Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 千古 | qiān gǔ | through the ages, eternity | ||
| 容颜 | róng yán | appearance, looks | HSK 7 | |
| 糊涂 | hú tu | muddled, confused | HSK 7 | |
| 在乎 | zài hu | mind, care about | HSK 4 | |
| 里面 | lǐ miàn | inside, interior | HSK 3 | |
| 幸福 | xìng fú | happiness, well being | HSK 3 | |
| 因为 | yīn wèi | because of, on account of | HSK 2 | |
| 执迷 | zhí mí | to be obsessive, to persist obstinately | ||
| 摇曳 | yáo yè | sway, flirt | ||
| 明灭 | míng miè | now in view, now hidden, appearing and vanishing | ||
| 月华 | yuè huá | moonlight, lunar corona | ||
| 江湖 | jiāng hú | all corners of the country, the wide world | ||
| 流芳千古 | liú fāng qiān gǔ | see 流芳百世[liu2 fang1 bai3 shi4] | ||
| 深浅 | shēn qiǎn | depth, shade | ||
| 深渊 | shēn yuān | abyss, a deep pool | ||
| 灯火 | dēng huǒ | lights | ||
| 画卷 | huà juàn | picture scroll | ||
| 缱绻 | qiǎn quǎn | in love and inseparable | ||
| 翩跹 | piān xiān | spry and lively | ||
| 贻笑 | yí xiào | to be ridiculous, to make a fool of oneself |
Grammar Notes
人生不过是一场旅行，何必太在意得失。
Rénshēng búguò shì yì chǎng lǚxíng, hébì tài zàiyì déshī.
Life is merely a journey; there is no need to care too much about gains and losses.
若非亲眼所见，我绝不相信这是真的。
Ruò fēi qīnyǎn suǒ jiàn, wǒ jué bù xiāngxìn zhè shì zhēn de.
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never believe it is true.
虽然天气很冷，他却只穿了一件单衣。
Suīrán tiānqì hěn lěng, tā què zhǐ chuān le yí jiàn dānyī.
Although the weather is very cold, he is only wearing a single thin layer of clothing.
这件往事至今让我难释怀。
Zhè jiàn wǎngshì zhìjīn ràng wǒ nán shìhuái.
This past event is still hard for me to let go of even today.
How does a digital-era superstar capture the ancient, haunting soul of a thousand-year-old heartbreak? Long before she transitioned into a mainstream recording artist, Aleng (Huang Shengjun) dominated Chinese streaming platforms like Douyu, capturing millions of hearts not with flashy pop beats, but with her impossibly clear, gentle vocals and a distinct classical temperament. In her spellbinding rendition of "千古" (Qian Gu / Through the Ages), she breathes new life into a poetic masterpiece of longing, regret, and eternal love that feels both deeply intimate and grandly cinematic.
If you've ever felt a bittersweet ache for a love that transcends time, this song will strike a chord deep within your soul. For Chinese language learners, Aleng’s expressive delivery makes "千古" the perfect, elegant gateway to mastering poetic vocabulary, metaphors, and the storytelling cadence of modern Guofeng (classical-style) music. Let’s dive into the lyrics of this timeless ballad and discover how Aleng turns ancient sorrow into an unforgettable language-learning experience.
Quick Info
| Song Name | 千古 (Qian Gu) |
| Artist | 阿冷 |
| Original Singer | Alan Dawa Dolma (阿兰) |
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Duration | 04:18 |
The Story Behind the Song
In the ethereal realm of xianxia fantasy, love is rarely a simple blessing; it is a trial of fire and destiny. Born from the tragic lore of the 2015 hit drama The Journey of Flower, "Qian Gu"—originally penned by Xu Song—captures the agonizing weight of a love forbidden by the heavens. It is a musical monument to eternal devotion, echoing the painful sacrifices of two souls bound by a tragic fate across lifetimes.
While Alan's original rendition soared with operatic grandeur, Aleng’s cover strips away the mythic scale to reveal a fragile, human heart. Her signature delicate vocals transform this epic lament into a whispered confession, an intimate soliloquy of quiet grief. Where the drama painted a sprawling canvas of destiny, Aleng captures the bittersweet beauty of acceptance, turning a tale of cosmic tragedy into a tender, timeless lullaby for the heartbroken.
✨ Lyrical Highlights
情到深处 怎能罢休 恨到极致 也是温柔
qíng dào shēn chù zěn néng bà xiū hèn dào jí zhì yě shì wēn róu
When love runs deep, how can one let it go? Even when hatred reaches its peak, it is still a form of tenderness.This line beautifully captures the complex, inseparable duality of love and hate in profound relationships. It suggests that even the most intense resentment is merely a disguised manifestation of deep affection, refusing to fade into cold indifference. This paradox perfectly mirrors the song's theme of eternal, obsessive devotion that transcends conventional boundaries of pain and pleasure.
若能以此生 换得你一瞬眷顾 哪怕终将化作一抔黄土
ruò néng yǐ cǐ shēng huàn dé nǐ yī shùn juàn gù nǎ pà zhōng jiāng huà zuò yī póu huáng tǔ
If this lifetime could be exchanged for a single moment of your grace, I would not care even if I eventually turn into a handful of clay.This lyric presents a striking contrast between the vastness of a lifetime and the fleetingness of a single moment, highlighting the supreme value placed on the beloved's acknowledgment. The willingness to dissolve into "yellow dust" demonstrates an absolute, self-sacrificing resolve that welcomes mortality. It encapsulates the core theme of the song—a love so monumental that it willingly trades eternity for a transient spark of connection.