Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 名字 | míng zi | name, given name | HSK 1 | |
| 心底 | xīn dǐ | bottom of one's heart | ||
| 善意 | shàn yì | good intention, bona fide | HSK 7 | |
| 思念 | sī niàn | miss, think of | HSK 7 | |
| 好不容易 | hǎo bù róng yì | very difficult, with great difficulty | HSK 6 | |
| 天堂 | tiān táng | paradise, heaven | HSK 6 | |
| 沉默 | chén mò | silent, reticent | HSK 4 | |
| 呼吸 | hū xī | respire, breathe | HSK 4 | |
| 想念 | xiǎng niàn | miss, think of | HSK 4 | |
| 位置 | wèi zhi | seat, place | HSK 4 | |
| 既然 | jì rán | as, since | HSK 4 | |
| 地址 | dì zhǐ | address | HSK 4 | |
| 希望 | xī wàng | hope, wish | HSK 3 | |
| 城市 | chéng shì | city, town | HSK 3 | |
| 天空 | tiān kōng | the sky, the heavens | HSK 3 | |
| 只有 | zhǐ yǒu | alone, only if | HSK 3 | |
| 努力 | nǔ lì | make great efforts, try hard | HSK 2 | |
| 可是 | kě shì | but, yet | HSK 2 | |
| 想起 | xiǎng qǐ | recall, remember | HSK 2 | |
| 如果 | rú guǒ | if, in case | HSK 2 |
Some names don’t fade with time; they get etched into the quietest corners of our minds, refusing to be erased. Giving voice to this universal ache is Waa Wei (魏如萱), a celebrated Taiwanese singer-songwriter and radio DJ known for her versatile voice and indie-pop style. Having won Best Female Mandarin Singer at the 31st Golden Melody Awards for her album Hidden Not Forgotten, Waa Wei breathes a fragile, haunting intimacy into "刻在我心底的名字" (Your Name Engraved Herein) that makes the bittersweet pain of unrequited love feel entirely new.
Listening to her whisper-soft rendition is like reading a secret diary entry, making it the perfect, emotionally resonant gateway to learning Chinese. As we unpack the poetic lyrics of this modern classic, you won't just pick up essential Mandarin vocabulary and pronunciation—you’ll discover how to express the deepest depths of longing and nostalgia in their most beautiful, authentic forms.
Quick Info
| Song Name | 刻在我心底的名字 (Your Name Engraved Herein) |
| Artist | 魏如萱 waa wei |
| Original Singer | 盧廣仲 (Crowd Lu) |
| Release Year | 2020 |
| Duration | 05:42 |
The Story Behind the Song
Set against the stifling social taboos of 1980s post-martial law Taiwan, the film Your Name Engraved Herein chronicles the seismic collision of a forbidden first love. While the original version captures the raw, youthful ache of this journey, Waa Wei’s interpretation feels like a spectral transmission from the past. Her ethereal, breathy vocals strip the melody to its bones, mirroring the vulnerability of a secret kept long after the world has moved on.
The lyrics suggest a permanence that borders on the sacred—a scar transformed into a monument. Waa Wei navigates the space between memory and grief, turning a name into a quiet, internal liturgy. It is more than a ballad; it is an intimate acknowledgment that some people are etched into our souls so deeply that neither time nor distance can erode their presence. She captures the bittersweet reality of a love that remains unfulfilled yet remains entirely indelible.
✨ Lyrical Highlights
刻在我心底的名字，忘記了時間這回事。
Kè zài wǒ xīndǐ de míngzì, wàngjìle shíjiān zhè huí shì.
The name engraved in the depths of my heart makes me forget the concept of time.This line beautifully captures how profound love transcends the constraints of time, rendering past memories permanently alive in the present. The metaphor of "engraving" implies a painful yet indelible devotion that survives long after the relationship itself has ended. It perfectly encapsulates the song's theme of eternal, bittersweet longing for a love that cannot be erased.
如果還有下次，我會再愛一次。
Rúguǒ hái yǒu xiàcì, wǒ huì zài ài yīcì.
If there were a next time, I would love you all over again.This poignant declaration reveals a willingness to endure the same heartbreak all over again for the brief joy of loving the person once more. It elevates the pain of separation into a noble testament of devotion, proving that the love was worth every sorrow. This connects deeply to the theme of unconditional, enduring passion that defies fate and regrets.
Grammar Notes
這首歌越聽越感人。
Zhè shǒu gē yuè tīng yuè gǎnrén.
The more I listen to this song, the more touching it gets.
我好不容易才找到這份工作。
Wǒ hǎobù róngyì cái zhǎodào zhè fèn gōngzuò.
I finally found this job after a lot of hard work.
要不是你的鼓勵，我怎麼能堅持到底？
Yàobúshì nǐ de gǔlì, wǒ zěnme néng jiānchí dàodǐ?
If it weren't for your encouragement, how could I have held on until the end?
既然你決定了，就不要再後悔。
Jìrán nǐ juédìng le, jiù búyào zài hòuhuǐ.
Since you have made your decision, do not regret it.