Learning Chinese through Stories

三块巧克力 有个孩子放学后，在客厅里玩篮球，不慎打落书架上的一个花瓶。孩子慌忙用胶水把碎片粘起来，胆战心惊地放回原位。 当天晚上，母亲发现花瓶有些"变化"，就问孩子："是不是你打碎了花瓶？" 孩子灵机一动，说："有一只野猫从窗外跳进来，碰倒了花瓶。"母亲很清楚，孩子在撒谎，但她没有说什么。 睡觉前，母亲从抽屉里拿出一块巧克力递给孩子说："这块巧克力奖给你。因为你运用神奇的想象力，杜撰出一只会开窗户的猫，以后，你一定可以写出好看的侦探小说。" 接着，她又在孩子手里放了一块巧克力："这块巧克力奖给你。因为你有杰出的修复能力，裂缝黏合得几乎完美无缺。" 母亲又拿出第三块巧克力，说："最后一块巧克力，代表我对你深深的歉意。作为母亲，我不应该把花瓶放在容易摔落的地方，希望你没有被砸到或者吓到。" 孩子听了，羞愧地低下了头。从此以后，他再也没有撒过一次谎。 这是比惩罚更深刻的奖励。 选自 http://www.rensheng5.com/zheligushi/id-102198.html Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories 块 kuài，measure word for candy，chocolate, meat, cookies, cake, etc. 巧克力 qiǎokèlì，noun, chocolate 放学 fàngxué，verb, get released from school 客厅 kètīng，noun, living room 不慎 bù shèn，adv, accidentally 打落 dǎ luò，verb phrase，to knock down 书架 shūjià，noun，book shelf 花瓶 huāpíng，noun，vase 慌忙 huāngmáng，adv，hurried 胶水 jiāoshuǐ，noun，glue 碎片 suìpiàn，noun，broken pieces；debris 粘 zhān，verb，to stick；to glue; to paste 胆战心惊 dǎnzhànxīnjīng，chengyu, frightened 放回 fàng huí, verb phrase, to put back... 原位 yuán wèi，noun, home position 当天 dāngtiān，time noun, that very day 变化 biànhuà, noun, change 碎 suì，verb, to break into pieces 灵机一动 língjī yīdòng, chengyu, a bright idea occurs to someone 野 yě, adj, wild; untamed 窗外 chuāngwài, noun phrase, the outside of the window 跳 tiào, verb, to jump 碰 pèng, verb, to touch; to bump 倒 dǎo, verb, to fall 清楚 qīngchǔ, verb, to know; adj, clear 撒谎 sāhuǎng, verb, to lie 抽屉 chōutì, noun, drawer 递 dì, verb, to pass 奖 jiǎng, verb, to award; noun, rewards 运用 yùnyòng, verb, to utilize 神奇 shénqí, adj, magical 想象力 xiǎngxiàng lì, noun, the ability to image; imagination 杜撰 dùzhuàn, verb, to fabricate；to make up 侦探 zhēntàn, noun, detective 小说 xiǎoshuō, noun, novel 接着 jiēzhe, conjunction, and then; after that... 杰出 Jiéchū, adj, excellent 修复 xiūfù, verb, to repair; to restore 能力 nénglì, noun, ability 裂缝 lièfèng, noun, crack 黏合 nián hé, verb, to glue together 几乎 jīhū, adv, almost 完美无缺 wánměi wúquē, chengyu, perfect 代表 dàibiǎo, verb, to symbolize; to represent 深深 shēn shēn, adj, deep 歉意 qiànyì, noun, apology 作为 zuòwéi, preposition, as... 容易 róngyì，adv, easily; adj, easy 摔落 shuāi luò, verb phrase, to fall down to the ground 希望 xīwàng, verb, to hope; noun, hope 砸 zá, verb, to hit 吓 xià, verb, to scare 羞愧 xiūkuì, adj, ashamed 低头 dītóu，verb, to bow one's head 从此以后，cóngcǐ yǐhòu, conjunction, from then on 惩罚 chéngfá, noun, punishment 深刻 shēnkè, adj, deep 奖励 jiǎnglì, noun, rewards

