wish is that' or 'I only hope that.'

但願我們此生無緣,來世再續。

Dàn yuàn wǒmen cǐshēng wúyuán, láishì zài xù.

I only wish we are fated to be apart in this life, to reunite in the next.

📌 待...之時...
This pattern specifies a future point in time when something will occur. '待' (dài) means 'to wait for' or 'until.' '之時' (zhī shí) means 'the time of.' Combined, it means 'at the time when...' or 'when (something happens)...'

待春暖花開之時,我們再相約出去遊玩。

Dài chūn nuǎn huā kāi zhī shí, wǒmen zài xiāngyuē chūqù yóuwán.

When spring arrives and flowers bloom, we will make another appointment to go out and play.

There are voices that simply sing, and then there are voices that resonate – deep, soulful, and imbued with stories untold. Mao Buyi (毛不易) possesses such a voice, a rare instrument that launched him to fame after winning Tencent's "The Coming One" in 2017, and has since made him a beloved figure in contemporary Chinese music. Known for his profound, often melancholic lyrical style exploring life's deepest emotions, Mao Buyi's "不染" (Bù Rǎn) is more than just a song; it’s an evocative invitation to explore purity amidst the world's complexities, offering a beautiful lens through which to connect with the Chinese language and its poetic soul.

Quick Info

Song Name 不染 (Bù Rǎn)
Artist 毛不易
Original Singer Original
Release Year 2018
Duration 04:25

The Story Behind the Song

"不染" by Mao Buyi isn't merely a song; it's the soul-stirring lament woven into the very fabric of "Ashes of Love," a fantasy epic where love and loss dance a heartbreaking ballet with destiny. Mao Buyi’s raw, ethereal voice becomes the conduit for the drama's deepest emotional currents, echoing the agonizing beauty of star-crossed devotion. It speaks of a love so profound it strives for an untainted purity, even as it endures celestial trials and earthly betrayals, constantly pushing against the tides of fate.

This track transcended its role as an OST, becoming a shared sigh across a generation. It encapsulates the bittersweet struggle to maintain an unblemished heart amidst turmoil, a universal yearning for a connection that defies all odds. "不染" articulates the fragile hope and profound sorrow inherent in a love destined to bloom, shatter, and perhaps, against all reason, find its way back home.

✨ Lyrical Highlights

一花一世界 一叶一追寻
Yī huā yī shìjiè, yī yè yī zhuīxún
One flower, one world; one leaf, one pursuit.

This line beautifully employs a parallel structure with profound Buddhist-inspired imagery, suggesting that vast universes and individual destinies are contained within the smallest elements of existence. It highlights the unique and intertwined paths of love and fate, emphasizing the depth and personal journey within a grander narrative.

一寸相思一寸灰
Yī cùn xiāngsī yī cùn huī
An inch of longing, an inch of ash.

This classical idiom vividly expresses the devastating pain of love and separation. It poetically conveys how every measure of deep yearning and emotional attachment ultimately leads to sorrow, emptiness, and the dissolution of hope, symbolizing profound heartbreak and loss.