Mandarin Chinese stories
How to Tell a Great Campfire Story
一阵响亮的声音从黑暗的树林中传来。
一阵 yi ZHEN A
响亮的 XIANG liang de loud
声音 SHENG yin sound
从 CONG from
黑暗的 HEI an de dark
树林 SHU lin woods
中 ZHONG in
传来。 CHUAN lai came.
一个男人在火堆旁讲故事。
一个 yi GE A
男人 NAN ren man
在 ZAI at
火堆旁 HUO dui pang around a fire
讲 JIANG told
故事。 GU shi stories.
人们坐得很近来听他讲。
人们 REN men People
坐得 ZUO de sat
很近 HEN jin close
来 LAI to
听 TING hear
他 TA him
讲。 JIANG speak.
他说河流发出柔和的声音。
他 TA He
说 SHUO said
河流 HE liu river
发出 FA chu made
柔和的 ROU he de soft
声音。 SHENG yin sounds.
云朵遮住了月亮。
云朵 YUN duo Clouds
遮住 ZHE zhu covered
了 le (particle)
月亮。 YUE liang moon.
每个人都认真地听着。
每个人 MEI ge ren Everyone
都 DOU all
认真地 REN zhen de closely
听着。 TING zhe listened.
好故事里有英雄面对问题。
好 HAO Good
故事 GU shi stories
里 LI in
有 YOU have
英雄 YING xiong heroes
面对 MIAN dui facing
问题。 WEN ti problems.
英雄试图解决问题。
英雄 YING xiong Heroes
试图 SHI tu try to
解决 JIE jue fix
问题。 WEN ti problems.
故事随着发展变得更加激动人心。
故事 GU shi Stories
随着 SUI zhe as
发展 FA zhan they go on
变得 BIAN de get
更加 GENG jia more
激动人心。 JI dong ren xin exciting.
描述事物的外观、声音、感觉、气味和味道。
描述 MIAO shu Describe
事物的 SHI wu de things’
外观、 WAI guan look,
声音、 SHENG yin sound,
感觉、 GAN jue feel,
气味 QI wei smell,
和 HE and
味道。 WEI dao taste.
改变你的句子长度。
改变 GAI bian Change
你的 NI de your
句子 JU zi sentence
长度。 CHANG du lengths.
这使故事进展快或慢。
这 ZHE This
使 SHI makes
故事 GU shi story
进展 JIN zhan move
快 KUAI fast
或 HUO or
慢。 MAN slow.
不要讲太多。
不要 BU yao Don’t
讲 JIANG tell
太多。 TAI duo too much.
让人们想象一些部分。
让 RANG Let
人们 REN men people
想象 XIANG xiang imagine
一些 YI xie some
部分。 BU fen parts.
讲故事时使用你的手和身体。
讲故事时 JIANG gu shi shi When talking
使用 SHI yong Use
你的 NI de your
手 SHOU hands
和 HE and
身体。 SHEN ti body.
不要只是列出事件。
不要 BU yao Don’t
只是 ZHI shi just
列出 LIE chu list
事件。 SHI jian events.
讲一个包含所有部分的真实故事。
讲 JIANG Tell
一个 yi GE a
包含 BAO han with
所有 SUO you all
部分的 BU fen de its parts
真实 ZHEN shi real
故事。 GU shi story.
Sources:
Test your comprehension
What does the man by the campfire do?
- 讲故事
- 说河流发出柔和的声音
- 唱歌
- 跳舞
What is described as being covered by clouds?
- 月亮
- 太阳
- 星星
- 地球
What makes a story more exciting as it develops?
- 讲述者的声音
- 描述事物的外观、声音、感觉、气味和味道
- 英雄试图解决问题
- 讲述的时间
What should a storyteller avoid doing?
- 让人们想象一些部分
- 讲太多
- 使用手和身体
- 讲一个真实的故事
Grammar cards for this story
Present Tense
- Example: “一个男人在火堆旁讲故事.”
- Explanation: The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening. In this example, “讲” (to tell) indicates that the man is actively telling a story at the moment.
Past Tense
- Example: “故事随着发展变得更加激动人心.”
- Explanation: The past tense is used to describe actions that have already happened. The phrase “变得” (became) suggests that the story became more exciting as it progressed, indicating that this is a completed action.
Adjectives
- Example: “好故事里有英雄面对问题.”
- Explanation: Adjectives are used to describe nouns. In this example, “好” (good) describes the noun “故事” (story), indicating that it is a quality story that features a hero.
Imperative Mood
- Example: “不要讲太多.”
- Explanation: The imperative mood is used to give commands or advice. “不要” (do not) is a command telling someone not to tell too much, indicating a suggestion for storytelling.
Complex Sentences
- Example: “让人们想象一些部分.”
- Explanation: A complex sentence contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Here, “让人们想象” (let people imagine) is the main action, while “一些部分” (some parts) provides additional information, creating a more elaborate thought.