When a mother found her son lying to her after breaking a vase, she chose to reward him with chocolates. 三块巧克力 有个孩子放学后，在客厅里玩篮球，不慎打落书架上的一个花瓶。孩子慌忙用胶水把碎片粘起来，胆战心惊地放回原位。 当天晚上，母亲发现花瓶有些"变化"，就问孩子："是不是你打碎了花瓶？" 孩子灵机一动，说："有一只野猫从窗外跳进来，碰倒了花瓶。"母亲很清楚，孩子在撒谎，但她没有说什么。 睡觉前，母亲从抽屉里拿出一块巧克力递给孩子说："这块巧克力奖给你。因为你运用神奇的想象力，杜撰出一只会开窗户的猫，以后，你一定可以写出好看的侦探小说。" 接着，她又在孩子手里放了一块巧克力："这块巧克力奖给你。因为你有杰出的修复能力，裂缝黏合得几乎完美无缺。" 母亲又拿出第三块巧克力，说："最后一块巧克力，代表我对你深深的歉意。作为母亲，我不应该把花瓶放在容易摔落的地方，希望你没有被砸到或者吓到。" 孩子听了，羞愧地低下了头。从此以后，他再也没有撒过一次谎。 这是比惩罚更深刻的奖励。 ——选自http://www.rensheng5.com/zheligushi/id-102198.html Subscribe to our newsletter: https://goo.gl/forms/iGzDQVYToF7Rivo42 Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories

盲人摸象 有一天，四个盲人坐在树下乘凉。有个人牵着大象走过来，大声喊着："象来了，请让开一点儿！"一个盲人说"象是什么样子的？让我们摸一摸吧！"另外三个盲人也说："对，摸一摸就知道象是什么样了。"牵象的人把象拴在树上，他们就去摸。 一个盲人摸着了象的身子，就说："我知道了，象原来像一堵墙。"一个盲人摸着了象的牙齿，就说："象跟又圆又光滑的棍子一样。"第三个盲人摸着了象的腿，就说："你们俩说得都不对，象跟柱子差不多。"最后一个盲人摸到了象的尾巴，就大叫起来："你们都错了！象跟绳子一个样！" 四个盲人你争我吵，都说自己对，谁也不服谁。牵象的人对他们说："你们都没有说对。你们每个人只摸到了象的一部分，怎么能断定象是什么样子呢？" 盲人摸象比喻一件事情只能看到部分，不能看到全部。 ——引自http://www.zhwcms.com/xs/HTML/511238.html Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories 盲人 máng rén, noun, blind man 摸 mō，verb，to touch 象 xiàng, noun, elephant 乘凉 chéngliáng, verb, relax in a cool place in a hot summer day 牵 qiān, verb, to lead with a string; to take someone's hand 大声 dàshēng, adv, loudly; adj, adj 喊 hǎn, verb, to yell; to shout 让开 ràng kāi, verb phrase, get out of the way; step aside; make way 另外 lìngwài，adj, other, the rest of...; conjuction, additionally 拴 shuān, verb, to tie；to fasten 身子 shēnzi，noun，body 堵 dǔ，measure word for wall 墙 qiáng，noun，wall 牙齿 yáchǐ，noun，teeth 圆 yuán，adj，round 滑 huá，adj，smooth 又…又… yòu…yòu… ，this sentence pattern is used to connect two parallel adjectives 棍子 gùnzi，noun，stick 俩 liǎ，pronoun，two people 柱子 zhùzi，noun，pillar 差不多 chàbùduō，adj，similar；alike 尾巴 wěibā，noun，tail 错 cuò，adj，wrong 绳子 shéngzi，noun，rope 你争我吵 nǐ zhēng wǒ chǎo，chengyu，argue with one another 服 fú，verb， get convinced by... 部分 bùfen, noun, part(s) 断定 duàndìng，verb，to assert 比喻 bǐyù，verb, to make analogy of 全部 quánbù，noun，the whole

