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Mythic Mandarin

The qilin

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 4 About 8 minutes

麒麟

Qílín

The qilin

Story

  1. ，。

    zài Zhōngguó de chuánshuō lǐ, qílín shì yì zhǒng hěn tèbié de shénshòu.

    In Chinese legend, the qilin is a very special mythical beast.

    Words in this sentence
    在 zài
    at, in; to be at Dictionary
    中国 Zhōngguó
    China Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    传说 chuánshuō
    legend Dictionary
    里 lǐ
    in, inside Dictionary
    麒麟 qílín
    qilin (a gentle mythical beast) Dictionary
    是 shì
    to be Dictionary
    一 yì
    one, a Dictionary
    种 zhǒng
    kind, type Dictionary
    很 hěn
    very Dictionary
    特别 tèbié
    especially Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    神兽 shénshòu
    mythical beast Dictionary

  2. 、，。

    tā zhǎng zhe lóng yíyàng de tóu, lù yíyàng de shēntǐ, tóu shàng háiyǒu yì zhī jiǎo.

    It has a head like a dragon's, a body like a deer's, and a single horn on its head.

    Words in this sentence
    它 tā
    it Dictionary
    长 zhǎng
    to grow; (长得) to look Dictionary
    着 zhe
    (-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
    龙 lóng
    dragon Dictionary
    一样 yíyàng
    the same Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    头 tóu
    head Dictionary
    鹿 lù
    deer Dictionary
    一样 yíyàng
    the same Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    身体 shēntǐ
    body; health Dictionary
    头 tóu
    head Dictionary
    上 shàng
    on, above Dictionary
    还有 háiyǒu
    there is still Dictionary
    一 yì
    one, a Dictionary
    只 zhī
    (measure word for animals and some objects) Dictionary
    角 jiǎo
    horn Dictionary

  3. ，，。

    suīrán yàngzi hěn lìhai, dànshì tā fēicháng shànliáng, zǒulù de shíhou lián xiǎo cǎo dōu shěbude cǎi.

    It may look fierce, but it is very kind: when it walks it cannot bear to tread on even a blade of grass.

    Words in this sentence
    虽然 suīrán
    although Dictionary
    样子 yàngzi
    look, appearance Dictionary
    很 hěn
    very Dictionary
    厉害 lìhai
    fierce Dictionary
    但是 dànshì
    but Dictionary
    它 tā
    it Dictionary
    非常 fēicháng
    extremely Dictionary
    善良 shànliáng
    kind Dictionary
    走路 zǒulù
    to walk Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    时候 shíhou
    time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
    连 lián
    even (连……都……) Dictionary
    小 xiǎo
    small, little, young Dictionary
    草 cǎo
    grass Dictionary
    都 dōu
    all, both Dictionary
    舍不得 shěbude
    cannot bear to (part with) Dictionary
    踩 cǎi
    to step on Dictionary

  4. ，、，。

    rénmen xiāngxìn, zhǐyǒu shìjiè tàipíng, yǒu wěidà de rén chūshēng de shíhou, qílín cái huì chūxiàn.

    People believed that the qilin appeared only when the world was at peace and a great person was born.

    Words in this sentence
    人们 rénmen
    people Dictionary
    相信 xiāngxìn
    to believe Dictionary
    只有 zhǐyǒu
    only (只有……才……) Dictionary
    世界 shìjiè
    world Dictionary
    太平 tàipíng
    at peace Dictionary
    有 yǒu
    to have; there is Dictionary
    伟大 wěidà
    great Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    人 rén
    person, people Dictionary
    出生 chūshēng
    to be born Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    时候 shíhou
    time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
    麒麟 qílín
    qilin (a gentle mythical beast) Dictionary
    才 cái
    only then Dictionary
    会 huì
    can (a learned skill) Dictionary
    出现 chūxiàn
    to appear Dictionary

  5. ，，。

    chuánshuō Kǒngzǐ chūshēng yǐqián, yì zhī qílín láidào tā jiā, tǔ chū le yí kuài xiě zhe zì de yù.

    Legend says that before Confucius was born, a qilin came to his home and spat out a piece of jade with writing on it.

