Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 眼神 | yǎn shén | glance, expression in one's eyes | HSK 7 | |
| 匆匆 | cōng cōng | hurriedly, in haste | HSK 7 | |
| 毫不 | háo bù | hardly, not at all | HSK 7 | |
| 指望 | zhǐ wàng | look to, count on | HSK 7 | |
| 可笑 | kě xiào | absurd, laughable | HSK 7 | |
| 天堂 | tiān táng | paradise, heaven | HSK 6 | |
| 往往 | wǎng wǎng | often, frequently | HSK 3 | |
| 故事 | gù shi | story, tale | HSK 2 | |
| 有人 | yǒu rén | anyone, occupied | HSK 2 | |
| 心中 | xīn zhōng | in one's heart, in one's mind | HSK 2 | |
| 女人 | nǔ: rén | woman, womenfolk | HSK 1 | |
| 相似 | xiāng sì | similar, alike | ||
| 等到 | děng dào | to wait until, by the time when | ||
| 行人 | xíng rén | pedestrian, traveler on foot | ||
| 香粉 | xiāng fěn | face powder, talcum powder | ||
| 大雨 | dà yǔ | heavy rain, CL:場 | 场[chang2] | |
| 宿命 | sù mìng | karma, predestination | ||
| 我等 | wǒ děng | us , we | ||
| 掌心 | zhǎng xīn | centre of the palm, control | ||
| 散落 | sǎn luò | to lie scattered , Taiwan pr. [san4 luo4] |
Grammar Notes
我昨天晚上一直工作到深夜。
Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang yīzhí gōngzuò dào shēnyè.
I kept working all the way until late last night.
我們不應該為了一點小事而生氣。
Wǒmen bù yīnggāi wèile yīdiǎn xiǎoshì ér shēngqì.
We shouldn't get angry over minor things.
最貴的衣服未必最適合你。
Zuì guì de yīfu wèibì zuì shìhé nǐ.
The most expensive clothes are not necessarily the ones that suit you best.
畢業以後，我們再沒見過面。
Bìyè yǐhòu, wǒmen zài méi jiànguò miàn.
Since graduation, we have never met again.
We all carry a mental scrapbook of a time we can never quite return to—a specific year, a fleeting month, and the bittersweet echo of a memory that slipped through our fingers. It is this universal ache of nostalgia that Mandopop sensation Da Zhuang (大壯) masterfully taps into with his evocative ballad, "那年那月" (Na Nian Na Yue). Long before he became a household name, Da Zhuang (born Wang Xuan) was a raw talent capturing hearts on online live-streaming platforms. His signature husky, soulful voice eventually propelled him to mainstream superstardom with the 2017 mega-hit "We Are Different" (我們不一樣), proving his unique ability to turn deeply personal emotions into anthems for millions.
In "那年那月," Da Zhuang’s gritty, weathered vocals breathe life into a poetic narrative of longing and passing time. For language learners, this track is far more than a beautiful melody; it is a masterclass in expressive Mandarin. By exploring the soulful lyrics of "那年那月," you will not only expand your vocabulary with rich, emotional Chinese idioms but also connect with the profound cultural concept of huaijiu (nostalgia) in a way no textbook can ever teach.
Quick Info
| Song Name | 那年那月 (Na Nian Na Yue) |
| Artist | 大壯 |
| Original Singer | Original |
| Release Year | 2020 |
| Duration | 04:25 |
The Story Behind the Song
In a rapidly shifting world, "Na Nian Na Yue" (That Year, That Month) serves as a poignant anchor, capturing the bittersweet ache of huaijiu—the deep cultural longing for yesteryears. Released in 2020, the ballad taps into a collective yearning for lost youth. Da Zhuang’s signature deep, gravelly vocals carry the weight of a man who has weathered life's storms, transforming the melody into a raw, communal confession of unresolved love and the quiet tragedy of growing apart.
Rather than merely mourning what was, the song embraces the inevitable friction of time. It speaks to the realization that while the people of our youth may fade, the scars they left behind are proof of a life deeply felt. Through this melancholic masterpiece, Da Zhuang offers a sacred space to gently lay down our regrets and honor the beautiful, painful passage of time.
✨ Lyrical Highlights
故事的结局 终究敌不过时间
gù shi de jié jú zhōng jiū dí bú guò shí jiān
The ending of our story, after all, could not defeat time.This line beautifully captures the tragic inevitability of change, where human intimacy ultimately succumbs to the relentless passage of years. It serves as the emotional core of the song, transforming a personal heartbreak into a universal truth about the fragility of relationships. The personification of "time" as an undefeated opponent elevates the narrator's personal grief into a poignant, philosophical resignation.
可风吹散了诺言，人消失在眼前
kě fēng chuī sàn le nuò yán, rén xiāo shī zài yǎn qián
But the wind scattered our promises, and you disappeared before my eyes.This lyric employs classic poetic imagery, using the intangible and fleeting nature of the "wind" to symbolize the fragility of human vows. The stark juxtaposition between the solemnity of a promise and the ease with which it is swept away emphasizes the helplessness of the lovers. It perfectly encapsulates the song's theme of loss, where once-solid hopes are reduced to sudden, empty absence.