This is a story of four blind men, who have never heard about an elephant before, learn about what the elephant looks like by touching it. The moral is that people tend to "project their partial experiences as the whole truth, ignore other people's partial experiences". 盲人摸象 有一天***，四个盲人坐在树下乘凉***。有个人牵着大象走过来***，大声喊着*****："象来了***，请让开一点儿！"一个盲人说"象是什么样子的？让我们摸一摸吧！"另外三个盲人也说****："对****，摸一摸就知道象是什么样了*****。"牵象的人把象拴在树上****，他们就去摸****。 一个盲人摸着了象的身子****，就说*****："我知道了*****，象原来像一堵墙***。"一个盲人摸着了象的牙齿***，就说*****："象跟又圆又光滑的棍子一样***。"第三个盲人摸着了象的腿*****，就说***："你们俩说得都不对***，象跟柱子差不多***。"最后一个盲人摸到了象的尾巴*****，就大叫起来****："你们都错了！象跟绳子一个样！" 四个盲人你争我吵***，都说自己对*****，谁也不服谁****。牵象的人对他们说***："你们都没有说对***。你们每个人只摸到了象的一部分***，怎么能断定象是什么样子呢？" 盲人摸象比喻一件事情只能看到部分，不能看到全部。 ——引自http://www.zhwcms.com/xs/HTML/511238.html Subscribe to our newsletter: https://goo.gl/forms/iGzDQVYToF7Rivo42 Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories

高山流水 春秋时期，有个叫俞伯牙的人，琴弹得非常好。可惜没人了解他的琴声，这让他觉得很郁闷。 有一次，俞伯牙奉晋国国君的命令，到南方的楚国办事。一天晚上，他来到汉阳江口，船夫把船停在了江边，俞伯牙见明月当空，就弹起了琴。琴声引来了一位叫钟子期的樵夫，他对俞伯牙的演奏十分欣赏。于是，两人谈起了音乐，这一谈非常投机，大有相见恨晚之意。俞伯牙弹了一曲，钟子期称赞道："大人志在高山。"俞伯牙又弹了一曲，钟子期又说："大人志在流水。"俞伯牙见他精通乐理，知音难得，便与他结为兄弟。临别时约定明年中秋再聚会。 第二年，伯牙如约来访子期。一路上，伯牙兴奋不已，总觉得船走得太慢。谁知上岸一打听，子期竟在数月前病逝了。伯牙伤心万分，跌跌撞撞地来到钟子期的墓前，哀伤地弹完一曲，双手举琴向祭台上摔去，说："子期已经不在了，我还弹琴给谁听呢？"从那以后，俞伯牙再也不弹琴了。 这就是"高山流水"这句成语的由来，后来常常用来比喻知音难觅。 ——选自http://www.3kid.net/docs/0116/1233869685.htm Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories 流水 liúshuǐ, noun phrase, flowing water 春秋 Chūn Qiū,noun, 771-476 BC in Chinese history 时期 shíqī, noun, period;era 琴 qín, noun, piano 弹 tán，to play (the piano, violin, guita, etc.) 可惜 kěxī, adv, unfortunately 了解 liǎojiě, verb, to understand; to know 郁闷 yùmèn, adj, depressed 奉……命令 fèng……mìnglìng, verb phrase, act under orders of... 晋国 Jìn guó, the country of Jin, the province of Shanxi now 国君 guójūn, noun, emperor 楚国 Chǔ guó, the country of Chu, includes the current Hubei, parts of Hunan, Chongqing, Henan, Guangdong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and so on. 办事 bànshì, verb, to handle affairs 汉阳 hànyáng, place name, nearby Wuhan, Hubei 江 jiāng, noun, river 船夫 chuánfū, noun, the boatman 明月当空 míngyuè dàngkōng, chengyu, the bright moon in on 引来 yǐn lái, verb, to attract someone to come 樵夫 qiáo fū, noun, woodcutter 演奏 yǎnzòu, verb, to play music; noun, the music played by someone 欣赏 xīnshǎng, verb, to appreciate; to adore 投机 tóujī, adj, getting along like soulmates 相见恨晚 xiāng jiàn hèn wǎn, chengyu, regret not to have known someone before 称赞 chēngzàn, verb, to praise; to compliment 精通 jīngtōng，verb，to be proficient in 乐理 yuèlǐ, noun, the knowledge of music 知音 zhīyīn, noun, soulmate 难得 nándé, adj, hard to come by; rare 结为 jié wéi, verb, to become couple, brothers, sister after a ceremony 临别 línbié, time phrase, on parting; facing seperation 约定 yuēdìng, verb, to arrange an appointment; noun, promise 聚会 jùhuì, noun, reunion 如约 rúyuē, verb, as promised 访 fǎng, verb, to visit 兴奋不已 xīngfèn bùyǐ, chengyu, excited; hyper 打听 dǎtīng, verb, to inquire about 竟 jìng, adv, unexpectedly 数月 shù yuè, noun phrase, a few months 病逝 bìngshì, verb phrase, to get sick and die 万分 wànfēn, adv, extremely 跌跌撞撞 diēdiēzhuàngzhuàng, chengyu, stagger along （坟）墓 (fén) mù, noun, tomb 哀伤 āishāng, adj, sad 双手 shuāngshǒu, noun phrase, a pair of hands 举 jǔ, verb, to raise up 祭台 jì tái, noun, altar in front of the tomb 摔 shuāi, verb, to throw and break 由来 yóulái, noun, origin 难觅 nán mì, adj, hard to find

