Some language stuff
If you’re brand new to Chinese reading, this is a good introduction to some common grammar.
又 yòu [adj.] 又 yòu [adj.] – In English, when we use two words to describe something, we usually just separate them with “and”, like “big and round”, “bright and shiny”. But in Chinese, they can sometimes use 又 in front of both adjectives, like this: “又 big 又 round” or “又 bright 又 shiny”. This phrasing is used several times here.
着 zhe – I’ve covered the use of this character in another beginner post. It has several meanings, but in this paragraph, it basically just means “-ing”, as in walk-ing, tak-ing, runn-ing.
只好 zhǐ hǎo – Meaning to be forced to, to have no other choice but to
Want something easier?
Du Chinese has a big catalog of easy HSK 1 and HSK 2 texts for ultra-beginners. There are quite a few free practice lessons, but CRP readers get 10% off on paid accounts using the discount code CRP10.
小猴子掰玉米
有一天，一只小猴子下山来。它走到一块玉米地里，看见玉米长得又大又多，非常高兴，就偷了一个，拿着往前走。小猴子拿着玉米，走到一棵桃树下。它看见树上的桃子又大又红，非常高兴，就扔了玉米去摘桃子。小猴子拿着几个桃子，走到一片瓜地里。它看见西瓜又大又圆，非常高兴，就扔了桃子去摘西瓜。小猴子拿着一个大西瓜往回走。走着走着，看见一只小兔子，真可爱。它非常高兴，就扔了西瓜去追小兔。小兔跑进树林里，不见了。小猴子只好空着手回家去。
1 reply on “Children’s Story: 《小猴子偷玉米》Monkey Steals Some Corn”
Interesting ending