↶ Graded Readers

Myths and Fables: 鲧禹治水 – Gun and Yu Tame the Flood

↶ Intermediate reading practice

Myths and Fables: 鲧禹治水 – Gun and Yu Tame the Flood

Isn’t it weird that most cultures have an ancient flood myth? China actually has a couple of them, but this one is the most well-known.

鲧禹Yǔ治水zhìshuǐ

很hěn久jǐu很hěn久jǐu以前yǐ qián,天下tiān xià发fā了le大水dà shuǐ。洪水hóngshuǐ淹yan没了méi le农田nóng tián,冲chong走zǒu了le房子fáng zi,老百姓lǎo bǎi xìng没有méi yǒu地方dì fāng住zhù,没有méi yǒu东Dōng西Xī吃chī。大家dà jiā都Dū非常fēi cháng痛tòng苦kǔ。

尧Yáo帝dǐ看到kàn dào这种zhè zhǒng情况qíng kuàng,决定jué dìng找zhǎo一个人yī gè rén来lái治水zhìshuǐ。大臣dà chén们men说shuì:”鲧可以kě yǐ。”于是yú shì尧Yáo帝dǐ派pā鲧去qù治水zhìshuǐ。

鲧有yǒu一个yī ge办bàn法fǎ。他tā说shuì:”水Shuǐ来lái了le,我wǒ就jìu堵dǔ。”他tā带领dài lǐng百姓bǎi xìng建jiàn造zǎo了le许多xǔ duō大坝dàbà,把bǎ水Shuǐ拦lān住zhù。但dàn是shì水Shuǐ越Yuè来lái越Yuè多duō,大坝dàbà一个yī ge一个yī ge地de倒塌dǎotā了le。九jǐu年过nián guò去qù了le,洪水hóngshuǐ还Huán在zài。鲧失shī败bǎi了le。

新Xīn皇Huáng帝dǐ舜shǔn帝dǐ非常fēi cháng生气shēng qì,把bǎ鲧处死chǔ sǐ了le。然rán后Hòu他tā把bǎ治水zhìshuǐ的de任Rén务wù交jiāo给gěi了le鲧的de儿子ér zi禹Yǔ。

禹Yǔ站zhàn在zài洪水hóngshuǐ边biān,想xiǎng了le很hěn长cháng时间shí jiān。他tā想xiǎng:”父亲fù qīn用yòng堵dǔ的de办bàn法fǎ失shī败bǎi了le。也许yě xǔ我wǒ应Yīng该gāi换huàn一个yī ge办bàn法fǎ。”

禹Yǔ决定jué dìng不bù堵dǔ水Shuǐ,而是ér shì疏导shūdǎo水Shuǐ。他tā带领dài lǐng百姓bǎi xìng挖wa渠道qúdào,开山kāi shān路Lù,把bǎ洪水hóngshuǐ一点yī diǎn一点yī diǎn地de引向yǐn xiàng大海dà hǎi。

禹Yǔ治水zhìshuǐ十三shí sān年Nián。这zhè十三shí sān年Nián里lǐ,他tā走zǒu遍biàn了le天下tiān xià,吃chī了le很hěn多duō苦kǔ。他tā的de脚jiǎo因为yīn wèi长期cháng qī走路zǒu lù,指甲zhǐ jia都Dū脱tuō落là了le。有yǒu三次sān cì,他tā经过jīng guò自己zì jǐ的de家门jiā mén口kǒu,听到tīng dào了le妻子qī zǐ和hé孩子hái zi的de声音shēng yīn。但dàn是shì他tā没有méi yǒu进去jìn qù。他tā对duì自己zì jǐ说shuì:”洪水hóngshuǐ还Huán没有méi yǒu治zhì好hǎo,我wǒ不bù能Néng休息xīu xi。”

第dì一次yī cì路过lù guò,他tā听到tīng dào屋wū里lǐ有yǒu哭kū声shēng。那是nà shi他tā的de妻子qī zǐ在zài生孩子shēng hái zi。他tā停tíng下xià来lái听yǐn了le一会儿yī huì r,然rán后Hòu继jì续xù走zǒu了le。

第dì二次èr cì路过lù guò,他tā的de孩子hái zi已经yǐ jīng会huì走路zǒu lù了le,跑páo到dào门口mén kǒu叫jiào他tā:”爸爸bà ba!爸爸bà ba!”禹Yǔ摸mo了le摸mo孩子hái zi的de头tóu,说shuì:”乖guai,爸爸bà ba还有hái yǒu事情shì qing要yāo做zuò。”然rán后Hòu他tā走zǒu了le。

