Jingwei fills the sea

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 8 About 14 minutes

精卫填海

Jīngwèi tián hǎi

Story

，“”，、。
Zhōngguó yǒu yì běn hěn gǔlǎo de shū, jiào“ Shānhǎijīng”, lǐmiàn jì zhe gèzhǒng qíguài de shān, hǎi hé shénshòu.
There is a very ancient Chinese book called the Classic of Mountains and Seas, which records all kinds of strange mountains, seas and mythical beasts.
Words in this sentence
中国 Zhōngguó
China Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
本 běn
(measure word for books) Dictionary
很 hěn
very Dictionary
古老 gǔlǎo
ancient Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
书 shū
book Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
山海经 Shānhǎijīng
the Classic of Mountains and Seas Dictionary
里面 lǐmiàn
inside Dictionary
记 jì
to remember Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
各种 gèzhǒng
all kinds of Dictionary
奇怪 qíguài
strange Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
山 shān
mountain Dictionary
海 hǎi
sea Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
神兽 shénshòu
mythical beast Dictionary
，，，，，，：“！！”
shū lǐ shuō, yǒu yí zuò Fājiū Shān, shān shàng zhù zhe yì zhǒng xiǎo niǎo, tóu shàng yǒu huāwén, zuǐ shì bái de, jiǎo shì hóng de, jiào qǐlai xiàng zài hǎn zìjǐ de míngzi:“ Jīngwèi! Jīngwèi!”
It says that on Mount Fajiu there lives a small bird with a patterned head, a white beak and red feet, whose cry sounds as if it is calling its own name: "Jingwei! Jingwei!"
Words in this sentence
书 shū
book Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
说 shuō
to say, to speak Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
座 zuò
(measure word for temples, mountains) Dictionary
发鸠山 Fājiū Shān
Mount Fajiu
山 shān
mountain Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
住 zhù
to stay, to live Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
种 zhǒng
kind, type Dictionary
小 xiǎo
small, little, young Dictionary
鸟 niǎo
bird Dictionary
头 tóu
head Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
花纹 huāwén
pattern Dictionary
嘴 zuǐ
mouth Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
白 bái
white Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
脚 jiǎo
foot, feet Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
红 hóng
red Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
起来 qǐlai
(starting to …) Dictionary
像 xiàng
to look like Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
喊 hǎn
to shout Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
，。
zhè zhī niǎo yuánlái shì tàiyáng shén Yándì zuì xiǎo de nǚ'ér, míngzi jiào Nǚwá.
The bird was once the youngest daughter of the sun god Yandi, and her name was Nüwa.
Words in this sentence
这 zhè
this Dictionary
只 zhī
(measure word for animals and some objects) Dictionary
鸟 niǎo
bird Dictionary
原来 yuánlái
so it turns out Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
太阳 tàiyáng
sun Dictionary
神 shén
magic, divine Dictionary
炎帝 Yándì
the Flame Emperor (name) Dictionary
最 zuì
most Dictionary
小 xiǎo
small, little, young Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
女儿 nǚ'ér
daughter Dictionary
名字 míngzi
name Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
女娃 Nǚwá
Nüwa, Yandi's daughter (name) Dictionary
。，，，，。
Nǚwá cóngxiǎo jiù xiàngwǎng dàhǎi. yǒu yì tiān, tā yí gè rén huá zhe xiǎochuán qù Dōng Hǎi wán, méi xiǎngdào tūrán qǐ le dà fēng, xiǎochuán bèi jùlàng dǎfān, tā zài yě méiyǒu huílai.
From childhood Nüwa longed for the sea. One day she rowed alone out onto the Eastern Sea to play; unexpectedly a gale blew up, a huge wave overturned the boat, and she never came back.
Words in this sentence
女娃 Nǚwá
Nüwa, Yandi's daughter (name) Dictionary
从小 cóngxiǎo
since childhood Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
向往 xiàngwǎng
to long for Dictionary
大海 dàhǎi
the sea Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
一个人 yí gè rén
alone, on one's own Dictionary
划 huá
to row Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
