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HSK 4 Chinese reading practice

闻鸡起舞

wén jī qǐ wǔ

Rise at Cockcrow and Practise

Two friends turn a rooster's early call into a daily promise to prepare themselves for the future.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 4
READ4 min
HANZI307
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文化
CULTURE

What does 闻鸡起舞 mean?

The account of Zu Ti waking Liu Kun at the sound of a rooster appears in the Book of Jin. 闻鸡起舞 now praises people who act promptly and work diligently toward an ambition.

Key vocabulary12 words from this story
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Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01半夜听见鸡叫以后，祖逖先做了什么？
02下雨或下雪时，两个人怎样做？
03故事中的两个人为什么能学到本领？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 闻鸡起舞

What does 闻鸡起舞 mean in English?

闻鸡起舞 (wén jī qǐ wǔ) literally means “hear the rooster and rise to practise.” It describes acting promptly and working diligently toward an ambition.

When is 闻鸡起舞 used?

Use 闻鸡起舞 (wén jī qǐ wǔ) to praise someone who responds to an aspiration with early, consistent effort. For example: He studies Chinese before breakfast every day with the spirit of 闻鸡起舞.

What is the pinyin for 闻鸡起舞?

The pinyin pronunciation for 闻鸡起舞 is “wén jī qǐ wǔ.”