Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 生怕 | shēng pà | afraid of, in fear of | HSK 7 | |
| 可歌可泣 | kě gē kě qì | capable of evoking praises and tears, both happy and tragic | HSK 7 | |
| 朦胧 | méng lóng | dim moonlight, hazy moonlight | HSK 7 | |
| 来回 | lái huí | make a round trip, make a return journey | HSK 7 | |
| 日后 | rì hòu | in the future, in the days to come | HSK 7 | |
| 永不 | yǒng bù | never | HSK 7 | |
| 陶醉 | táo zuì | revel in, be drunk | HSK 7 | |
| 传奇 | chuán qí | short stories of the Tang and Song dynasties , tales of marvels | HSK 7 | |
| 愉快 | yú kuài | happy, joyful | HSK 6 | |
| 情绪 | qíng xù | sulks, depression | HSK 6 | |
| 浪漫 | làng màn | romantic, poetic | HSK 5 | |
| 南北 | nán běi | from north to south | HSK 5 | |
| 或是 | huò shì | or | HSK 5 | |
| 独自 | dú zì | alone, by oneself | HSK 4 | |
| 承受 | chéng shòu | bear, withstand | HSK 4 | |
| 微笑 | wēi xiào | smile | HSK 4 | |
| 最初 | zuì chū | prime, initial | HSK 4 | |
| 神话 | shén huà | myth, mythology | HSK 4 | |
| 后果 | hòu guǒ | consequence, aftermath | HSK 3 | |
| 导演 | dǎo yǎn | direct | HSK 3 |
When the grounded, comforting warmth of a legendary crooner collides with a voice so pure it feels pulled directly from the heavens, music ceases to be just sound—it becomes myth. In the iconic duet "神話.情話" (Shen Hua Qing Hua), this celestial alignment comes to life. Wakin Chau, a legendary Hong Kong-born Taiwanese singer-songwriter renowned for his warm vocals and numerous Mandopop hits, joins forces with Chyi Yu, an acclaimed Taiwanese singer famous for her ethereal, angelic voice and classic hits like "The Olive Tree." Together, their soaring vocal chemistry made this duet an unforgettable masterpiece of Chinese pop history, instantly transporting listeners into a cinematic world of epic romance, tragic longing, and martial arts chivalry.
If you are looking to learn Chinese through songs, "神話.情話" serves as the ultimate masterclass in poetic storytelling and raw emotional expression. Unpacking the dramatic lyrics of this timeless track won't just elevate your Mandarin vocabulary and pronunciation—it will connect you deeply to the very heartbeat of Chinese pop culture.
Quick Info
| Song Name | 神話.情話 (Shen Hua Qing Hua) |
| Artist | Wakin Chau & Chyi Yu |
| Original Singer | Original |
| Release Year | 1995 |
| Duration | 04:26 |
The Story Behind the Song
In the vast tapestry of wuxia lore, few legends ache with the bruising, transcendent beauty of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü’s forbidden romance. "神話.情話" serves as the raw, beating heart of TVB’s legendary 1995 adaptation of The Return of the Condor Heroes. Through Zhou Qisheng’s tempestuous composition and Lin Xi’s breathtakingly poetic lyrics, the track resurrects the lovers' sixteen years of agonizing separation. It is a masterclass in vocal duality, pairing Wakin Chau’s robust, earthly yearning with Chyi Yu’s hauntingly celestial soprano.
Winning Best Original Song at the 1995 RTHK Awards, this anthem captures a love that defiantly mocks societal taboos and mortality itself. Lin Xi’s verses pose a devastating question: what is the use of immortality if spent in solitude? Ultimately, the song stands as a cultural monument, proving that the most profound myths are always written in the ink of human devotion.
✨ Lyrical Highlights
愛是何物 竟令凡人 生死相許
Ài shì hé wù jìng lìng fán rén shēng sǐ xiāng xǔ
What is love, that it should command mortals to pledge their lives and deaths to one another?This line beautifully adapts Yuan Haowen's classical poetry, capturing the consuming and transcendent nature of ultimate devotion. It elevates love from a mere human emotion into a fated, existential force that defines the boundaries of mortality. This directly reflects the central theme of the song and the legendary lovers, where love is a sacred pact that triumphs over death itself.
哪怕生生世世都只得一次半次接近
Nǎ pà shēng shēng shì shì dōu zhǐ dé yī cì bàn cì jiē jìn
Even if throughout lifetimes we only get to be close for a fleeting moment or two.This poignant line expresses an unwavering willingness to endure endless lifetimes of separation for just a fleeting moment of union. Its beauty lies in the dramatic tension between the vastness of eternity and the brevity of a single embrace. It connects to the theme by showing that true love is so absolute that its value cannot be measured by time, only by its pure intensity.
Grammar Notes
爱是付出,是包容,是无私的奉献。
Ài shì fùchū, shì bāoróng, shì wúsī de fèngxiàn.
Love is giving, is tolerance, is selfless dedication.
他把这次失败视作人生中宝贵的一课。
Tā bǎ zhè cì shībài shìzuò rénshēng zhōng bǎoguì de yī kè.
He regarded this failure as a valuable lesson in his life.
没有真才实学,你何以在社会上立足?
Méiyǒu zhēncái-shíxué, nǐ héyǐ zài shèhuì shàng lìzú?
Without real talent and learning, how can you establish yourself in society?
至我们再次相见时,希望你已实现梦想。
Zhì wǒmen zàicì xiāngjiàn shí, xīwàng nǐ yǐ shíxiàn mèngxiǎng.
By the time we meet again, I hope you have already realized your dreams.