很久以前,有一只怪兽,名字叫“年”。
Long, long ago, there was a monster named "Nian."
每到冬天的最后一天,它就来村子里吓人。
On the last day of every winter, it came to the village to frighten people.
人们很害怕,都躲到山上去。
The people were terrified, and everyone hid in the mountains.
有一年,一位老人来到村子。
One year, an old man came to the village.
他说:“别怕,年最怕红色和大声音。”
He said, "Don't be afraid — Nian fears red and loud noises most of all."
人们在门上贴红纸,还放鞭炮。
The people pasted red paper on their doors and set off firecrackers.
“砰!砰!”年吓得跑回山里,再也不敢来了。
"Bang! Bang!" Nian fled back into the mountains and never dared to come again.
从那天起,过年时人们都穿红衣服、贴春联、放鞭炮。
From that day on, at New Year people wear red, paste spring couplets, and set off firecrackers.
大家见面说:“新年快乐!”
When people meet, they say, "Happy New Year!"
这就是中国新年的故事。
And that is the story of Chinese New Year.
Hover a word for its pinyin & meaning; click to pin it.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 很久以前 | hěn jiǔ yǐ qián | A long time ago |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is, there are |
| 一只 | yī zhī | A measure word for animals, meaning 'one' or 'a single' |
| 怪兽 | guài shòu | rare animal; mythical animal; monster |
| 名字 | míng zi | name |
| 叫 | jiào | to call; to be called |
| 年 | nián | year |
| 每 | měi | each; every |
| 到 | dào | to arrive; to reach |
| 冬天 | dōng tiān | winter |
| 的 | de | possessive particle |
| 最后一天 | zuì hòu yī tiān | final day |
| 它 | tā | it |
| 就 | jiù | then; just; precisely |
| 来 | lái | to come; to arrive |
| 村子 | cūn zi | village |
| 里 | lǐ | inside; interior; within |
| 吓人 | xià rén | to scare; scary; frightening |
| 人们 | rén men | people |
| 很 | hěn | very |
| 害怕 | hài pà | to be afraid; scared |
| 都 | dōu | all; both |
| 躲 | duǒ | to hide; to dodge; to avoid |
| 山 | shān | mountain |
| 上去 | shàng qù | to go up |
| 一 | yī | one |
| 一位 | yī wèi | One person (polite measure word) |
| 老人 | lǎo rén | elderly person; old person |
| 来到 | lái dào | to arrive; to come to |
| 他说 | tā shuō | he says |
| 别 | bié | don't; other; do not |
| 怕 | pà | to be afraid; to fear |
| 最 | zuì | most; -est |
| 红色 | hóng sè | red (color); revolutionary |
| 和 | hé | and; with |
| 大 | dà | big; large |
| 声音 | shēng yīn | voice; sound |
| 在 | zài | to be (located); at; in |
| 门 | mén | door; gate |
| 上 | shàng | up; on |
| 贴 | tiē | to stick; to paste; to post; sticker |
| 红 | hóng | red (color) |
| 纸 | zhǐ | paper |
| 还 | hái | still; yet |
| 放鞭炮 | fàng biān pào | to set off firecrackers |
| 砰 | pēng | (onom.) bang; thump |
| 吓得 | xià de | so scared that |
| 跑 | pǎo | to run |
| 回 | huí | to go back; to answer; to return |
| 山里 | shān lǐ | in the mountains |
| 再也 | zài yě | no longer; not anymore |
| 不敢 | bù gǎn | dare not; not dare to |
| 来了 | lái le | has come; arrived |
| 从 | cóng | from |
| 那天 | nà tiān | that day; the other day |
| 起 | qǐ | to get up; to rise; up (after a verb); starting from (从…起) |
| 过年 | guò nián | to celebrate the Chinese New Year |
| 时 | shí | time; hour; period |
| 穿 | chuān | to wear |
| 衣服 | yī fu | clothes |
| 春联 | chūn lián | Spring Festival couplet (the first line of which is pasted on the right side of a doorway at New Year |
| 大家 | dà jiā | everyone |
| 见面 | jiàn miàn | to meet; to see each other |
| 说 | shuō | to speak; to say |
| 新年快乐 | xīn nián kuài lè | Happy New Year! |
| 这 | zhè | this |
| 就是 | jiù shì | exactly; simply |
| 中国 | zhōng guó | China |
| 新年 | xīn nián | New Year |
| 故事 | gù shì | narrative; story; tale |