↶ Graded Readers

Myths and Fables: 牛郎织女 – The Story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl

↶ Intermediate reading practice

Myths and Fables: 牛郎织女 – The Story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl

This very famous story of star-crossed lovers is the tale behind the Chinese Qixi Festival, sometimes called Chinese Valentine’s Day. In this story, a young mortal man ends up married to a goddess, but is prevented from being with her due to the machinations of heaven.

牛郎niúláng织女zhīnǚ

很hěn久jǐu很hěn久jǐu以前yǐ qián,有yǒu一个yī ge年轻人nián qīng rén叫jiào牛郎niúláng。他tā没有méi yǒu爸爸bà ba妈妈mā ma,只有zhǐ yǒu一yī头tóu老lǎo牛Níu和hé他tā住zhù在zài一起yī qǐ。牛郎niúláng每天měi tiān工作gōng zuò,生shēng活huó很hěn辛Xīn苦kǔ,但dàn是shì他tā很hěn善良shànliáng。

有yǒu一yī天tiān,老lǎo牛Níu对duì牛郎niúláng说shuì:”明天míng tiān,有yǒu几个jǐ ge仙女xiānnǚ会huì来lái河边hé biān洗澡xǐ zǎo。你nǐ去qù拿走ná zǒu那Nā件jiàn红色hóng sè的de衣服yī fu。”牛郎niúláng觉得jué de很hěn奇jī怪guǎi,但dàn是shì他tā听yǐn了le老lǎo牛Níu的话de huà。

第dì二èr天tiān,牛郎niúláng去qù了le河边hé biān。他tā看到kàn dào几个jǐ ge非常fēi cháng漂piāo亮liàng的de仙女xiānnǚ在zài河hé里lǐ玩wán水Shuǐ。他tā悄qiao悄qiao地de拿走ná zǒu了le一yī件jiàn红色hóng sè的de衣服yī fu。仙女xiānnǚ们men要yāo回天huí tiān上去shàng qù的de时shí候hòu,其中qí zhōng一个yī ge仙女xiānnǚ找不到zhǎo bu dào自己zì jǐ的de衣服yī fu。她tā叫jiào织女zhīnǚ,是shì天上tiān shàng最zuì会huì织布zhībù的de仙女xiānnǚ。

织女zhīnǚ很hěn着急zháo jí,不知bù zhī道dào怎zěn么má办bàn。这时zhè shí候hòu,牛郎niúláng走出zǒu chū来lái,把bǎ衣服yī fu还Huán给gěi了le她tā。织女zhīnǚ看到kàn dào牛郎niúláng,觉得jué de他tā很hěn善良shànliáng,也Yě很hěn喜欢xǐ huan他tā。织女zhīnǚ决定jué dìng不bù回天huí tiān上shǎng了le,她tā要yāo和hé牛郎niúláng住zhù在zài一起yī qǐ。

牛郎niúláng和hé织女zhīnǚ结婚jié hūn了le,生shēng活huó很hěn幸福xìng fú。牛郎niúláng每天měi tiān工作gōng zuò,织女zhīnǚ每天měi tiān织布zhībù。

但dàn是shì,天上tiān shàng的de王母娘娘wángmǔniángniáng知道了zhī dào le这zhè件jiàn事shì。她tā非常fēi cháng生气shēng qì,因为yīn wèi织女zhīnǚ是shì仙女xiānnǚ,不可以bù kě yǐ嫁给gěi人间rén jiān的de人rén。王母娘娘wángmǔniángniáng派pā人rén下xià来lái,把bǎ织女zhīnǚ带回dài huí了le天上tiān shàng。

牛郎niúláng看到kàn dào妻子qī zǐ被bèi带走dài zǒu了le,非常fēi cháng伤心shāng xīn。这时zhè shí候hòu,老lǎo牛Níu说shuì:”我wǒ死sǐ了le以yǐ后Hòu,你nǐ用yòng我wǒ的de皮Pí做zuò鞋子xié zi,穿上chuān shang就jìu可以kě yǐ飞fēi到dào天上tiān shàng去qù。”不久bù jǐu,老lǎo牛Níu死sǐ了le。牛郎niúláng很hěn伤心shāng xīn,但dàn是shì他tā记jì住zhù了le老lǎo牛Níu的话de huà。