第dì三次sān cì路过lù guò,孩子hái zi已经yǐ jīng长大zhǎng dà了le一些yī xiē。孩子hái zi问wèn:”爸爸bà ba,你nǐ什shén么má时shí候hòu回家huí jiā?”禹Yǔ看kān着zhāo孩子hái zi,眼睛yǎn jing红Hóng了le。但dàn是shì他tā说shuì:”等děng爸爸bà ba把bǎ洪水hóngshuǐ治zhì好hǎo,就jìu回Huí来lái。”

终zhong于Yú,十三shí sān年Nián后Hòu,禹Yǔ成功chéng gōng了le。洪水hóngshuǐ被bèi引向yǐn xiàng大海dà hǎi,土地tǔ dì重新chóng xīn出现chū xiàn了le,老百姓lǎo bǎi xìng可以kě yǐ种田zhòng tián、盖gǎi房子fáng zi了le。天下tiān xià太平Tài píng了le。

百姓bǎi xìng们men非常fēi cháng感gǎn激ji禹Yǔ,称chèn他tā为wéi”大禹Dà Yǔ”。舜shǔn帝dǐ也Yě非常fēi cháng敬佩jìngpèi他tā,后Hòu来lái把bǎ皇位huángwèi传chuān给gěi了le他tā。大禹Dà Yǔ成为chéng wéi了le中国Zhōng guó历lì史Shǐ上shǎng最zuì受shòu尊敬zūn jìng的de人rén之一zhī yī。

人rén们men说shuì,鲧用yòng堵dǔ的de办bàn法fǎ,失shī败bǎi了le。禹Yǔ用yòng疏shū的de办bàn法fǎ,成功chéng gōng了le。堵dǔ不如bù rú疏shū,这zhè是shì大自然dà zì rán的de道理dàolǐ,也Yě是shì做zuò人rén的de道理dàolǐ。

