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The Wall

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The Wall

从前cóng qián有yǒu一个yī ge姓xìng王Wáng的de年轻人nián qīng rén,家里jiā lǐ很hěn有钱yǒu qián。

Once upon a time there was a young man named Wang, from a very rich family.

他tā从小cóng xiǎo什么shén me都dōu不用bù yòng做zuò,大家dà jiā都dōu叫jiào他tā小王xiǎo wáng。

Since childhood he had never had to do anything; everyone called him Xiao Wang.

小王xiǎo wáng听说tīng shuō崂山láo shān上shàng住zhù着zhe一位yī wèi道士dào shì,会huì真正的zhēn zhèng de法术fǎ shù。

Xiao Wang heard that on Mount Lao lived a Taoist who knew real magic.

他tā就jiù离开lí kāi家jiā,走了zǒu le很多hěn duō天tiān,来到lái dào山上shān shàng的de一座yī zuò庙miào里lǐ。

So he left home, walked for many days, and arrived at a temple on the mountain.

道士dào shì看了kàn le看kàn他tā,说shuō:“你nǐ怕pà吃苦chī kǔ,学xué不了bù liǎo法术fǎ shù。”

The Taoist looked him over and said, "You are afraid of hardship. You cannot learn magic."

小王xiǎo wáng马上mǎ shàng说shuō:“我wǒ不怕bù pà!什么shén me苦kǔ我wǒ都dōu能néng吃chī!”

Xiao Wang said at once, "I'm not afraid! I can bear any hardship!"

于是yú shì道士dào shì给gěi了le他tā一把yī bǎ斧头fǔ tóu,让ràng他tā每天měi tiān上山shàng shān砍kǎn柴chái。

So the Taoist gave him an axe and had him go up the mountain every day to chop firewood.

一个yī ge月yuè过去guò qù了le,小王xiǎo wáng的de手shǒu上shàng全quán是shì伤口shāng kǒu。

A month passed, and Xiao Wang's hands were covered in cuts.

他tā心里xīn li想xiǎng:“我wǒ是shì来lái学xué法术fǎ shù的de,不是bù shì来lái干活gàn huó的de!”

He thought to himself, "I came to learn magic, not to do chores!"

他tā想xiǎng回家huí jiā,可是kě shì那天nà tiān晚上wǎn shang,他tā看见了kàn jiàn le一件yī jiàn奇怪qí guài的de事shì。

He wanted to go home — but that night, he saw something strange.

道士dào shì和hé两位liǎng wèi客人kè rén坐在zuò zài屋里wū lǐ喝酒hē jiǔ,屋里wū lǐ没有méi yǒu灯dēng。

The Taoist sat drinking wine with two guests, and there was no lamp in the room.

道士dào shì把bǎ一yī张zhāng纸zhǐ剪成jiǎn chéng月亮yuè liang的de样子yàng zi,贴tiē在zài墙上qiáng shàng。

The Taoist cut a piece of paper into the shape of the moon and stuck it on the wall.

那nà张zhāng纸zhǐ忽然hū rán亮liàng了le起来qǐ lai,像xiàng真的zhēn de月亮yuè liang一样yī yàng,照亮zhào liàng了le整个zhěng gè屋子wū zi。

The paper suddenly began to glow like a real moon, lighting up the whole room.

小王xiǎo wáng吓了xià le一yī跳tiào:“这是zhè shì真的zhēn de法术fǎ shù!”

Xiao Wang was startled: "This is real magic!"

他tā决定jué dìng留下liú xià来lái,继续jì xù砍kǎn柴chái。

He decided to stay and keep chopping firewood.

又yòu过了guò le一个yī ge月yuè,他tā实在shí zài受不了shòu bù liǎo了le,就jiù去qù找zhǎo道士dào shì。

Another month passed. He truly couldn't take it anymore, so he went to the Taoist.

“师父shī fu,我wǒ不能bù néng再zài等děng了le,请教qǐng jiào我wǒ一个yī ge小xiǎo法术fǎ shù吧ba。”

"Master, I can't wait any longer. Please teach me just one small spell."

道士dào shì笑着xiào zhe问wèn他tā:“那nà你nǐ想xiǎng学xué什么shén me?”

The Taoist asked with a smile, "Then what do you want to learn?"

小王xiǎo wáng说shuō:“我wǒ想xiǎng学xué穿chuān墙qiáng。墙qiáng挡dǎng不住bù zhù我wǒ,多duō好啊hǎo a!”

Xiao Wang said, "I want to learn to walk through walls. No wall could stop me — how great would that be!"

道士dào shì教jiāo了le他tā几jǐ句jù话huà,让ràng他tā对duì着zhe墙qiáng慢慢màn màn走zǒu过去guò qù。

The Taoist taught him a few words and told him to walk slowly toward the wall.

