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Chinese folklore

民间故事

Wisdom, courage, and wonder passed from one generation to the next.

62 stories
STORY 01年
HSK 4 · 3 questions

年兽的故事

The Nian Beast

7 min207 HanziRead →
STORY 03山
HSK 4 · 3 questions

愚公移山

Yu Gong Moves the Mountains

5 min121 HanziRead →
STORY 05笔
HSK 4 · 3 questions

神笔马良

Ma Liang and the Magic Paintbrush

6 min144 HanziRead →
STORY 06缘
HSK 4 · 3 questions

白蛇传

The Legend of the White Snake

9 min167 HanziRead →
STORY 08兔
HSK 4 · 3 questions

守株待兔

Waiting by the Tree for Rabbits

5 min119 HanziRead →
STORY 09缸
HSK 4 · 3 questions

司马光砸缸

Sima Guang Breaks the Water Vat

5 min117 HanziRead →
STORY 13城
HSK 4 · 3 questions

孟姜女哭长城

Meng Jiangnü Weeps at the Great Wall

8 min156 HanziRead →
STORY 14螺
HSK 5 · 3 questions

田螺姑娘

The Snail Maiden

7 min159 HanziRead →
STORY 17寿
HSK 1 · 3 questions

一碗长寿面

A Bowl of Birthday Noodles

2 min56 HanziRead →
STORY 19井
HSK 2 · 3 questions

井底之蛙

The Frog in the Well

3 min80 HanziRead →
STORY 20虎
HSK 2 · 3 questions

狐假虎威

The Fox Borrows the Tiger’s Might

3 min83 HanziRead →
STORY 21月
HSK 2 · 3 questions

猴子捞月

The Monkeys Fish for the Moon

3 min72 HanziRead →
STORY 22羊
HSK 3 · 3 questions

亡羊补牢

Mend the Pen After Losing a Sheep

3 min120 HanziRead →
STORY 23蛇
HSK 3 · 3 questions

画蛇添足

Drawing Legs on a Snake

3 min102 HanziRead →
STORY 24剑
HSK 3 · 3 questions

刻舟求剑

Marking the Boat to Find a Sword

3 min112 HanziRead →
STORY 27河
HSK 2 · 3 questions

小马过河

The Little Horse Crosses the River

3 min78 HanziRead →
STORY 28水
HSK 2 · 3 questions

乌鸦喝水

The Crow Drinks Water

2 min56 HanziRead →
STORY 29铃
HSK 3 · 3 questions

掩耳盗铃

Covering One's Ears While Stealing a Bell

3 min70 HanziRead →
STORY 30象
HSK 3 · 3 questions

曹冲称象

Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant

4 min113 HanziRead →
STORY 31盾
HSK 3 · 3 questions

自相矛盾

The Spear and the Shield

4 min158 HanziRead →
STORY 32琴
HSK 3 · 3 questions

对牛弹琴

Playing the Lute to a Cow

4 min165 HanziRead →
STORY 33象
HSK 4 · 3 questions

盲人摸象

The Blind Men and the Elephant

5 min227 HanziRead →
STORY 34竽
HSK 4 · 3 questions

滥竽充数

The Man Who Pretended to Play

5 min207 HanziRead →
STORY 35苗
HSK 3 · 3 questions

拔苗助长

Pulling Seedlings to Help Them Grow

4 min168 HanziRead →
STORY 36龙
HSK 3 · 3 questions

叶公好龙

Lord Ye Loves Dragons

4 min164 HanziRead →
STORY 37栗
HSK 3 · 3 questions

朝三暮四

Three in the Morning, Four at Night

3 min120 HanziRead →
STORY 38马
HSK 4 · 3 questions

塞翁失马

The Old Man Loses His Horse

5 min195 HanziRead →
STORY 39弓
HSK 4 · 3 questions

杯弓蛇影

The Snake Reflection in the Cup

5 min191 HanziRead →
STORY 40吒
HSK 4 · 3 questions

哪吒闹海

Nezha Conquers the Sea

5 min524 HanziRead →
STORY 41悟
HSK 4 · 3 questions

大闹天宫

Havoc in Heaven

8 min655 HanziRead →
STORY 42兰