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

Lesson vocabulary 213 words · 10 curated by the source

WordPinyinMeaning
洪水hóngshuǐflood
治水zhìshuǐto control/tame floods
堵dǔto block/dam up
疏导shūdǎoto channel/dredge
大坝dàbàdam
倒塌dǎotāto collapse
渠道qúdàochannel/canal
敬佩jìngpèito admire/respect
皇位huángwèithrone/imperial position
道理dàolǐprinciple/reasoning
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
天下tiān xiàland under heaven; the whole world; the whole of China; realm; rule
发fāto send out; to show (one's feeling); to issue; to develop; to make a bundle of money; classifier for gunshots (rounds); hair; Taiwan pr. [fa3]
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
大水dà shuǐflood
淹yanto flood; to drown; to delay
没了méi leto be dead; not to be, or cease to exist
农田nóng tiánfarmland; cultivated land
冲chong(of water) to dash against; to infuse; to flush; to rise in the air; to collide with
走zǒuto walk; to go; to run; to move (of vehicle); to visit; to leave; to go away; to die (euph.); from; through; away (in compound verbs, such as 撤走[che4 zou3]); to change (shape, form…
房子fáng zihouse; building (single- or two-story); apartment; room; CL:棟|栋[dong4],幢[zhuang4],座[zuo4],套[tao4],間|间[jian1]
老百姓lǎo bǎi xìngordinary people; the "person in the street"; CL:個|个[ge4]
没有méi yǒuhaven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not be
地方dì fāngregion; regional (away from the central administration); local
住zhùto live; to reside; to stay; to stop; to cease; (result complement indicating firmness or a stable achieved state)
东Dōngsurname Dong
西Xīthe West; abbr. for Spain 西班牙[Xi1 ban1 ya2]; Spanish
吃chīto eat; to consume; to eat at (a cafeteria etc); to eradicate; to destroy; to absorb; to suffer (shock, injury, defeat etc); variant of 吃[chi1]
大家dà jiāeveryone; influential family; great expert
都Dūsurname Du
非常fēi chángvery; really; unusual; extraordinary
痛tòngache; pain; sorrow; deeply; thoroughly
苦kǔbitter; hardship; pain; to suffer; to bring suffering to; painstakingly
尧Yáosurname Yao; Yao or Tang Yao (c. 2200 BC), one of the Five legendary Emperors 五帝[Wu3 Di4], second son of Di Ku 帝嚳|帝喾[Di4 Ku4]
帝dǐ(bound form) emperor; sovereign; supreme deity
看到kàn dàoto see
这种zhè zhǒngthis kind of
情况qíng kuàngcircumstances; state of affairs; situation; CL:種|种[zhong3]
决定jué dìngto decide; to determine; to make up one's mind; decision (CL:個|个[ge4],項|项[xiang4])
找zhǎoto try to find; to look for; to call on sb; to find; to seek; to return; to give change
一个人yī gè rénby oneself (without assistance); alone (without company)
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…
大臣dà chénchancellor (of a monarchy); cabinet minister
们menplural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
说shuìto persuade; variant of 說|说[shuo1]
鲧
可以kě yǐcan; may; possible; able to; not bad; pretty good
于是yú shìthereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence
派pāused in 派司[pa1 si5]
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);…
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)
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…
法fǎvariant of 法[fa3]; France; French; abbr. for 法國|法国[Fa3 guo2]; Taiwan pr. [Fa4]; old variant of 法[fa3]; law
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])
水Shuǐsurname Shui; Shui ethnic group
我wǒI; me; my
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…
带领dài lǐngto guide; to lead
百姓bǎi xìngcommon people
建jiànto establish; to found; to set up; to build; to construct
造zǎoto make; to manufacture; to fabricate; party (in a lawsuit or legal agreement); classifier for crops
许多xǔ duōmany; a lot of; much
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…
拦lānto block sb's path; to flag down (a taxi)
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]
越Yuègeneric word for peoples or states of south China or south Asia at different historical periods; abbr. for Vietnam 越南
多duōmany; much; more; a lot of; too many; in excess; (after a numeral) ... odd; how (to what extent) (Taiwan pr. [duo2]); (bound form) multi-; poly-
地de-ly; structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct
九jǐunine; 9
年过nián guòover (a certain age)
还Huánsurname Huan
在zàito exist; to be alive; (of sb or sth) to be (located) at; (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress)
失shīto lose; to miss; to fail
败bǎito defeat; to lose (to an opponent); to wither
新Xīnabbr. for Xinjiang 新疆[Xin1 jiang1]; abbr. for Singapore 新加坡[Xin1 jia1 po1]; surname Xin
皇Huángsurname Huang
舜shǔnShun, a legendary sage ruler (one of the mythical kings)
生气shēng qìto get angry; to be furious; vitality; liveliness
处死chǔ sǐan execution; to put sb to death
然ráncorrect; right; so; thus; like this; -ly
后Hòusurname Hou; back; behind; rear; afterwards; after; later; post-
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…
任Rénsurname Ren
务wùaffair; business; matter; to be engaged in; to attend to; by all means
交jiāoto hand over; to deliver; to pay (money); to turn over; to make friends; (of lines) to intersect; variant of 跤[jiao1]
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)
儿子ér zison
禹YǔYu the Great (c. 21st century BC), mythical leader who tamed the floods; surname Yu
站zhànstation; to stand; to halt; to stop; branch of a company or organization; website
边biānside; edge; margin; border; boundary; CL:個|个[ge4]; simultaneously
想xiǎngto think (about); to think of; to devise; to think (that); to believe (that); to desire; to want (to); to miss (feel wistful about the absence of)
长chánglong; (bound form) length; (bound form) strong point; forte; (bound form) to be good at; (literary) surplus; spare (Taiwan pr. [zhang4])
时间shí jiān(concept of) time; (duration of) time; (point in) time
父亲fù qīnfather; also pr. [fu4 qin5]; CL:個|个[ge4]
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…
也许yě xǔperhaps; maybe
应Yīngsurname Ying; Taiwan pr. [Ying4]
该gāishould; ought to; probably; must be; to deserve; to owe; to be sb's turn to do sth; that; the above-mentioned
换huànto exchange; to change (clothes etc); to substitute; to switch; to convert (currency)
不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
而是ér shìrather
挖wato dig; to scoop out
开山kāi shānto cut into a mountain (to open a mine); to open a monastery
路Lùsurname Lu