小船 xiǎochuán
small boat Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
东海 Dōng Hǎi
the Eastern Sea Dictionary
玩 wán
to play Dictionary
没 méi
not (in the past) Dictionary
想到 xiǎngdào
to think of, to expect Dictionary
突然 tūrán
suddenly Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
风 fēng
wind Dictionary
小船 xiǎochuán
small boat Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
巨浪 jùlàng
huge wave
打翻 dǎfān
to overturn Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
再 zài
again, any more Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
回来 huílai
to come back Dictionary
。，，，。
tā de línghún huàzuò le Jīngwèi niǎo. cóng nà tiān qǐ, tā měitiān cóng xīshān xián lái yì gēn shùzhī huò yí kuài xiǎo shítou, fēi dào Dōng Hǎi shàng, bǎ tā rēng jìn hǎi lǐ.
Her soul became the Jingwei bird. From that day on, every day she carried a twig or a pebble in her beak from the western hills, flew over the Eastern Sea and dropped it into the water.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
灵魂 línghún
soul Dictionary
化作 huàzuò
to turn into Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
鸟 niǎo
bird Dictionary
从 cóng
from Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
起 qǐ
up (after a verb: 拿起 pick up) Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
每天 měitiān
every day Dictionary
从 cóng
from Dictionary
西山 xīshān
the western hills
衔 xián
to hold in the beak Dictionary
来 lái
to come Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
根 gēn
(measure word for pipes, long things) Dictionary
树枝 shùzhī
twig, branch Dictionary
或 huò
or Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
块 kuài
yuan (money, spoken) Dictionary
小 xiǎo
small, little, young Dictionary
石头 shítou
rock, stone Dictionary
飞 fēi
to fly Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
东海 Dōng Hǎi
the Eastern Sea Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
它 tā
it Dictionary
扔 rēng
to throw away Dictionary
进 jìn
into; to enter Dictionary
海 hǎi
sea Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
，。
tā yào bǎ zhè piàn duózǒu le tā shēngmìng de dàhǎi tián píng, bú ràng tā zài hài biéde háizi.
She meant to fill in the sea that had taken her life, so that it could never harm another child.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
片 piàn
(measure word for an expanse) Dictionary
夺走 duózǒu
to take away Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
生命 shēngmìng
life Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
大海 dàhǎi
the sea Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
平 píng
level, flat Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
它 tā
it Dictionary
再 zài
again, any more Dictionary
害 hài
to kill, to harm Dictionary
别的 biéde
other Dictionary
孩子 háizi
child Dictionary
：“，！，。”
dàhǎi fān zhe bái làng cháoxiào tā:“ xiǎo niǎo, suànle ba! nǐ jiùshì tián yìbǎiwàn nián, yě bié xiǎng bǎ wǒ tián píng.”
The sea laughed at her with its white-capped waves: "Give up, little bird! Even if you fill for a million years, don't imagine you'll ever fill me in."
Words in this sentence
大海 dàhǎi
the sea Dictionary
翻 fān
to multiply (翻一倍: to double) Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
白 bái
white Dictionary
浪 làng
wave Dictionary
嘲笑 cháoxiào
to mock Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
小 xiǎo
small, little, young Dictionary
鸟 niǎo
bird Dictionary
算了 suànle
forget it, give up Dictionary
吧 ba
(suggests or softens: "let's …", "OK") Dictionary
你 nǐ
you Dictionary
就是 jiùshì
is exactly, is right Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
一百万 yìbǎiwàn
one million
年 nián
year Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
别 bié
don't Dictionary
想 xiǎng
to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
平 píng
level, flat Dictionary
：“，！”
Jīngwèi zài gāokōng huídá:“ wǒ yào yìzhí tián xiàqu, zhídào shìjiè de jìntóu!”
Jingwei answered from high in the air: "I'll keep on filling, until the end of the world!"