HSK 4 · 3 questions

木兰从军

Mulan Joins the Army

7 min608 HanziRead →
STORY 54睛
HSK 2 · 3 questions

画龙点睛

Adding the Eyes to the Dragon

3 min157 HanziRead →
STORY 55辕
HSK 3 · 3 questions

南辕北辙

Driving North to Go South

3 min166 HanziRead →
STORY 56针
HSK 3 · 3 questions

铁杵成针

Grinding an Iron Rod into a Needle

4 min173 HanziRead →
STORY 67虎
HSK 3 · 3 questions

与虎谋皮

Asking a Tiger for Its Skin

3 min173 HanziRead →
STORY 68胆
HSK 4 · 3 questions

卧薪尝胆

Sleeping on Brushwood and Tasting Gall

4 min215 HanziRead →
STORY 69伥
HSK 4 · 3 questions

为虎作伥

Helping the Tiger Hunt

4 min278 HanziRead →
STORY 72梨
HSK 2 · 3 questions

孔融让梨

Kong Rong Shares the Pears

3 min125 HanziRead →
STORY 73狼
HSK 4 · 3 questions

东郭先生和狼

Mr. Dongguo and the Wolf

5 min228 HanziRead →
STORY 78信
HSK 3 · 3 questions

曾子杀猪

Zengzi Kills the Pig

3 min143 HanziRead →
STORY 80马
HSK 4 · 3 questions

田忌赛马

Tian Ji’s Horse Racing Strategy

4 min204 HanziRead →
STORY 102挂
HSK 4 · 3 questions

挂羊头卖狗肉

Hang a Sheep’s Head and Sell Dog Meat

3 min231 HanziRead →
STORY 103珠
HSK 3 · 3 questions

买椟还珠

Buy the Box and Return the Pearl

3 min222 HanziRead →
STORY 108虎
HSK 3 · 3 questions

三人成虎

Three People Make a Tiger

4 min318 HanziRead →
STORY 109争
HSK 4 · 3 questions

鹬蚌相争

The Snipe and the Clam

5 min379 HanziRead →
STORY 110熟
HSK 4 · 3 questions

熟能生巧

Practice Makes Perfect

4 min317 HanziRead →
STORY 111弓
HSK 4 · 3 questions

惊弓之鸟

The Bird Startled by the Bow

4 min317 HanziRead →
STORY 112兵
HSK 4 · 3 questions

纸上谈兵

War on Paper

6 min521 HanziRead →
STORY 113履
HSK 4 · 3 questions

郑人买履

The Zheng Man Who Bought Shoes

3 min220 HanziRead →
STORY 114颦
HSK 4 · 3 questions

东施效颦

Dongshi Imitates a Frown

3 min243 HanziRead →
STORY 115驴
HSK 5 · 3 questions

黔驴技穷

The Donkey of Guizhou

4 min341 HanziRead →
STORY 116忧
HSK 4 · 3 questions

杞人忧天

The Man Who Worried the Sky Would Fall

4 min298 HanziRead →
STORY 117鸣
HSK 4 · 3 questions

一鸣惊人

A Single Cry That Amazed the World

4 min337 HanziRead →
STORY 118齿
HSK 5 · 3 questions

唇亡齿寒

When the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Grow Cold

5 min311 HanziRead →
STORY 119退
HSK 5 · 3 questions

退避三舍

Retreat Three She

6 min423 HanziRead →
STORY 120荐
HSK 5 · 3 questions

毛遂自荐

Mao Sui Recommends Himself

7 min477 HanziRead →
STORY 125箭
HSK 4 · 3 questions

一箭双雕

Two Eagles with One Arrow

4 min301 HanziRead →
STORY 126舞
HSK 4 · 3 questions

闻鸡起舞

Rise at Cockcrow and Practise

4 min307 HanziRead →
STORY 127梅
HSK 3 · 3 questions

望梅止渴

Quenching Thirst with Thoughts of Plums

2 min192 HanziRead →
STORY 128步
HSK 3 · 3 questions

邯郸学步

Learning to Walk in Handan

2 min198 HanziRead →
STORY 130斧
HSK 4 · 3 questions

疑邻盗斧

Suspecting the Neighbor’s Son

1 min200 HanziRead →
STORY 131桂
HSK 4 · 3 questions

吴刚伐桂

Wu Gang and the Moon Tree

1 min163 HanziRead →