一点yī diǎna bit; a little bit; (used in negative expressions) (not) the least bit; (after an adjective, used to form the comparative) a bit more, -er; a point (in a discussion etc); (calligr…
引向yǐn xiàngto lead to; to draw to; to steer towards
大海dà hǎisea; ocean
十三shí sānthirteen; 13
年Niánsurname Nian; grain; harvest (old); variant of 年[nian2]
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)
里lǐvariant of 裡|里[li3]; lining; interior; inside; internal; also written 裏|里[li3]; surname Li
遍biànvariant of 遍[bian4]; everywhere; all over; classifier for actions: one time
脚jiǎofoot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object); CL:雙|双[shuang1],隻|只[zhi1]; classifier for kicks
因为yīn wèibecause; owing to; on account of
长期cháng qīlong-term; for a protracted period
走路zǒu lùto walk; to go on foot; to leave; to depart; (informal) to clear off; to beat it; (of sb who gets fired or resigns) to leave the job; to get out
指甲zhǐ jiafingernail
脱tuōto shed; to take off; to escape; to get away from
落làto leave out; to be missing; to leave behind or forget to bring; to lag or fall behind
三次sān cìthird; three times; (math.) degree three, cubic (equation)
经过jīng guòto pass; to go through; process; course; CL:個|个[ge4]
自己zì jǐoneself; (attributive) one's own
家门jiā ménhouse door; family clan
口kǒumouth; classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc); classifier for bites or mouthfuls
听到tīng dàoto hear
妻子qī zǐwife and children
和héold variant of 和[he2]; surname He; (literary) harmonious (variant of 和[he2])
孩子hái zichild
声音shēng yīnsound; voice
进去jìn qùto go in
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…
治zhìto rule; to govern; to manage; to control; to harness (a river); to treat (a disease); to wipe out (a pest); to punish; to research
好hǎogood; appropriate; proper; all right!; (before a verb) easy to; (before a verb) good to; (before an adjective for exclamatory effect) so; (verb complement indicating completion); (…
能Néngsurname Neng
休息xīu xirest; to rest
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…
一次yī cìfirst; first time; once; (math.) linear (of degree one)
路过lù guòto pass by; to pass through
屋wū(bound form) house; (bound form) room
哭kūto cry; to weep
声shēngsound; voice; tone; noise; reputation; classifier for sounds
那是nà shi(coll.) of course; naturally; indeed
生孩子shēng hái zito give birth to a baby
停tíngto stop; to halt; to park (a car)
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 …
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…
一会儿yī huì ra moment; a while; in a moment; now...now...; also pr. [yi1 hui3 r5]
继jìto continue; to follow after; to go on with; to succeed; to inherit; then; afterwards
续xùto continue; to replenish
二次èr cìsecond (i.e. number two); second time; twice; (math.) quadratic (of degree two)
已经yǐ jīngalready
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…
跑páo(of an animal) to paw (the ground)
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…
门口mén kǒudoorway; gate; CL:個|个[ge4]
叫jiàoto shout; to call; to order; to ask; to be called; by (indicates agent in the passive mood); variant of 叫[jiao4]
爸爸bà ba(coll.) father; dad; CL:位[wei4]
摸moto feel with the hand; to stroke; to steal
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]
乖guai(of a child) obedient, well-behaved; shrewd; perverse; irregular
还有hái yǒuthere still remain(s); there is (or are) still; in addition
事情shì qingaffair; matter; thing; business; CL:件[jian4],樁|桩[zhuang1]
要yāo(bound form) to demand; to coerce
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…
长大zhǎng dàto grow up
一些yī xiēsome; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er
问wènto ask; to inquire
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.)
什shénwhat
么máexclamatory final particle; variant of 麼|么[me5]
时shíold variant of 時|时[shi2]; surname Shi
候hòuto wait; to inquire after; to watch; season; climate; (old) period of five days
回家huí jiāto return home
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
眼睛yǎn jingeye; CL:隻|只[zhi1],雙|双[shuang1]
红Hóngsurname Hong
等děngto wait for; to await; by the time; when; till; and so on; etc.; et al.; (bound form) class; rank; grade; (bound form) equal to; same as; (used to end an enumeration); (literary) (…
回HuíHui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims); to curve; to return; to revolve; variant of 迴|回[hui2]
终zhongend
于Yúsurname Yu; (of time or place) in; at; on; (indicating any indirect relation) to; toward; vis-à-vis; with regard to; for; (indicating a source) from; out of; (used in comparison) than; (used i…
成功chéng gōngto succeed; success; successful; fruitful
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, …
土地tǔ dìland; soil; territory; CL:片[pian4],塊|块[kuai4]
重新chóng xīnagain; once more; re-
出现chū xiànto appear; to arise; to emerge; to show up
种田zhòng tiánto farm; farming
盖gǎito cover; to build; a lid; since; approximately; surname Gai
太平Tài píngsee 太平區|太平区[Tai4 ping2 Qu1]
感gǎnto feel; to move; to touch; to affect; feeling; emotion; (suffix) sense of ~
激jito arouse; to excite; sharp; violent
称chènto fit; to match; to suit; (coll.) to have; to possess; Taiwan pr. [cheng4]
为wéias (in the capacity of); to take sth as; to act as; to serve as; to behave as; to become; to be; to do; by (in the passive voice); variant of 為|为[wei2]
大禹Dà YǔYu the Great (c. 21st century BC) mythical leader who tamed the floods
也Yěsurname Ye
传chuānto pass on; to transmit; to transfer; to conduct (electricity)
成为chéng wéito become; to turn into
中国Zhōng guóChina
历lìold variant of 曆|历[li4]; old variant of 歷|历[li4]; calendar; to experience; to undergo; to pass through; all; each; every; history
史Shǐsurname Shi
上shǎngused in 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]
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")
受shòuto receive; to accept; to suffer; subjected to; to bear; to stand; pleasant; (passive marker); (LGBT) bottom
尊敬zūn jìngto respect; to revere; to esteem; honorable; distinguished (used on formal occasions before a term of address)
人rénperson; people; CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4],名[ming2]
之一zhī yīone of (sth); one out of a multitude; one (third, quarter, percent etc)
疏shūvariant of 疏[shu1]; surname Shu
不如bù rúnot equal to; not as good as; inferior to; it would be better to
大自然dà zì ránnature (the natural world)