Legends and ancient life Chinese vocabulary: Outside HSK

航天员在天宫里做实验。

Hángtiānyuán zài Tiāngōng lǐ zuò shíyàn.

The astronauts are doing experiments aboard Tiangong.

故事里的猴子大闹了天宫。

Gùshi lǐ de hóuzi dà nàole Tiāngōng.

In the story, the monkey caused an uproar in the heavenly palace.

人们向玉皇大帝求雨。

Rénmen xiàng Yùhuáng Dàdì qiúyǔ.

People prayed to the Jade Emperor for rain.

玉皇大帝管着天上的神仙。

Yùhuáng Dàdì guǎnzhe tiānshàng de shénxiān.

The Jade Emperor rules over the immortals in heaven.

自古嫦娥爱少年

zìgǔ cháng'é ài shàonián

since ancient times Chang'e has loved young men

这幅画画的是嫦娥。

Zhè fú huàhuà de shì cháng'é.

This painting is of Chang'e.

牛郎织女哭梁祝，同命相怜

niúlángzhīnǚ kū Liáng Zhù, tóng mìng xiānglián

the Cowherd and Weaving Girl weep for Liang and Zhu: fellow sufferers pity each other

七夕和牛郎织女的传说有关。

Qīxī hé niúlángzhīnǚ de chuánshuō yǒuguān.

The Qixi Festival is connected to the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

盘古死后，身体变成了山河。

Pángǔ sǐ hòu, shēntǐ biànchéngle shānhé.

After Pangu died, his body became the mountains and rivers.

传说女娲用黄土做出了人。

Chuánshuō nǚwā yòng huángtǔ zuòchūle rén.

Legend says Nüwa made people out of yellow clay.

孩子们很爱听女娲造人的故事。

Háizimen hěn ài tīng nǚwā zào rén de gùshi.

The children love listening to the story of Nüwa creating humans.

后羿的妻子嫦娥飞到了月亮上。

Hòuyì de qīzi cháng'é fēi dàole yuèliang shàng.

Hou Yi's wife, Chang'e, flew up to the moon.

孙悟空保护师父去西天取经。

Sūn Wùkōng bǎohù shīfu qù xītiān qǔjīng.

Sun Wukong protected his master on the journey west to fetch the scriptures.

失去金箍棒的孙悟空，有本事使不出

shīqù jīngūbàng de Sūn Wùkōng, yǒu běnshi shǐ bù chū

Sun Wukong without his golden cudgel: has skill but can't use it

八仙聚会，又说又笑

bāxiān jùhuì, yòu shuō yòu xiào

The Eight Immortals gather: talking and laughing

奶奶常给我讲八仙的故事。

Nǎinai cháng gěi wǒ jiǎng bāxiān de gùshi.

Grandma often tells me stories about the Eight Immortals.

渔民出海前，先拜龙王。

Yúmín chūhǎi qián, xiān bài Lóngwáng.

Before going out to sea, the fishermen first pay respects to the Dragon King.

古时候，渔民出海前要先拜龙王。

Gǔshíhou, yúmín chūhǎi qián yào xiān bài Lóngwáng.

In ancient times, fishermen would worship the Dragon King before going to sea.

画里的麒麟长什么样？

Huà lǐ de qílín zhǎng shénmeyàng?

What does the qilin in the painting look like?

你见过石头做的麒麟吗？

Nǐ jiànguo shítou zuò de qílín ma?

Have you ever seen a qilin made of stone?

为什么要用糖供灶神？

Wèishénme yào yòng táng gōng zàoshén?

Why do people offer sugar to the Kitchen God?

小年那天家家都拜灶神。

Xiǎo nián nàtiān jiājiā dōu bài zàoshén.

On Little New Year, every household worships the Kitchen God.

故事里的狐狸精会变成人。

Gùshi lǐ de húlijīng huì biànchéng rén.

The fox spirit in the story can turn into a person.

狐狸精真的有九条尾巴吗？

Húlijīng zhēnde yǒu jiǔ tiáo wěiba ma?

Does a fox spirit really have nine tails?

古人为了长生不老去炼丹。

Gǔrén wèile chángshēngbùlǎo qù liàndān.

People in ancient times made elixirs in pursuit of immortality.

人们希望炼丹能让自己长生不老。

Rénmen xīwàng liàndān néng ràng zìjǐ chángshēngbùlǎo.

People hoped that making elixirs would let them live forever.

他的祖先是前朝的皇族。

Tā de zǔxiān shì qiáncháo de huángzú.

His ancestors were royal kin of the previous dynasty.

皇族的孩子从小就读书。

Huángzú de háizi cóngxiǎo jiù dúshū.

Children of the imperial family studied from a young age.

书生在油灯下读书。

Shūshēng zài yóudēng xià dúshū.

The scholar is reading by the light of an oil lamp.

那位书生夜里在灯下读书。

Nà wèi shūshēng yèli zài dēng xià dúshū.

That scholar reads under a lamp at night.

油灯里的油快用完了。

Yóudēng lǐ de yóu kuài yòng wánle.

The oil in the oil lamp is almost used up.

古时候他在私塾念书。

Gǔshíhou tā zài sīshú niànshū.

In the old days, he studied at a private school.

私塾先生教孩子们写字。

Sīshú xiānsheng jiāo háizimen xiězì.

The private school teacher taught the children to write.

信使在驿站换了一匹马。

Xìnshǐ zài yìzhàn huàn le yìpǐmǎ.

The messenger changed horses at the post station.

天黑前，他赶到了驿站。

Tiānhēi qián, tā gǎndàole yìzhàn.

He reached the post station before dark.

客栈老板端来热茶。

Kèzhàn lǎobǎn duān lái rèchá.

The innkeeper brought over some hot tea.

山脚下有一家老客栈。

Shān jiǎoxià yǒu yìjiā lǎo kèzhàn.

There is an old inn at the foot of the mountain.

她奶奶年轻时在家织布。

Tā nǎinai niánqīng shí zàijiā zhībù.

Her grandmother used to weave cloth at home when she was young.

这种纱很结实，适合织布。

Zhèzhǒng shā hěn jiēshi, shìhé zhībù.

This kind of yarn is very strong and good for weaving cloth.

古时候，人们常以物易物。

Gǔshíhou, rénmen cháng yǐwùyìwù.

In ancient times, people often bartered goods for goods.

那时的人靠以物易物生活。

Nàshí de rén kào yǐwùyìwù shēnghuó.

People back then lived by barter.

古代的部落里有一位巫师。

Gǔdài de bùluò lǐ yǒu yí wèi wūshī.

In ancient times, the tribe had a wizard.

巫师在山洞里煮了一锅药。

Wūshī zài shāndòng lǐ zhǔle yì guō yào.

The wizard brewed a pot of medicine in the cave.

妃子在宫里过得很孤单。

Fēizi zài gōng lǐ guò de hěn gūdān.

The imperial concubine lived a lonely life in the palace.

那位妃子很受皇帝喜爱。

Nà wèi fēizi hěn shòu huángdì xǐ'ài.

That imperial concubine was greatly loved by the emperor.