HSK 4 · Upper-Intermediate stories

中秋节 · The Mid-Autumn Festival

Zhōngqiū Jié — Mooncakes, the Chang'e legend, and why the same moon is a comfort.

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Every word shows its pinyin above the characters. The English translation follows each line.

农历nónglì八月bā yuè十五shíwǔshì中秋节,Zhōngqiū Jiéshì中国人Zhōngguó rénhěn重视zhòngshìde节日。jiérì

The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month is Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday Chinese people take seriously.

这一天zhè yì tiānde月亮yuèliang最圆,zuì yuán最亮。zuì liàng

On this day the moon is at its roundest and brightest.

中秋节Zhōngqiū Jiézuì重要zhòngyàode事情,shìqing就是jiùshì一家人yì jiā rén团圆。tuányuán

The most important thing about Mid-Autumn is the family being together.

不管bùguǎnzǒude多远,duō yuǎn很多人hěn duō rén都会dōu huì想办法xiǎng bànfǎ回家。huí jiā

No matter how far away they are, many people find a way to go home.

晚饭wǎnfàn以后,yǐhòu大家dàjiā桌子zhuōzi搬到bān dào院子里yuànzi lǐ或者huòzhě阳台上。yángtái shàng

After dinner, everyone moves the table out to the courtyard or the balcony.

桌上zhuō shàngfàngzhe月饼、yuèbǐng水果shuǐguǒ热茶。rè chá

On the table sit mooncakes, fruit and hot tea.

月饼yuèbǐngde味道wèidào很多,hěn duōyǒu豆沙的,dòushā deyǒu莲蓉的,liánróng de还有hái yǒu咸蛋黄的。xián dànhuáng de

Mooncakes come in many flavors: red bean paste, lotus seed paste, and salted egg yolk.

现在xiànzàihái出现chūxiànle冰淇淋bīngqílín月饼yuèbǐng巧克力qiǎokèlì月饼。yuèbǐng

These days there are even ice cream mooncakes and chocolate mooncakes.

老人lǎorén常常chángcháng一边yìbiānkàn月亮,yuèliang一边yìbiānjiǎng嫦娥Cháng'éde故事。gùshi

The old people often watch the moon while telling the story of Chang'e.

传说chuánshuō嫦娥Cháng'échīle长生不老药,chángshēng bù lǎo yàofēidàole月亮上。yuèliang shàng

Legend says Chang'e swallowed the elixir of immortality and flew up to the moon.

从此cóngcǐjiùzhùzài广寒宫里,Guǎnghán Gōng lǐ再也zài yě回不来了。huí bù lái le

From then on she lived in the Cold Palace and could never come back.

所以suǒyǐ中秋Zhōngqiūde月亮里,yuèliang lǐzǒngyǒu一点点yìdiǎndiǎn寂寞。jìmò

So in the Mid-Autumn moon there is always a little loneliness.

如果rúguǒ那天nà tiānzài外地,wàidì不要búyào难过。nánguò

If you are away from home that day, don't be sad.

因为yīnwèi家人jiārén看到kàndào的,deshì同一个tóng yí ge月亮。yuèliang

Because what you and your family see is one and the same moon.

Vocabulary in this story (95 words)

WordPinyinMeaning
农历nónglìthe lunar calendar
八月bā yuèeighth month
十五shíwǔthe fifteenth
shìis
中秋节Zhōngqiū JiéMid-Autumn Festival
中国人Zhōngguó rénChinese people
hěnvery much
重视zhòngshìvalue
de(that)
节日jiérìa holiday
这一天zhè yì tiānthis day
月亮yuèliangthe moon
最圆zuì yuánis roundest
and also
最亮zuì liàngbrightest
zuìthe most
重要zhòngyàoimportant
事情shìqingthing
就是jiùshìis
一家人yì jiā rénthe whole family
团圆tuányuánreuniting
不管bùguǎnno matter
zǒuthey have gone
de(manner)
多远duō yuǎnhow far
很多人hěn duō rénmany people
都会dōu huìwill
想办法xiǎng bànfǎfind a way
回家huí jiāto go home
晚饭wǎnfàndinner
以后yǐhòuafter
大家dàjiāeveryone
(object marker)
桌子zhuōzithe table
搬到bān dàomoves out to
院子里yuànzi lǐthe courtyard
或者huòzhěor
阳台上yángtái shàngthe balcony
桌上zhuō shàngon the table
fàngsit
zhe(ongoing)
月饼yuèbǐngmooncakes
水果shuǐguǒfruit
and
热茶rè cháhot tea
味道wèidàoflavors
很多hěn duōare many
yǒuthere are
豆沙的dòushā dered bean paste ones
莲蓉的liánróng delotus seed paste ones
还有hái yǒuand also
咸蛋黄的xián dànhuáng desalted egg yolk ones
现在xiànzàithese days
háieven
出现chūxiànhave appeared
le(past)
冰淇淋bīngqílínice cream
巧克力qiǎokèlìchocolate
老人lǎorénthe old people
常常chángchángoften
一边yìbiānwhile
kànwatching
jiǎngtelling
嫦娥Cháng'éChang'e
故事gùshithe story
传说chuánshuōlegend says
chīswallowed
长生不老药chángshēng bù lǎo yàothe elixir of immortality
fēiflew
dàoup to
月亮上yuèliang shàngthe moon
从此cóngcǐfrom then on
she
jiùthen
zhùlived
zàiin
广寒宫里Guǎnghán Gōng lǐthe Cold Palace
再也zài yěnever again
回不来了huí bù lái lecould come back
所以suǒyǐso
中秋ZhōngqiūMid-Autumn
月亮里yuèliang lǐin the moon
zǒngalways
一点点yìdiǎndiǎna little
寂寞jìmòloneliness
如果rúguǒif
那天nà tiānthat day
you
外地wàidìanother place
不要búyàodon't
难过nánguòbe sad
因为yīnwèibecause
家人jiārényour family
看到kàndàosee
同一个tóng yí geone and the same

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