Words in this sentence
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
高空 gāokōng
high in the air Dictionary
回答 huídá
answer Dictionary
我 wǒ
I, me Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
一直 yìzhí
all along, always Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
下去 xiàqu
down Dictionary
直到 zhídào
until Dictionary
世界 shìjiè
world Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
尽头 jìntóu
end Dictionary
，，，。
jiù zhèyàng, tā rìfùyírì, niánfùyìnián, cónglái méiyǒu tíng guò.
And so, day after day and year after year, she never once stopped.
Words in this sentence
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
这样 zhèyàng
this way, like this Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
日复一日 rìfùyírì
day after day Dictionary
年复一年 niánfùyìnián
year after year Dictionary
从来 cónglái
ever (从来不: never) Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
停 tíng
to stop Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
，，，，。
chuánshuō hòulái, Jīngwèi yùdào le yì zhī hǎiyàn, tā búdàn bú xiào tā shǎ, fǎn'ér bèi tā de juéxīn dǎdòng, hé tā jié chéng le fūqī.
Legend says that later Jingwei met a petrel; far from laughing at her foolishness, it was moved by her determination, and the two became mates.
Words in this sentence
传说 chuánshuō
legend Dictionary
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
遇到 yùdào
to meet, to come across Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
只 zhī
(measure word for animals and some objects) Dictionary
海燕 hǎiyàn
petrel
它 tā
it Dictionary
不但 búdàn
not only Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
笑 xiào
to laugh, to smile Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
傻 shǎ
foolish Dictionary
反而 fǎn'ér
instead, on the contrary Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
决心 juéxīn
determination Dictionary
打动 dǎdòng
to move, to touch Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
结 jié
to tie (结婚: to marry) Dictionary
成 chéng
to become; to succeed Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
夫妻 fūqī
husband and wife Dictionary
，，，，。
tāmen shēng xià de xiǎo niǎo, cí de xiàng Jīngwèi, xióng de xiàng hǎiyàn, yìzhí dào jīntiān, hái zài wǎng Dōng Hǎi lǐ rēng shítou.
Of the chicks they raised, the females looked like Jingwei and the males like the petrel, and to this day they are still dropping stones into the Eastern Sea.
Words in this sentence
它们 tāmen
they (things) Dictionary
生 shēng
to give birth Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
小 xiǎo
small, little, young Dictionary
鸟 niǎo
bird Dictionary
雌 cí
female Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
像 xiàng
to look like Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
雄 xióng
male Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
像 xiàng
to look like Dictionary
海燕 hǎiyàn
petrel
一直 yìzhí
all along, always Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
今天 jīntiān
today Dictionary
还 hái
also, in addition Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
往 wǎng
towards Dictionary
东海 Dōng Hǎi
the Eastern Sea Dictionary
里 lǐ
in, inside Dictionary
扔 rēng
to throw away Dictionary
石头 shítou
rock, stone Dictionary
，“”，，。
hòulái,“ Jīngwèi tián hǎi” chéng le yí gè chéngyǔ, yònglái xíngróng rén yìzhì jiāndìng, búpà kùnnan.
Later "Jingwei fills the sea" became an idiom describing someone of firm will who fears no hardship.
Words in this sentence
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
海 hǎi
sea Dictionary
成 chéng
to become; to succeed Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
成语 chéngyǔ
idiom Dictionary
用来 yònglái
to be used for Dictionary
形容 xíngróng
to describe Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
意志 yìzhì
will Dictionary
坚定 jiāndìng
firm Dictionary
不怕 búpà
not afraid of Dictionary
困难 kùnnan
difficulty Dictionary
，：？？
búguò, yě yǒu rén juéde Jīngwèi tài shǎ: yì zhī xiǎo niǎo zěnme kěnéng tián píng dàhǎi? zhè bú shì báifèi lìqi ma?
