Nüwa mends the sky

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 7–9 · Level 7 About 12 minutes

女娲补天

Nǚwā bǔ tiān

Nüwa mends the sky

Story

，，，。
chuánshuō yuǎngǔ shídài, shuǐshén Gònggōng hé huǒshén Zhùróng yìzhí bù hé, wèile zhēng tiānxià de tǒngzhìquán, liǎng rén dǎ le qǐlai.
Legend says that in remote antiquity the water god Gonggong and the fire god Zhurong were forever at odds, and they went to war for rule over the world.
Words in this sentence
传说 chuánshuō
legend Dictionary
远古 yuǎngǔ
remote antiquity Dictionary
时代 shídài
era, times Dictionary
水神 shuǐshén
water god Dictionary
共工 Gònggōng
Gonggong (name) Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
火神 huǒshén
fire god Dictionary
祝融 Zhùróng
Zhurong (name) Dictionary
一直 yìzhí
all along, always Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
为了 wèile
in order to, for Dictionary
争 zhēng
to argue Dictionary
天下 tiānxià
the world Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
统治权 tǒngzhìquán
right to rule Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
打 dǎ
to make (a phone call); to hit Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
起来 qǐlai
(starting to …) Dictionary
，，，。
zhè yí zhàng cóng tiān shàng dǎ dào dì xià, dǎ de shānbēng-dìliè, zuìhòu Gònggōng dàbài, lángbèi de táo dào le xīběi de Bùzhōu Shān xià.
The battle raged from the heavens to the underworld until mountains fell and the earth split; at last Gonggong was routed and fled in disarray to the foot of Mount Buzhou in the north-west.
Words in this sentence
这 zhè
this Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
仗 zhàng
battle Dictionary
从 cóng
from Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
打 dǎ
to make (a phone call); to hit Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
地 dì
ground, earth Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
打 dǎ
to make (a phone call); to hit Dictionary
得 de
(links a verb to how it is done) Dictionary
山崩地裂 shānbēng-dìliè
mountains crumble and the earth splits
最后 zuìhòu
in the end, finally Dictionary
共工 Gònggōng
Gonggong (name) Dictionary
大败 dàbài
to be routed Dictionary
狼狈 lángbèi
in disarray Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
逃 táo
to escape Dictionary
到 dào
to arrive Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
西北 xīběi
north-west Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
不周山 Bùzhōu Shān
Mount Buzhou Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
，。
Gònggōng yòu xiū yòu nù, jìngrán yì tóu zhuàng xiàng le Bùzhōu Shān.
Humiliated and furious, Gonggong rammed his head into Mount Buzhou.
Words in this sentence
共工 Gònggōng
Gonggong (name) Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
羞 xiū
ashamed Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
怒 nù
furious Dictionary
竟然 jìngrán
unexpectedly, actually Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
头 tóu
head Dictionary
撞 zhuàng
to hit, to crash into Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
不周山 Bùzhōu Shān
Mount Buzhou Dictionary
，。
tā bù zhīdao, Bùzhōu Shān shì chēng zhe tiānkōng de yì gēn zhùzi.
He did not know that Mount Buzhou was one of the pillars holding up the sky.
Words in this sentence
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
知道 zhīdao
to know Dictionary
不周山 Bùzhōu Shān
Mount Buzhou Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
撑 chēng
to prop up Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
天空 tiānkōng
sky Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
根 gēn
(measure word for pipes, long things) Dictionary
柱子 zhùzi
pillar Dictionary
，，；，。
shān bèi zhuàng duàn le, tiānkōng xiàng xīběi qīngxié, rì yuè xīngchén dōu huá xiàng le nà yìbiān; dàdì zé xiàng dōngnán tāxiàn, jiānghé de shuǐ dōu xiàng dōng liú qù.
The mountain broke. The sky tilted towards the north-west and the sun, moon and stars slid that way, while the earth sank towards the south-east and all the rivers began to flow east.
Words in this sentence
山 shān