小王xiǎo wáng闭上bì shang眼睛yǎn jing,一步yī bù一步yī bù走zǒu——真的zhēn de穿过chuān guò去了qù le!

Xiao Wang closed his eyes and walked step by step — and he really passed through!

他tā高兴gāo xìng得de跳tiào了le起来qǐ lai,马上mǎ shàng就要jiù yào回家huí jiā。

He jumped for joy and wanted to go home right away.

道士dào shì说shuō:“记住jì zhu,心xīn不bù干净gān jìng,法术fǎ shù就jiù没有méi yǒu用yòng。”

The Taoist said, "Remember: if your heart is not clean, the magic will not work."

小王xiǎo wáng回到huí dào家jiā,第一dì yī件jiàn事shì就是jiù shì叫jiào妻子qī zi来lái看kàn。

When Xiao Wang got home, the first thing he did was call his wife to watch.

“你nǐ看好kàn hǎo了le!我wǒ现在xiàn zài会huì法术fǎ shù了le!”他tā得意地dé yì de说shuō。

"Watch closely! I know magic now!" he said proudly.

他tā闭上bì shang眼睛yǎn jing,向xiàng墙qiáng跑pǎo了le过去guò qù——砰pēng!

He closed his eyes and ran at the wall — BANG!

他tā撞zhuàng在zài墙上qiáng shàng,倒dǎo在zài了le地上dì shang。

He crashed into the wall and fell to the floor.

他的tā de头上tóu shàng起qǐ了le一个yī ge大大dà dà的de包bāo。

A big bump rose up on his head.

妻子qī zi笑xiào得de站zhàn不bù起来qǐ lai:“这zhè就是jiù shì你nǐ学xué的de法术fǎ shù吗ma?”

His wife laughed so hard she couldn't stand up: "So this is the magic you learned?"

小王xiǎo wáng摸mō着zhe头tóu,心里xīn li非常fēi cháng后悔hòu huǐ。

Xiao Wang rubbed his head, full of regret.