牛郎niúláng用yòng老lǎo牛Níu的de皮Pí做zuò了le鞋子xié zi,穿上chuān shang以yǐ后Hòu,他tā飞fēi上shǎng了le天tiān。他tā越飞Yuè fēi越Yuè快kuài,马上mǎ shàng就要jìu yào追zhui上shǎng织女zhīnǚ了le。但dàn是shì,王母娘娘wángmǔniángniáng看到kàn dào了le,她tā拔bā下xià头tóu上shǎng的de发簪fàzān,在zài天上tiān shàng画huà了le一yī条tiáo长cháng长cháng的de河hé。这zhè条tiáo河hé叫jiào银河yínhé,又yòu宽Kuān又yòu深shēn。

牛郎niúláng站zhàn在zài银河yínhé的de一边yī biān,织女zhīnǚ站zhàn在zài另lìng一边yī biān。他tā们men只zhī能Néng看kān着zhāo对方duì fāng,不bù能Néng在zài一起yī qǐ。织女zhīnǚ哭kū了le,牛郎niúláng也Yě哭kū了le。

后Hòu来lái,天上tiān shàng所有suǒ yǒu的de喜鹊xǐquè都Dū很hěn同情tóng qíng他tā们men。每年měi nián七月Qī yuè七qī日rì,喜鹊xǐquè们men飞fēi到dào银河yínhé上shǎng,用yòng身体shēn tǐ搭da成Chéng一yī座zuò桥qiáo。牛郎niúláng和hé织女zhīnǚ可以kě yǐ走过zǒu guò这zhè座zuò桥qiáo,见面jiàn miàn一次yī cì。

所以suǒ yǐ,每年měi nián七月Qī yuè七qī日rì,中国人Zhōng guó rén叫jiào这zhè一yī天tiān”七夕qīxī“。这zhè是shì中国Zhōng guó的de情人节Qíng rén jié。人rén们men说shuì,这zhè一yī天tiān如rú果guǒ下雨xià yǔ,那是nà shi因为yīn wèi牛郎niúláng和hé织女zhīnǚ又yòu要yāo分开fēn kāi了le,他tā们men在zài哭kū泣qǐ。

Hover a word for its pinyin & meaning; click to pin it.

