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HSK 4 Chinese reading practice

精卫填海

jīng wèi tián hǎi

Jingwei Fills the Sea

After a storm takes the young Nüwa, she becomes the bird Jingwei and carries stones to the Eastern Sea every day.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 4
READ4 min
HANZI177
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文化
CULTURE

A myth from the Classic of Mountains and Seas

The earliest account of Jingwei appears in the Shanhaijing. In this story, 女娃 Nüwa is the name of the Yan Emperor's daughter and is not the creator goddess 女娲 Nüwa. The phrase 精卫填海 now evokes persistence in the face of an enormous task.

Key vocabulary9 words from this story
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Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01女娃是谁的女儿？
02精卫的嘴和脚分别是什么颜色？
03精卫每天用什么填东海？
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 精卫填海

What does 精卫填海 mean in English?

精卫填海 (jīng wèi tián hǎi) literally means “Jingwei fills the sea.” It describes persistent effort in the face of an enormous or seemingly impossible task.

When is 精卫填海 used?

Use 精卫填海 to praise determination that continues despite overwhelming difficulty. For example: The researchers spent decades rebuilding the lost archive with the persistence of 精卫填海.

What is the pinyin for 精卫填海?

The pinyin pronunciation for 精卫填海 is “jīng wèi tián hǎi.”