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

Vocabulary 185 words

ChinesePinyinEnglish
从前 cóng qiánin the past; once upon a time
有 yǒuto have; there is, there are
一个 yī gea; an; one; the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc)
姓 xìngsurname; to be surnamed
王 Wángking; monarch
的 depossessive particle
年轻人 nián qīng rényoung people; youngster
家里 jiā lǐat home; inside the house
很 hěnvery
有钱 yǒu qiánwell-off; wealthy
他 tāhe; him
从小 cóng xiǎosince childhood; from a young age
什么 shén mewhat
都 dōuall; both
不用 bù yòngdon't need to
做 zuòto do; to make
大家 dà jiāeveryone
叫 jiàoto call; to be called
小王 xiǎo wángXiao Wang (nickname for someone with surname Wang)
听说 tīng shuōto hear (something said); hearsay
崂山 láo shānLaoshan district of Qingdao city 青島市|青岛市, Shandong
上 shàngup; on
住 zhùto live; to reside
着 zhe(aspect particle) indicating ongoing action
一位 yī wèiOne person (polite measure word)
道士 dào shìDaoist priest
会 huìcan; to know how to; meeting
真正的 zhēn zhèng dereal; genuine
法术 fǎ shùmagic
就 jiùthen; just; precisely
离开 lí kāito leave; to depart
家 jiāhome; family
走了 zǒu leleft; departed
很多 hěn duōMany; a lot
天 tiānday; sky
来到 lái dàoto arrive; to come to
山上 shān shàngon the mountain
一座 yī zuòone (building, mountain, etc.)
庙 miàotemple; shrine
里 lǐinside; interior; within
看了 kàn lelooked at; watched; read (completed action)
看 kànto look; to watch; to see
说 shuōto speak; to say
你 nǐyou
怕 pàto be afraid; to fear
吃苦 chī kǔto endure hardships
学 xuéto learn
不了 bù liǎono thanks (used to politely but informally decline)
马上 mǎ shàngright away; immediately
我 wǒI; me
不怕 bù pàfearless; not worried (by setbacks or difficulties); even if; even though
苦 kǔbitter; hard
能 néngcan; to be able to
吃 chīto eat
于是 yú shìas a result; consequently
给 gěito give; for, to (sb)
了 le(particle indicating completed action or change of state)
一把 yī bǎa handful; a bunch
斧头 fǔ tóuax; hatchet; measure word: 柄 (bǐng)
让 ràngto let; to allow; to cause (someone) to feel something
每天 měi tiānevery day
上山 shàng shānto climb a hill; to go to the mountains; (of silkworms) to go up bundles of straw (to spin cocoons)
砍 kǎnto chop or cut down (with a tool)
柴 cháifirewood; also a surname
月 yuèmoon; month
过去 guò qùthe past; former; previously
手 shǒuhand
全 quánall; entire
是 shìto be; correct
伤口 shāng kǒuwound; cut
心里 xīn liinside (one’s heart)
想 xiǎngto think; to want
来 láito come; to arrive
不是 bù shìno; is not; not
干活 gàn huóto work; to be employed
回家 huí jiāto return home
可是 kě shìbut; however
那天 nà tiānthat day; the other day
晚上 wǎn shangevening
看见了 kàn jiàn lesaw
一件 yī jiànone item; a piece of (something)
奇怪 qí guàistrange
事 shìmatter; thing
和 héand; with
两位 liǎng wèiTwo people (polite measure word)
客人 kè rénguest; customer
坐在 zuò zàito sit at/on/in (a location)
屋里 wū lǐin the house
喝酒 hē jiǔto drink (alcohol)
没有 méi yǒudon't have; haven't
灯 dēnglamp; light
把 bǎto hold; (structural particle indicating the object before the verb)
一 yīone
张 zhāng(measure word) for flat objects (e.g. paper); to open up; to spread
纸 zhǐpaper
剪成 jiǎn chéngcut into
月亮 yuè liangthe moon
样子 yàng ziappearance; look
贴 tiēto stick; to paste; to post; sticker
在 zàito be (located); at; in
墙上 qiáng shàngon the wall; the wall surface (location phrase)
那 nàthat; those
忽然 hū ránsuddenly; all of a sudden
亮 liàngbright; shining; clear
起来 qǐ laito rise; to get up
像 xiàngto resemble; like
真的 zhēn dereally; truly
一样 yī yàngsame
照亮 zhào liàngto illuminate; to light up; lighting
整个 zhěng gèwhole; entire; total
屋子 wū zihouse; room
吓了 xià leWas scared; got frightened
跳 tiàoto jump; to hop
这是 zhè shìThis is
决定 jué dìngto decide; decision
留下 liú xiàto leave behind; to keep
继续 jì xùto continue; to proceed
又 yòuagain; also
过了 guò leto have passed (time); after (a period has gone by)
实在 shí zàireally; truly; actually
受不了 shòu bù liǎounbearable; unable to endure
去 qùto go
找 zhǎoto look for; to seek
师父 shī fumaster; mentor (used in Taiwan)
不能 bù néngcannot; must not; should not
再 zàiagain
等 děngto wait; (after a list) and so on, etc.
请教 qǐng jiàoto ask for advice
小 xiǎosmall; little
吧 bamodal particle indicating suggestion
笑着 xiào zheSmiling; laughing (as an action)
问 wènto ask
穿 chuānto wear
墙 qiángwall
挡 dǎngto block; to obstruct
不住 bù zhù(verb complement) unable to firmly or securely (grasp, recall etc); repeatedly; continuously; constantly
多 duōmany; much
好啊 hǎo aokay, sure
教 jiāoto teach
几 jǐhow many; several; a few
句 jùsentence; clause; phrase
话 huàspeech; words
对 duìright; correct
慢慢 màn mànslowly
走 zǒuto walk; to go
闭上 bì shangto close; to shut up
眼睛 yǎn jingeye
一步 yī bùone step
穿过 chuān guòto pass through; to traverse
去了 qù lewent
高兴 gāo xìnghappy
得 deused after a verb to indicate degree
就要 jiù yàoabout to; will; on the verge of
记住 jì zhuto remember; to keep in mind; to learn by heart
心 xīnheart; mind; center; core
不 bùno; not
干净 gān jìngclean
用 yòngto use
回到 huí dàoto return to
第一 dì yīfirst; number one; primary
件 jiànitem; piece; classifier for events, clothes, etc.
就是 jiù shìexactly; simply
妻子 qī ziwife (formal)
看好 kàn hǎoto be optimistic about; to have good prospects for
现在 xiàn zàinow
得意地 dé yì deproudly
向 xiàngtoward; to
跑 pǎoto run
砰 pēng(onom.) bang; thump
撞 zhuàngto bump into; to knock against
倒 dǎoto fall; to drop
地上 dì shangon the ground; on the floor
他的 tā deHis
头上 tóu shàngoverhead; above
起 qǐto get up; to rise; up (after a verb); starting from (从…起)
大大 dà dàgreatly; enormously
包 bāobag; to wrap
笑 xiàoto laugh; to smile
站 zhànstation; to stand
这 zhèthis
吗 ma(question particle)
摸 mōto touch; to feel
头 tóuhead; top
非常 fēi chángvery; extremely
后悔 hòu huǐto regret; to feel remorse