Lesson vocabulary 181 words · 10 curated by the source

WordPinyinMeaning
牛郎niúlángcowherd
织女zhīnǚweaver girl
仙女xiānnǚfairy maiden
善良shànliángkind, kindhearted
织布zhībùto weave cloth
王母娘娘wángmǔniángniángQueen Mother of Heaven
银河yínhéMilky Way
喜鹊xǐquèmagpie
七夕qīxīQixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day)
发簪fàzānhairpin
很hěnvery; quite; (also, often used before an adjective without intensifying its meaning, i.e. as a meaningless syntactic element)
久jǐu(of a period of time) long
以前yǐ qiánbefore; formerly; previous; ago
有yǒuto have; there is; (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意[you3 yi4] intentional)
一个yī gea; an; one; the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
年轻人nián qīng rényoung people; youngster
叫jiàoto shout; to call; to order; to ask; to be called; by (indicates agent in the passive mood); variant of 叫[jiao4]
他tā(third-person singular) (since the early 20th century, usu. male) he; him; his; (bound form) other; another; some other (as in 他日[ta1 ri4] and 他人[ta1 ren2])
没有méi yǒuhaven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not be
爸爸bà ba(coll.) father; dad; CL:位[wei4]
妈妈mā mamama; mommy; mother; CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4]
只有zhǐ yǒuonly have ...; there is only ...; (used in combination with 才[cai2]) it is only if ... (that one can ...) (as in 只有通過治療才能痊愈|只有通过治疗才能痊愈[zhi3 you3 tong1 guo4 zhi4 liao2 cai2 neng2 qu…
一yīone; single; a (article); as soon as; entire; whole; all; throughout; "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1); also pr. [yao1] for greater clarity when spelling out …
头tóuhead; hair style; the top; end; beginning or end; a stub; remnant; chief; boss; side; aspect; first; leading; classifier for pigs or livestock; CL:個|个[ge4]
老lǎoprefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity; old (of people); venerabl…
牛Níusurname Niu
和héold variant of 和[he2]; surname He; (literary) harmonious (variant of 和[he2])
住zhùto live; to reside; to stay; to stop; to cease; (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state)
在zàito exist; to be alive; (of sb or sth) to be (located) at; (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress)
一起yī qǐ(in) the same place; together; in company (with); altogether; in total; an instance of; a case of (murder, accident, dispute etc)
每天měi tiānevery day
工作gōng zuòto work; (of a machine) to operate; job; work; task; CL:個|个[ge4],份[fen4],項|项[xiang4]
生shēngto grow; to give birth; to produce; to be born; to arise; to occur; to light (a fire); to live; to be alive; life; raw; uncooked; unprocessed; unfamiliar; strange; (bound form) stu…
活huóto live; alive; living; work; workmanship
辛Xīnsurname Xin
苦kǔbitter; hardship; pain; to suffer; to bring suffering to; painstakingly
但dànbut; yet; however; still; merely; only; just
是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion); variant of 是[shi4]
天tiānday; sky; heaven
对duìright; correct; towards; at; for; concerning; regarding; to treat (sb a certain way); to face; (bound form) opposite; facing; matching; to match together; to adjust; to fit; to sui…
说shuìto persuade; variant of 說|说[shuo1]
明天míng tiāntomorrow
几个jǐ gea few; several; how many
会huìcan; to have the skill; to know how to; to be likely to; to be sure to; to meet; to get together; meeting; gathering; (suffix) union; group; association; (bound form) a moment (Tai…
来láito come; (used as a substitute for a more specific verb); hither (directional complement for motion toward the speaker, as in 回來|回来[hui2 lai5]); ever since (as in 自古以來|自古以来[zi4 gu3…
河边hé biānriver bank
洗澡xǐ zǎoto bathe; to take a shower
你nǐyou (informal, as opposed to courteous 您[nin2]); you (Note: In Taiwan, 妳 is used to address females, but in mainland China, it is not commonly used. Instead, 你 is used to address both males and females.)
去qùto go; to go to (a place); (of a time etc) last; just passed; to send; to remove; to get rid of; to reduce; to be apart from in space or time; to die (euphemism); to play (a part);…
拿走ná zǒuto take away
那Nāsurname Na
件jiànitem; component; classifier for events, things, clothes etc
红色hóng sèred (color); revolutionary
的deof; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); (used after a noun, verb or adjective to…
衣服yī fuclothes; CL:件[jian4],套[tao4]
觉得jué deto think that ...; to feel that ...; to feel (uncomfortable etc)
奇jīodd (number)
怪guǎiodd; strange; uncanny; to find strange; to regard as odd; (coll.) somewhat; rather
