What if your every movement, your very destiny, was held by unseen threads, danced out on a stage beyond your control? This poignant question lies at the heart of "牵丝戏" (The Puppet), a mesmerizing Chinese song by the celebrated "Gu Feng" artists Yin Lin (银临) and Aki (Aki阿杰).
Renowned for their storytelling through song, this duo masterfully blends traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern compositions, creating a deeply emotional experience that has captivated the ACG and wider Chinese music scene. Prepare to feel your own heartstrings tugged as we unravel the poetic beauty of this track and discover how it can enrich your journey to learn Chinese.
Quick Info
| Song Name | 牵丝戏 (The Puppet) |
| Artist | Yin Lin/Aki (Ah Jie) |
| Original Singer | Original |
| Release Year | 2015 |
| Duration | 04:15 |
Interactive Lyrics
The Story Behind the Song
Imagine a solitary master, his world meticulously woven around threads and wood, breathing life into a beloved puppet. '牵丝戏' (The Puppet) isn't merely a song; it's a tender, aching whisper of this unique devotion. It traces the profound, almost spiritual bond between a creator and their masterpiece, where the lines blur between artist and art, heart and craft, painting a poignant portrait of creation and boundless affection.
Yet, beneath the intricate dance of creation lies the bittersweet inevitability of letting go. This 2015 Gu Feng classic poignantly unravels the sorrow of eventual separation, the heart's struggle to release what it poured itself into. It's a deeply human reflection on attachment, loss, and the enduring beauty found even in farewell, echoing a timeless melancholy that resonates profoundly within Chinese culture.
✨ Lyrical Highlights
兰花指捻红尘 拜 无我
Lánhuā zhǐ niǎn hóngchén bài wú wǒ
Orchid fingers twist the mortal dust, bowing without self.This line beautifully depicts the puppet's delicate, graceful movements ("orchid fingers") as it performs in the human world ("mortal dust"). It poignantly emphasizes the puppet's existence devoid of individual will ("without self"), setting the stage for the theme of a creation's beauty and tragedy under another's control.
此生尽 尽此生 戏一场
Cǐ shēng jìn, jìn cǐ shēng, xì yī chǎng
This life ends, ends this life, a play.This profoundly melancholic line uses repetition to underscore the complete and utter devotion of an entire existence, likely the puppet master's, to his art and creation. It encapsulates the tragic culmination where life itself is likened to a finite performance, emphasizing sacrifice, fate, and the transient yet consuming nature of their bond.
Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 相遇 | xiāng yù | to meet, to come across | HSK 7 | |
| 问世 | wèn shì | come out, be published | HSK 7 | |
| 嘲笑 | cháo xiào | ridicule, deride | HSK 7 | |
| 明媚 | míng mèi | bright and beautiful, radiant and enchanting | HSK 7 | |
| 温柔 | wēn róu | meek, gentle | HSK 7 | |
| 清脆 | qīng cuì | clear and melodious, clear and pleasant to the ear | HSK 7 | |
| 违背 | wéi bèi | violate, infringe | HSK 7 | |
| 跟随 | gēn suí | follow, go after | HSK 5 | |
| 支配 | zhī pèi | arrange, allocate | HSK 5 | |
| 假如 | jiǎ rú | if, supposing | HSK 4 | |
| 如何 | rú hé | how, what | HSK 3 | |
| 绝对 | jué duì | absolute, absolute | HSK 3 | |
| 风雪 | fēng xuě | snow, snowy | HSK 2 | |
| 十分 | shí fēn | very, fully | HSK 2 | |
| 最好 | zuì hǎo | best, first-rate | HSK 1 | |
| 记得 | jì de | remember, recall | HSK 1 | |
| 帷幕 | wéi mù | heavy curtain | ||
| 完美 | wán měi | perfect | ||
| 天生一对 | tiān shēng yī duì | A match made in heaven. | ||
| 兰花指 | lán huā zhǐ | hand gesture in traditional dances |
Grammar Notes
只有努力学习，你才能取得好成绩。
Zhǐyǒu nǔlì xuéxí, nǐ cái néng qǔdé hǎo chéngjì.
Only by studying hard can you achieve good grades.
是他告诉我这个秘密的。
Shì tā gàosù wǒ zhège mìmì de.
It was him who told me this secret.
她一回家就开灯。
Tā yī huíjiā (jiù) kāidēng.
As soon as she got home, she turned on the light.
他将废品变成艺术品。
Tā jiāng fèipǐn biànchéng yìshùpǐn.
He transforms waste into works of art.