mountain Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
撞 zhuàng
to hit, to crash into Dictionary
断 duàn
to break Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
天空 tiānkōng
sky Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
西北 xīběi
north-west Dictionary
倾斜 qīngxié
to tilt Dictionary
日月星辰 rì yuè xīngchén
sun, moon and stars
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
滑 huá
to slide Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
那 nà
that Dictionary
一边 yìbiān
(一边……一边……: while) Dictionary
大地 dàdì
the earth Dictionary
则 zé
whereas (literary) Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
东南 dōngnán
south-east Dictionary
塌陷 tāxiàn
to sink, to cave in Dictionary
江河 jiānghé
rivers Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
水 shuǐ
water Dictionary
都 dōu
all, both Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
东 dōng
east Dictionary
流 liú
to flow Dictionary
去 qù
to go Dictionary
，，，，。
gèng kěpà de shì, tiānkōng pò le yí gè dà kūlong, dà huǒ cóng tiān shàng shāo xiàlai, hóngshuǐ cóng dì xià yǒng chūlai, měngshòu sìchù shāng rén.
Worse still, a great hole tore open in the sky: fire rained down from above, floods gushed up from below, and wild beasts attacked people everywhere.
Words in this sentence
更 gèng
even more Dictionary
可怕 kěpà
frightening Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
天空 tiānkōng
sky Dictionary
破 pò
broken, burst 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
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
窟窿 kūlong
hole Dictionary
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
火 huǒ
fire Dictionary
从 cóng
from Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
烧 shāo
to heat, to boil Dictionary
下来 xiàlai
down (becoming) Dictionary
洪水 hóngshuǐ
flood Dictionary
从 cóng
from Dictionary
地 dì
ground, earth Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
涌 yǒng
to gush Dictionary
出来 chūlai
to come out Dictionary
猛兽 měngshòu
wild beast Dictionary
四处 sìchù
everywhere Dictionary
伤 shāng
to hurt Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
，。
kàndào zìjǐ qīnshǒu chuàngzào de rénlèi zài zāinàn zhōng zhēngzhá, nǚshén Nǚwā xīn rú dāo gē.
Seeing the humans she had made with her own hands struggling in the disaster, the goddess Nüwa felt as if a knife were cutting her heart.
Words in this sentence
看到 kàndào
to see Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
亲手 qīnshǒu
with one's own hands Dictionary
创造 chuàngzào
to create Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
人类 rénlèi
humankind Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
灾难 zāinàn
disaster Dictionary
中 zhōng
in, among Dictionary
挣扎 zhēngzhá
to struggle Dictionary
女神 nǚshén
goddess Dictionary
女娲 Nǚwā
Nüwa (name) Dictionary
心如刀割 xīn rú dāo gē
heartbroken (as if cut by a knife) Dictionary
，，，。
tā zǒubiàn tiānxià, zhǎolái wǔ zhǒng yánsè de shítou, yòng dà huǒ liàn le jiǔ tiān jiǔ yè, liàn chéng le néng bǔ tiān de wǔsèshí.
She travelled the whole world, gathered stones of five colours and smelted them in a great fire for nine days and nine nights, until they became five-coloured stones that could mend the sky.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
走遍 zǒubiàn
to travel all over
天下 tiānxià
the world Dictionary
找来 zhǎolái
to gather, to find
五 wǔ
five Dictionary
种 zhǒng
kind, type Dictionary
颜色 yánsè
colour Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
石头 shítou
rock, stone Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
火 huǒ
fire Dictionary
炼 liàn
to smelt Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
九 jiǔ
nine Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
九 jiǔ
nine Dictionary
夜 yè
night Dictionary
炼 liàn
to smelt Dictionary
成 chéng
to become; to succeed Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
能 néng
can, be able to Dictionary
补 bǔ
to mend Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
五色石 wǔsèshí
five-coloured stones
，，，。
tā yí kuài yí kuài de bǎ shítou tián jìn tiānkōng de kūlong, yòu kǎn xià yì zhī jùguī de sì tiáo tuǐ, lì zài dàdì de sì gè jiǎo, bǎ tiān chóngxīn chēng le qǐlai.