听yǐnsmile (archaic); to listen to; to hear; to heed; to obey; a can (loanword from English "tin"); classifier for canned beverages; to let be; to allow (Taiwan pr. [ting4]); (literary) to administer; t…
了le(completed action marker); (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now); (modal particle intensifying preceding clause); (bound form) clear in one's mind; to understand clearly
的话de huàif (coming after a conditional clause)
第dì(prefix indicating ordinal number, as in 第六[di4 liu4] "sixth"); (literary) grades in which successful candidates in the imperial examinations were placed; (old) residence of a high…
二èrtwo; 2; (Beijing dialect) stupid
看到kàn dàoto see
非常fēi chángvery; really; unusual; extraordinary
漂piāoto float; to drift
亮liàngbright; light; to shine; to flash; loud and clear; to show (one's passport etc); to make public (one's views etc)
河hériver (CL:條|条[tiao2],道[dao4]); (bound form) the Yellow River; (bound form) the Milky Way; (bound form) (on restaurant menus) rice noodles 河粉[he2 fen3]
里lǐvariant of 裡|里[li3]; lining; interior; inside; internal; also written 裏|里[li3]; surname Li
玩wánto play; to have fun; to trifle with; toy; sth used for amusement; curio or antique (Taiwan pr. [wan4]); to keep sth for entertainment; variant of 玩[wan2]; Taiwan pr. [wan4]
水Shuǐsurname Shui; Shui ethnic group
悄qiaoused in 悄悄[qiao1 qiao1]
地de-ly; structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct
们menplural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
要yāo(bound form) to demand; to coerce
回天huí tiānto reverse a desperate situation
上去shàng qùto go up
时shíold variant of 時|时[shi2]; surname Shi
候hòuto wait; to inquire after; to watch; season; climate; (old) period of five days
其中qí zhōngamong; in; included among these
找不到zhǎo bu dàocan't find
自己zì jǐoneself; (attributive) one's own
她tāshe
天上tiān shàngthe sky; the heavens
最zuìvariant of 最[zui4]; old variant of 最[zui4]; (before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est; (after 之[zhi1]) best or most extreme example (e.g. 世界之最[shi4 jie4 zhi1 zui4] "the greatest in the world")
着急zháo jíto worry; to feel anxious; to feel a sense of urgency; to be in a hurry; Taiwan pr. [zhao1ji2]
不知bù zhīnot to know; unaware; unknowingly; fig. not to admit (defeat, hardships, tiredness etc)
道dàoroad; path (CL:條|条[tiao2],股[gu3]); (bound form) way; reason; principle; (bound form) a skill; an art; a specialization; (Daoism) the Way; the Dao; to say (introducing a direct quot…
怎zěnhow
么máexclamatory final particle; variant of 麼|么[me5]
办bànto take care of (a matter); to deal with (a task, procedure etc); to organize (an event); to establish; to set up; to manage; to run (an enterprise); (law) to handle; to investigat…
这时zhè shíat this time; at this moment
走出zǒu chūto leave (a room etc); to go out through (a door etc)
把bǎto hold; to grasp; to hold a baby in position to help it urinate or defecate; handlebar; classifier: handful, bundle, bunch; classifier for things with handles; (used to put the ob…
还Huánsurname Huan
给gěito; for; for the benefit of; to give; to allow; to do sth (for sb); (grammatical equivalent of 被); (grammatical equivalent of 把); (sentence intensifier)
也Yěsurname Ye
喜欢xǐ huanto like; to be fond of
决定jué dìngto decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4])
不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
上shǎngused in 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]
结婚jié hūnto marry; to get married
幸福xìng fúhappiness; happy; blessed
知道了zhī dào leOK!; Got it!
这zhè(pronoun) this; these; (bound form) this; the (followed by a noun); (bound form) this; these (followed by a classifier) (in this sense, commonly pr. [zhei4], esp. in Beijing)
事shìmatter; thing; item; work; affair; CL:件[jian4],樁|桩[zhuang1],回[hui2]
生气shēng qìto get angry; to be furious; vitality; liveliness
因为yīn wèibecause; owing to; on account of
不可以bù kě yǐmay not
嫁
人间rén jiānthe human world; the earth
人rénperson; people; CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4],名[ming2]
派pāused in 派司[pa1 si5]
下xiàdown; downwards; below; lower; later; next (week etc); second (of two parts); to decline; to go down; to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc); measure word to show the frequency …
带回dài huíto bring back; to take back with one
妻子qī zǐwife and children
被bèiquilt; to cover (with); (literary) to suffer (a misfortune); used to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, …