Some people, though, think Jingwei is foolish: how could a small bird ever fill the sea? Isn't it wasted effort?
Words in this sentence
不过 búguò
but Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
觉得 juéde
to feel, to think Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
太 tài
too, excessively Dictionary
傻 shǎ
foolish Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
只 zhī
(measure word for animals and some objects) Dictionary
小 xiǎo
small, little, young Dictionary
鸟 niǎo
bird Dictionary
怎么 zěnme
how Dictionary
可能 kěnéng
may, might Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
平 píng
level, flat Dictionary
大海 dàhǎi
the sea Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
白费 báifèi
to waste Dictionary
力气 lìqi
strength Dictionary
吗 ma
(question particle) Dictionary
，：，。
yìqiānwǔbǎi duō nián qián, shīrén Táo Yuānmíng què xiě shī chēngzàn tā: xiǎoxiǎo de Jīngwèi xián zhe shùzhī, yào qù tián nà wúbiān de dàhǎi.
But more than fifteen hundred years ago the poet Tao Yuanming wrote a poem in her praise: tiny Jingwei, carrying twigs in her beak, set out to fill the boundless sea.
Words in this sentence
一千五百 yìqiānwǔbǎi
fifteen hundred
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
前 qián
front; before Dictionary
诗人 shīrén
poet Dictionary
陶渊明 Táo Yuānmíng
Tao Yuanming (name) Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
写 xiě
to write Dictionary
诗 shī
poem Dictionary
称赞 chēngzàn
to praise Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
小小 xiǎoxiǎo
tiny Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
精卫 Jīngwèi
Jingwei (name of the bird) Dictionary
衔 xián
to hold in the beak Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
树枝 shùzhī
twig, branch Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
无边 wúbiān
boundless Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
大海 dàhǎi
the sea Dictionary
，，，。
zài tā kànlai, néng bù néng chénggōng bìng bú shì zuì zhòngyào de, zhòngyào de shì miànduì zhème dà de duìshǒu, tā cónglái méiyǒu dī guò tóu.
In his view, whether she could succeed was not what mattered most; what mattered was that, facing such a vast opponent, she never once bowed her head.
Words in this sentence
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
看来 kànlai
it seems Dictionary
能 néng
can, be able to Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
能 néng
can, be able to Dictionary
成功 chénggōng
successful Dictionary
并 bìng
(stresses a negative) Dictionary
不 bú
not Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
最 zuì
most Dictionary
重要 zhòngyào
important Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
重要 zhòngyào
important Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
面对 miànduì
to face Dictionary
这么 zhème
so, this Dictionary
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
对手 duìshǒu
rival Dictionary
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
从来 cónglái
ever (从来不: never) Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
低 dī
to lower (the head) Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
头 tóu
head Dictionary

Grammar focus

就是……也…… "even if …, still …"
不但不……反而…… "far from …, on the contrary …"

Vocabulary

神兽shénshòumythical beast Dictionary
向往xiàngwǎngto long for Dictionary
灵魂línghúnsoul Dictionary
嘲笑cháoxiàoto mock Dictionary
决心juéxīndetermination Dictionary
称赞chēngzànto praise Dictionary
对手duìshǒurival Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

你觉得精卫是勇敢还是傻？说说你的理由。

Nǐ juéde Jīngwèi shì yǒnggǎn háishi shǎ? Shuōshuo nǐ de lǐyóu.

Do you think Jingwei is brave or foolish? Give your reasons.

Tips

就是……也…… concedes a point.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我觉得她很勇敢。就是知道自己不可能成功，她也没有放弃。有的时候，坚持本身就有意义。

Wǒ juéde tā hěn yǒnggǎn. Jiùshì zhīdao zìjǐ bù kěnéng chénggōng, tā yě méiyǒu fàngqì. Yǒu de shíhou, jiānchí běnshēn jiù yǒu yìyì.

I think she's brave. Even knowing she couldn't succeed, she didn't give up. Sometimes persistence has meaning in itself.

About the HSK 7–9 band