Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 放纵 | fàng zòng | indulge, connive at | HSK 7 | |
| 残忍 | cán rěn | cruel, ruthless | HSK 7 | |
| 冒险 | mào xiǎn | risk, venture | HSK 7 | |
| 终究 | zhōng jiū | after all, in the end | HSK 7 | |
| 学会 | xué huì | society, institute | HSK 6 | |
| 再也 | zài yě | any more | HSK 5 | |
| 回头 | huí tóu | turn round, turn one's head | HSK 5 | |
| 单纯 | dān chún | pure, simple | HSK 4 | |
| 影子 | yǐng zi | shadow, reflection | HSK 4 | |
| 慢慢 | màn màn | slowly, leisurely | HSK 3 | |
| 因为 | yīn wèi | because of, on account of | HSK 2 | |
| 碰到 | pèng dào | meet , run into | HSK 2 | |
| 故事 | gù shi | story, tale | HSK 2 | |
| 的话 | de huà | if, in case | HSK 2 | |
| 飞机 | fēi jī | plane, aircraft | HSK 1 | |
| 真的 | zhēn de | really, truly | HSK 1 | |
| 开始 | kāi shǐ | to begin, beginning | ||
| 左手 | zuǒ shǒu | left hand, left-hand side | ||
| 坠落 | zhuì luò | fall, drop | ||
| 反方 | fǎn fāng |
Grammar Notes
当太阳升起的时候，雾气就散了。
Dāng tàiyáng shēngqǐ de shíhou, wùqì jiù sàn le.
When the sun rises, the fog disperses.
桌子上的蛋糕被弟弟吃掉了。
Zhuōzi shàng de dàngāo bèi dìdi chīdiào le.
The cake on the table was eaten by my younger brother.
你有多努力，就会有多成功。
Nǐ yǒu duō nǔlì, jiù huì yǒu duō chénggōng.
However hard you work is how successful you will be.
明天我陪你去医院看医生。
Míngtiān wǒ péi nǐ qù yīyuàn kàn yīshēng.
Tomorrow I will accompany you to the hospital to see a doctor.
If you could look back and whisper a word of comfort to the person you were years ago, what would you say? This bittersweet longing to embrace our past selves is the beating heart of "曾经的每个你" (Those Were The Days) by JJ Lin. JJ Lin is an influential Singaporean singer, songwriter, and record producer who debuted in 2003. Renowned for his exceptional vocal range and emotive ballads, he is widely considered one of the leading figures in modern Mandopop. In this evocative track, he uses his signature soulful vocals to paint a vivid picture of growth, regret, and ultimate self-acceptance.
For language lovers, this melancholy masterpiece is more than just a beautiful listen—it is a masterclass in emotional expression. Exploring the rich, poetic lyrics of "曾经的每个你" offers an incredibly immersive way to learn Chinese, helping you master authentic Mandarin vocabulary, grasp nuanced sentence structures, and connect deeply with the soul of modern Mandopop.
Quick Info
| Song Name | 曾经的每个你 (Those Were The Days) |
| Artist | JJ Lin |
| Original Singer | Original |
| Release Year | 2021 |
| Duration | 04:21 |
The Story Behind the Song
Beneath the roaring drums of traditional lion dancing lies the quiet ache of the underdog. In December 2021, JJ Lin captured this raw vulnerability in "曾经的每个你" (Those Were The Days), the emotional heartbeat of the acclaimed animated masterpiece I Am What I Am (雄狮少年). The track acts as a sonic mirror, reflecting the grueling, unglamorous journey of youth clawing through obscurity to chase a seemingly impossible dream.
Lin’s soaring vocals offer a tender reconciliation with the ghosts of our past. Instead of hiding past failures, the melody reframes every tear shed in secret and every stumbled step as sacred scaffolding for our eventual triumphs. It is a poetic embrace of our bruised, forgotten selves, proving that we cannot stand atop the mountain without first honoring the weary traveler who climbed it.
✨ Lyrical Highlights
拥抱曾经的每个你，那些走错的路也是风景
Yōngbào céngjīng de měi gè nǐ, nàxiē zǒu cuò de lù yěshì fēngjǐng
Embrace every past version of yourself; even the wrong paths you took are part of the scenery.This line beautifully reconfigures regret as a form of art, transforming past mistakes into necessary elements of one's personal landscape. It encourages self-reconciliation by framing life's missteps not as failures, but as essential experiences that shape our identity. This directly embodies the song's core theme of healing through radical self-acceptance.
谢谢那个曾经不完美的自己，撑过了狂风暴雨
Xièxiè nàgè céngjīng bù wánměi de zìjǐ, chēngguòle kuángfēngbàoyǔ
Thank that once-imperfect self for weathering the violent storms.By expressing gratitude to one's past, flawed self, this line shifts the listener's perspective from self-criticism to profound self-compassion. The contrast between human imperfection and the strength to endure "violent storms" highlights the quiet resilience inherent in survival. It underscores the song's theme of honoring our struggles and finding strength in our vulnerabilities.