↶ Graded Readers

The Nian Monster (年兽)

↶ HSK 2 reading practice

The Nian Monster (年兽)

很久以前hěn jiǔ yǐ qián,有yǒu一只yī zhī怪兽guài shòu,名字míng zi叫jiào“年nián”。

Long, long ago, there was a monster named "Nian."

每měi到dào冬天dōng tiān的de最后一天zuì hòu yī tiān,它tā就jiù来lái村子cūn zi里lǐ吓人xià rén。

On the last day of every winter, it came to the village to frighten people.

人们rén men很hěn害怕hài pà,都dōu躲duǒ到dào山shān上去shàng qù。

The people were terrified, and everyone hid in the mountains.

有yǒu一yī年nián,一位yī wèi老人lǎo rén来到lái dào村子cūn zi。

One year, an old man came to the village.

他说tā shuō:“别bié怕pà,年nián最zuì怕pà红色hóng sè和hé大dà声音shēng yīn。”

He said, "Don't be afraid — Nian fears red and loud noises most of all."

人们rén men在zài门mén上shàng贴tiē红hóng纸zhǐ,还hái放鞭炮fàng biān pào。

The people pasted red paper on their doors and set off firecrackers.

“砰pēng!砰pēng!”年nián吓得xià de跑pǎo回huí山里shān lǐ,再也zài yě不敢bù gǎn来了lái le。

"Bang! Bang!" Nian fled back into the mountains and never dared to come again.

从cóng那天nà tiān起qǐ,过年guò nián时shí人们rén men都dōu穿chuān红hóng衣服yī fu、贴tiē春联chūn lián、放鞭炮fàng biān pào。

From that day on, at New Year people wear red, paste spring couplets, and set off firecrackers.

大家dà jiā见面jiàn miàn说shuō:“新年快乐xīn nián kuài lè!”

When people meet, they say, "Happy New Year!"

这zhè就是jiù shì中国zhōng guó新年xīn nián的de故事gù shì。

And that is the story of Chinese New Year.

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

Vocabulary 70 words

ChinesePinyinEnglish
很久以前 hěn jiǔ yǐ qiánA long time ago
有 yǒuto have; there is, there are
一只 yī zhīA measure word for animals, meaning 'one' or 'a single'
怪兽 guài shòurare animal; mythical animal; monster
名字 míng ziname
叫 jiàoto call; to be called
年 niányear
每 měieach; every
到 dàoto arrive; to reach
冬天 dōng tiānwinter
的 depossessive particle
最后一天 zuì hòu yī tiānfinal day
它 tāit
就 jiùthen; just; precisely
来 láito come; to arrive
村子 cūn zivillage
里 lǐinside; interior; within
吓人 xià rénto scare; scary; frightening
人们 rén menpeople
很 hěnvery
害怕 hài pàto be afraid; scared
都 dōuall; both
躲 duǒto hide; to dodge; to avoid
山 shānmountain
上去 shàng qùto go up
一 yīone
一位 yī wèiOne person (polite measure word)
老人 lǎo rénelderly person; old person
来到 lái dàoto arrive; to come to
他说 tā shuōhe says
别 biédon't; other; do not
怕 pàto be afraid; to fear
最 zuìmost; -est
红色 hóng sèred (color); revolutionary
和 héand; with
大 dàbig; large
声音 shēng yīnvoice; sound
在 zàito be (located); at; in
门 méndoor; gate
上 shàngup; on
贴 tiēto stick; to paste; to post; sticker
红 hóngred (color)
纸 zhǐpaper
还 háistill; yet
放鞭炮 fàng biān pàoto set off firecrackers
砰 pēng(onom.) bang; thump
吓得 xià deso scared that
跑 pǎoto run
回 huíto go back; to answer; to return
山里 shān lǐin the mountains
再也 zài yěno longer; not anymore
不敢 bù gǎndare not; not dare to
来了 lái lehas come; arrived
从 cóngfrom
那天 nà tiānthat day; the other day
起 qǐto get up; to rise; up (after a verb); starting from (从…起)
过年 guò niánto celebrate the Chinese New Year
时 shítime; hour; period
穿 chuānto wear
衣服 yī fuclothes
春联 chūn liánSpring Festival couplet (the first line of which is pasted on the right side of a doorway at New Year
大家 dà jiāeveryone
见面 jiàn miànto meet; to see each other
说 shuōto speak; to say
新年快乐 xīn nián kuài lèHappy New Year!
这 zhèthis
就是 jiù shìexactly; simply
中国 zhōng guóChina
新年 xīn niánNew Year
故事 gù shìnarrative; story; tale