Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 孔雀 | kǒng què | peafowl, peacock | ||
| 火花 | huǒ huā | spark, a matchbox picture | HSK 7 | |
| 朴实 | pǔ shí | plain, simple | HSK 7 | |
| 整合 | zhěng hé | unite, unify | HSK 7 | |
| 温柔 | wēn róu | meek, gentle | HSK 7 | |
| 旋律 | xuán lù: | canton, melody | HSK 7 | |
| 来宾 | Lái bīn | guest, visitor | HSK 7 | |
| 感触 | gǎn chù | feeling, thoughts and feelings | HSK 7 | |
| 团员 | tuán yuán | member, League member | HSK 7 | |
| 搜寻 | sōu xún | search for, hunt | HSK 7 | |
| 是非 | shì fēi | right and wrong, quarrel | HSK 7 | |
| 大意 | dà yi | gist, tenor | HSK 7 | |
| 柔和 | róu hé | soft, gentle | HSK 7 | |
| 口才 | kǒu cái | eloquence, persuasiveness | HSK 7 | |
| 复兴 | fù xīng | revive, rejuvenate | HSK 7 | |
| 料理 | liào lǐ | arrange, manage | HSK 7 | |
| 吉他 | jí tā | guitar | HSK 7 | |
| 呈现 | chéng xiàn | present , appear | HSK 7 | |
| 乐器 | yuè qì | musical instrument | HSK 7 | |
| 用力 | yòng lì | exert oneself, put forth one's strength | HSK 7 |
Grammar Notes
对我来说,学习中文很有趣。
Duì wǒ lái shuō, xuéxí Zhōngwén hěn yǒuqù.
To me, learning Chinese is very interesting.
如果明天下雨的话,我们就留在家里。
Rúguǒ míngtiān xiàyǔ de huà, wǒmen jiù liú zài jiālǐ.
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay at home.
她太饿了,现在什么都想吃。
Tā tài è le, xiànzài shénme dōu xiǎng chī.
She is so hungry that she wants to eat everything right now.
我是因为喜欢唱歌才加入合唱团的。
Wǒ shì yīnwèi xǐhuan chànggē cái jiārù héchàngtuán de.
It is because I love singing that I joined the choir.
Picture walking through Taipei at midnight, neon light reflecting off rain-slicked asphalt while a hypnotic bassline pulses behind your eyes. This is the exact late-night mood captured by Taiwanese indie synth-pop trio Jade Eyes (孔雀眼) in their self-titled track "孔雀眼." Since forming in Taipei in 2014, this standout trio has captivated the Asian indie music scene, masterfully blending gloomy post-punk influences, groovy basslines, and dreamy, floating vocals to construct atmospheric soundscapes that linger long after the music stops.
If you are tired of sterile textbook dialogues, this song is your ultimate gateway to learning Chinese through the lens of atmospheric poetry. As we dive into the mesmerizing lyrics of "孔雀眼," you’ll not only connect with one of Taiwan's coolest underground sounds, but you'll also pick up evocative Mandarin vocabulary and modern phrases that feel entirely natural, poetic, and effortlessly cool.
Quick Info
| Song Name | 孔雀眼 (Jade Eyes) |
| Artist | 孔雀眼 |
| Original Singer | Original |
| Release Year | 2015 |
| Duration | 04:49 |
The Story Behind the Song
Beneath the neon glow of the modern metropolis lies a bittersweet solitude, a quiet desperation captured perfectly in Jade Eyes’ (孔雀眼) 2015 self-titled masterpiece. The track pulls us into a hazy nocturnal dreamscape, where a hypnotic, throbbing bassline and ethereal vocals mimic the intoxicating, dizzying pulse of city life. It evokes the sensation of walking alone through crowded streets at midnight, where towering skyscrapers swallow individual identities and the line between connection and isolation blurs.
This song serves as a haunting mirror to a generation navigating urban alienation. It thrives in the delicate space where deep desire meets emotional detachment, turning the "peacock eye" into a mesmerizing yet voyeuristic lens. As the rhythm seduces, it whispers a poignant truth: the city’s brightest lights often cast the deepest shadows of human loneliness.
✨ Lyrical Highlights
而我只是你眼中的一抹藍,在夜裡漸漸黯淡
Ér wǒ zhǐshì nǐ yǎnzhōng de yīmǒ lán, zài yèlǐ jiànjiàn àndàn
And I am but a stroke of blue in your eyes, gradually fading into the nightThis line beautifully captures the transient nature of intimacy and the quiet sorrow of becoming insignificant to a lover. The "stroke of blue" evokes the striking yet fleeting color of a peacock's feather, symbolizing a vibrant identity destined to dissolve into the darkness of neglect. It masterfully connects to the song's overarching theme of emotional distance and the inevitable fading of passion.
在黑夜裡奔跑的孔雀眼,閃爍著不自覺的刺眼
Zài hēiyè lǐ bēnpǎo de kǒngquè yǎn, shǎnshuòzhe bù zìjué de cìyǎn
Peacock eyes running in the dark night, flickering with an involuntary glareThis iconic line serves as a powerful metaphor for self-protection, depicting a creature that shines defensively to navigate the shadows of urban loneliness. The "involuntary glare" suggests that the subject's brilliant, dazzling exterior is actually an instinctual shield to guard a fragile inner self. It perfectly encapsulates the theme of maintaining one's unique, luminous identity while surviving in a cold, obscuring world.