    Words in this sentence
    传说 chuánshuō
    legend Dictionary
    孔子 Kǒngzǐ
    Confucius Dictionary
    出生 chūshēng
    to be born Dictionary
    以前 yǐqián
    before, ago Dictionary
    一 yì
    one, a Dictionary
    只 zhī
    (measure word for animals and some objects) Dictionary
    麒麟 qílín
    qilin (a gentle mythical beast) Dictionary
    来到 láidào
    to come to Dictionary
    他 tā
    he, him Dictionary
    家 jiā
    home, family Dictionary
    吐 tǔ
    to spit out Dictionary
    出 chū
    out Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    一 yí
    one, a Dictionary
    块 kuài
    yuan (money, spoken) Dictionary
    写 xiě
    to write Dictionary
    着 zhe
    (-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
    字 zì
    character, word Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    玉 yù
    jade Dictionary

  6. ，，。

    hěn duō nián yǐhòu, Kǒngzǐ lǎo le, tīngshuō yǒurén dǎliè de shíhou dǎ sǐ le yì zhī qílín.

    Many years later, when Confucius was old, he heard that hunters had killed a qilin.

    Words in this sentence
    很 hěn
    very Dictionary
    多 duō
    many, a lot Dictionary
    年 nián
    year Dictionary
    以后 yǐhòu
    after, later Dictionary
    孔子 Kǒngzǐ
    Confucius Dictionary
    老 lǎo
    old Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    听说 tīngshuō
    to hear (that) Dictionary
    有人 yǒurén
    someone Dictionary
    打猎 dǎliè
    to hunt Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    时候 shíhou
    time, moment (……的时候: when …) Dictionary
    打 dǎ
    to make (a phone call); to hit Dictionary
    死 sǐ
    to die 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
    麒麟 qílín
    qilin (a gentle mythical beast) Dictionary

  7. ，：“。”

    tā nánguò de kū le, shuō:“ wǒ de lù yě yào zǒu dào tóu le.”

    He wept and said, "My road, too, is coming to its end."

    Words in this sentence
    他 tā
    he, him Dictionary
    难过 nánguò
    sad Dictionary
    地 de
    (turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
    哭 kū
    to cry, to weep Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
    说 shuō
    to say, to speak Dictionary
    我 wǒ
    I, me Dictionary
    的 de
    (possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
    路 lù
    road, street Dictionary
    也 yě
    also, too Dictionary
    要 yào
    to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
    走 zǒu
    to walk, to go; to leave Dictionary
    到 dào
    to arrive Dictionary
    头 tóu
    head Dictionary
    了 le
    (marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary

Grammar focus

  • 只有……才…… "only if … then"
  • 连……都…… "even"

Vocabulary

Questions

1麒麟头上有什么？Qílín tóu shàng yǒu shénme?What does the qilin have on its head?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: A. Sentence 2: 头上还有一只角.

  • B: The story says one horn (一只角).
  • C: The jade came out of its mouth in the Confucius legend (sentence 5).
2＿＿世界太平的时候，麒麟才会出现。__ shìjiè tàipíng de shíhou, qílín cái huì chūxiàn.___ when the world is at peace does the qilin appear.
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: C. 只有 pairs with 才: 只有……才…… (sentence 4).

  • A: 只要 pairs with 就, not 才.
  • B: 虽然 pairs with 但是 and does not fit here.
3麒麟很凶，人们都怕它。Qílín hěn xiōng, rénmen dōu pà tā.The qilin is fierce, and everyone is afraid of it.
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: B. False. It only looks fierce; sentence 3 says 它非常善良, it is very kind.

  • A: Sentence 3 contrasts its fierce look with its kind nature (虽然……但是……).
4“连小草都舍不得踩”说明麒麟是什么样的？"Lián xiǎo cǎo dōu shěbude cǎi" shuōmíng qílín shì shénmeyàng de?What does 连小草都舍不得踩 say about the qilin?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: A. If it will not even step on grass, it would hurt nothing.

  • B: 舍不得 means it cannot bear to, not that it is afraid.
  • C: The sentence is about kindness, not speed.
5孔子为什么哭？Kǒngzǐ wèishénme kū?Why does Confucius weep?
Show the answer and explanations

Answer: C. A qilin means peace and greatness (sentence 4); its death, and 我的路也要走到头了, show his grief for the times and himself.

  • A: He grieves over the hunt; he did not take part.
  • B: The jade is not mentioned again.

Writing task

你的国家有没有传说中的动物？介绍一下。

Nǐ de guójiā yǒu méiyǒu chuánshuō zhōng de dòngwù? Jièshào yíxià.

Does your country have a legendary animal? Introduce it.

Tips

  • 人们相信…… means "people believe …".
Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我的国家有一种传说中的鸟，人们相信它能带来好运气。

Wǒ de guójiā yǒu yì zhǒng chuánshuō zhōng de niǎo, rénmen xiāngxìn tā néng dàilái hǎo yùnqi.

My country has a legendary bird. People believe it brings good luck.

About the HSK 4 level