带走dài zǒuto carry; to take away
伤心shāng xīnto grieve; to be broken-hearted; to feel deeply hurt
我wǒI; me; my
死sǐto die; impassable; uncrossable; inflexible; rigid; extremely; damned
以yǐold variant of 以[yi3]; abbr. for Israel 以色列[Yi3 se4 lie4]
后Hòusurname Hou; back; behind; rear; afterwards; after; later; post-
用yòngto use; to make use of; to employ; (coverb) with; using; to need; to have to (usu. used in the negative or in questions); usefulness; utility; (bound form) expense; outlay; (courte…
皮Písurname Pi
做zuòto make; to produce; to write; to compose; to do; to engage in; to hold (a party etc); (of a person) to be (an intermediary, a good student etc); to become (husband and wife, frien…
鞋子xié zishoe
穿上chuān shangto put on (clothes etc)
就jìu(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then; (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after; (same as 就是[jiu4 shi4]) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precise…
可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able to; not bad; pretty good
飞fēito fly
到dàoto reach; to arrive; to leave for; to go to; to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point); (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point); considerate; thoug…
不久bù jǐunot long (after); before too long; soon; soon after
记jìto record; to note; to memorize; to remember; mark; sign; classifier for blows, kicks, shots
越飞Yuè fēiAdolph Abramovich Joffe (1883-1927), Soviet and Comintern diplomat and spy in 1922-23 in Republican China
越Yuègeneric word for peoples or states of south China or south Asia at different historical periods; abbr. for Vietnam 越南
快kuàirapid; quick; speed; rate; soon; almost; to make haste; clever; sharp (of knives or wits); forthright; plainspoken; gratified; pleased; pleasant
马上mǎ shàngat once; right away; immediately; on horseback (i.e. by military force)
就要jìu yàowill; shall; to be going to
追zhuito sculpt; musical instrument (old)
拔bāto pull up; to draw out by suction; to pick; to surpass
画huàto draw; to paint; picture; painting (CL:幅[fu2],張|张[zhang1]); to draw (a line) (variant of 劃|划[hua4]); stroke of a Chinese character (variant of 劃|划[hua4]); (calligraphy) horizonta…
条tiáostrip; item; article; clause (of law or treaty); classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc)
长chánglong; (bound form) length; (bound form) strong point; forte; (bound form) to be good at; (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. [zhang4])
又yòu(once) again; also; both... and...; and yet; (used for emphasis) anyway
宽Kuānsurname Kuan
深shēnold variant of 深[shen1]; (lit. and fig.) deep
站zhànstation; to stand; to halt; to stop; branch of a company or organization; website
一边yī biānone side; either side; on the one hand; on the other hand; doing while
另lìngother; another; separate; separately
只zhīvariant of 隻|只[zhi1]; variant of 只[zhi3]; grain that has begun to ripen; classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc
能Néngsurname Neng
看kānto look after; to take care of; to watch; to guard
着zhāovariant of 著|着[zhao1]; a move in chess (Taiwan pr. [zhuo2]); trick; tactic; (dialect) okay; all right; (dialect) to put in; to add
对方duì fāngthe other person; the other side; the other party
哭kūto cry; to weep
所有suǒ yǒuall; to have; to possess; to own
都Dūsurname Du
同情tóng qíngto sympathize with; sympathy
每年měi niánevery year; each year; yearly
七月Qī yuèJuly; seventh month (of the lunar year)
七qīseven; 7
日rì(bound form) sun; day; day of the month; (bound form) Japan (abbr. for 日本[Ri4 ben3]); (vulgar) to fuck; to have sex with
身体shēn tǐthe body; one's health
搭dato put up; to hang (clothes on a pole); to join; to match; to throw in (resources)
成Chéngsurname Cheng; short name for Chengdu 成都[Cheng2 du1]
座zuòseat; base; stand; (bound form) constellation; (archaic) suffix used in a respectful form of address (e.g. 師座|师座[shi1 zuo4]); classifier for large immovable objects such as buildin…
桥qiáobridge; CL:座[zuo4]
走过zǒu guòto walk past; to pass by
见面jiàn miànto meet; to see each other; CL:次[ci4]
一次yī cìfirst; first time; once; (math.) linear (of degree one)
所以suǒ yǐtherefore; as a result; so; the reason why
中国人Zhōng guó rénChinese person
中国Zhōng guóChina
情人节Qíng rén jiéValentine's Day
如rúas; as if; such as
果guǒfruit; result; resolute; indeed; if really
下雨xià yǔto rain
那是nà shi(coll.) of course; naturally; indeed
分开fēn kāito separate; to part
泣qǐto sob