According to Qin Shi, Liezi said: "Bo Ya was good at playing the qin. Zhong Ziqi was good at listening to the qin. When Bo Ya's will was towards high mountains in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, 'How towering like Mount Tai!' When Bo Ya's will was towards flowing water in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, 'How vast are the rivers and oceans!' Whatever Bo Ya thought of Ziqi would never fail to understand. Bo Ya said, 'Amazing! Your heart and mine are the same!' When Ziqi died, Bo Ya broke the strings [of his qin] and vowed never to play [the qin] again. Thus, there was the melody of High Mountains Flowing Water." This Chengyu story demonstrates the Chinese ideal of friendship. 高山流水 春秋时期，有个叫俞伯牙的人，琴弹得非常好。可惜没人了解他的琴声，这让他觉得很郁闷。 有一次，俞伯牙奉晋国国君的命令，到南方的楚国办事。一天晚上，他来到汉阳江口，船夫把船停在了江边，俞伯牙见明月当空，就弹起了琴。琴声引来了一位叫钟子期的樵夫，他对俞伯牙的演奏十分欣赏。于是，两人谈起了音乐，这一谈非常投机，大有相见恨晚之意。俞伯牙弹了一曲，钟子期称赞道："大人志在高山。"俞伯牙又弹了一曲，钟子期又说："大人志在流水。"俞伯牙见他精通乐理，知音难得，便与他结为兄弟。临别时约定明年中秋再聚会。 第二年，伯牙如约来访子期。一路上，伯牙兴奋不已，总觉得船走得太慢。谁知上岸一打听，子期竟在数月前病逝了。伯牙伤心万分，跌跌撞撞地来到钟子期的墓前，哀伤地弹完一曲，双手举琴向祭台上摔去，说："子期已经不在了，我还弹琴给谁听呢？"从那以后，俞伯牙再也不弹琴了。 这就是"高山流水"这句成语的由来，后来常常用来比喻知音难觅。 ——选自http://www.3kid.net/docs/0116/1233869685.htm Subscribe to our newsletter: https://goo.gl/forms/iGzDQVYToF7Rivo42 Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories

Halloween is just around the corner. Learn the most popular common sayings about ghost in Chinese now! 1. 鬼才信呢！Guǐ cái xìn ne! 2. 白天不做亏心事，半夜不怕鬼敲门。 Báitiān bú zuò kuīxīn shì, bànyè bú pà guǐ qiāo mén. 3. 有钱能使鬼推磨。Yǒu qián néng shǐ guǐ tuī mò. 4. 鬼迷心窍 Guǐmíxīnqiào 5. 鬼鬼祟祟 Guǐguǐsuìsuì 6. 爱哭鬼 Ài kū guǐ 7. 小气鬼 xiǎoqì guǐ Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories

