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HSK 4 Chinese reading practice

愚公移山

yú gōng yí shān

Yu Gong Moves the Mountains

An old man takes on two mountains—and teaches China a lasting lesson about persistence.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 4
READ5 min
HANZI121
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文化
CULTURE

More than moving mountains

The phrase 愚公移山 now describes determination in the face of an enormous task. The point is not physical strength, but refusing to give up.

Key vocabulary8 words from this story
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阅读理解 · COMPREHENSION

Check your understanding

Answer three questions without looking at the English translation.

01两座大山给愚公一家带来了什么问题？
02别人笑愚公太老时，他怎么回答？
03最后是谁搬走了两座山？
0 / 3questions answered
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Chinese idiom guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about 愚公移山

What does 愚公移山 mean in English?

愚公移山 (yú gōng yí shān) literally means “the Foolish Old Man moves the mountains.” It describes determined, long-term effort against a seemingly impossible task.

When is 愚公移山 used?

Use 愚公移山 to praise people who keep working toward a difficult goal instead of giving up. For example: The villagers spent twenty years restoring the barren hills, showing the spirit of 愚公移山.

What is the pinyin for 愚公移山?

The pinyin pronunciation for 愚公移山 is “yú gōng yí shān.”