亡 wáng, verb, to die 补 bǔ，verb，to repair 牢 láo，noun, pen; fold; prison 圈 juàn, noun, pen;fold 准备 zhǔnbèi，verb, to prepare 放羊 fàngyáng，verb phrase, to herd sheep 发现 fāxiàn, verb, to find out 破 pò, verb, to break; adj, broken 窟窿 kūlong, noun, hole 夜间 yèjiān，noun, night 钻 zuān，verb, to go in through a small entrance 叼 diāo，verb, to hold in the mouth 邻居 línjū，noun, neighbor 劝告 quàngào, verb, to urge；noun, advice 修 xiū , verb, to repair 堵 dǔ，verb, to block 丢 diū，verb, to lose; adj, lost 接受 jiēshòu，verb, to accept 后悔 hòuhuǐ，adj, regretful 当初 dāngchū, time noun, back then 于是 yúshì, conjunction word, so 结结实实 jiējiēshíshí, adj, solid; edurable; sturdy 从此 cóngcǐ，conjunction word, since then Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories

Chinese Shepard learned his lesson of fixing his mistake immediately after he lost two sheep. 亡羊补牢 从前，有个人养了一圈羊。一天早上他准备出去放羊，发现少了一只。原来羊圈破了个窟窿。夜间狼从窟窿里钻进来，把羊叼走了。 邻居劝告他说："赶快把羊圈修一修，堵上那个窟窿吧！" 他说："羊已经丢了，还修羊圈干什么呢？"没有接受邻居的劝告。 第二天早上，他准备出去放羊，到羊圈里一看，发现又少了一只羊。原来狼又从窟窿里钻进来，把羊叼走了。 他很后悔当初没有接受邻居的劝告，就赶快堵上了那个窟窿，把羊圈修补得结结实实。从此，他的羊再也没有被狼叼走了。 Subscribe to our newsletter: https://goo.gl/forms/iGzDQVYToF7Rivo42 Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories

（边）塞 (biān) sài，noun, frontier fortress 翁 wēng，noun, old man 失（去）shī (qù)，verb, to lose 焉 yān，adv, how? 福 fú, noun, blessing 穷 qióng，adj, poor 独子 dúzǐ，noun, the only son 匹 pǐ，measureword for horse and cloth 心爱 xīn'ài，adj, beloved 逃 táo，verb, to escape 马厩 mǎjiù，noun, stables 附近 fùjìn, noun, nearby places 山麓 shānlù, noun phrase, the foot of a mountain 邻人 lín rén，noun, neighbor(s) 同情 tóngqíng，verb, to sympathize 不幸 búxìng，adj, unfortunate 纷纷 fēnfēn，adv, one after another 安慰 ānwèi，verb, to comfort 却 què，but (always follows the subject) 果然 guǒrán， conjunction, as expected; sure enough 同时 tóngshí，conjunction, at the same time 野 yě，adj, wild 镇 zhèn，noun, town 恭喜 gōngxǐ，verb, to congratulate 运气 yùnqì，noun, luck 犹 yóu，adv, still 不小心 bù xiǎoxīn，adv, by accident 摔 shuāi， verb, to fall 竟（然）jìng (rán), adv, unexpectedly 跌 diē, verb, to fall 断 duàn, verb, to broke into half 瘸子 quézi，noun, cripple 意外 yìwài，noun, accident 跛子 bǒzi，noun, cripple 事隔不久 shì gé bùjiǔ，soon afterwards 征召 zhēngzhào，verb, to recruit 健壮 jiànzhuàng，adj, healthy and strong 青年 qīngnián, noun, youth; young man 战场 zhànchǎng，noun, battlefield 打仗 dǎzhàng，verb, to fight (in war) 输 shū，verb, to lose (in a game, war, etc.) 士兵 shìbīng, noun, soldiers 阵亡 zhènwáng，verb, to be killed in the war 村子 cūnzi，noun, village 唯一 wéiyī，adj, the only 幸存 xìngcún adj, survivable; verb, to survive after an accident, natural disaster, war, etc. 年轻 niánqīng, adj, young 跛脚 bǒjiǎo，adj, lame 残废 cánfèi，adj, handicapped 躲过一劫 duǒguò yì jié，verb, to be saved by the bell Support us through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learningchinesethroughstories