One by one she filled the hole with the stones, then cut off the four legs of a giant turtle and set them at the four corners of the earth to prop up the sky again.
Words in this sentence
她 tā
she, her Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
块 kuài
yuan (money, spoken) Dictionary
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
块 kuài
yuan (money, spoken) Dictionary
地 de
(turns a description into how something is done) Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
石头 shítou
rock, stone Dictionary
填 tián
to fill Dictionary
进 jìn
into; to enter Dictionary
天空 tiānkōng
sky Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
窟窿 kūlong
hole Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
砍 kǎn
to cut off Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
只 zhī
(measure word for animals and some objects) Dictionary
巨龟 jùguī
giant turtle
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
四 sì
four Dictionary
条 tiáo
(measure word for long things: dragons, rivers) Dictionary
腿 tuǐ
leg Dictionary
立 lì
to set up, to stand Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
大地 dàdì
the earth Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
四 sì
four Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
角 jiǎo
horn Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
天 tiān
day Dictionary
重新 chóngxīn
again Dictionary
撑 chēng
to prop up Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
起来 qǐlai
(starting to …) Dictionary
，，。
dàhuǒ miè le, hóngshuǐ tuì le, rénmen zhōngyú yòu guò shàng le píngjìng de rìzi.
The fires went out, the floods receded, and people could at last live in peace again.
Words in this sentence
大火 dàhuǒ
great fire Dictionary
灭 miè
to go out (of a fire) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
洪水 hóngshuǐ
flood Dictionary
退 tuì
to recede Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
人们 rénmen
people Dictionary
终于 zhōngyú
finally, at last Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
过 guò
to celebrate, to spend (a holiday) Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
平静 píngjìng
calm, peaceful Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
日子 rìzi
life, days Dictionary
：，，。
kěshì tiānkōng shǐzhōng méiyǒu wánquán huīfù yuányàng: zhídào jīntiān, tàiyáng hé yuèliang háishi xiàng xī luò xià, Zhōngguó de dà hé yě dàduō xiàng dōng liú rù dàhǎi.
But the sky never fully returned to its old shape: to this day the sun and moon set in the west, and most of China's great rivers flow east into the sea.
Words in this sentence
可是 kěshì
but Dictionary
天空 tiānkōng
sky Dictionary
始终 shǐzhōng
all along Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
完全 wánquán
completely Dictionary
恢复 huīfù
to recover Dictionary
原样 yuányàng
original shape Dictionary
直到 zhídào
until Dictionary
今天 jīntiān
today Dictionary
太阳 tàiyáng
sun Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
月亮 yuèliang
the moon Dictionary
还是 háishi
or (in questions) Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
西 xī
west Dictionary
落 luò
to set, to fall Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
中国 Zhōngguó
China Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
大 dà
big, loud Dictionary
河 hé
river Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
大多 dàduō
mostly Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
东 dōng
east Dictionary
流 liú
to flow Dictionary
入 rù
to enter Dictionary
大海 dàhǎi
the sea Dictionary
，：，。
gǔrén yòng zhè gè gùshi jiěshì tāmen kàndào de shìjiè, yě yòng tā tíxǐng hòurén: yìshí de fènnù, kěnéng yào ràng suǒyǒu de rén fùchū dàijià.
People of old used this story to explain the world they saw, and to warn later generations that one moment's anger can make everyone pay the price.
Words in this sentence
古人 gǔrén
people of old Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
故事 gùshi
story Dictionary
解释 jiěshì
to explain Dictionary
他们 tāmen
they, them Dictionary
看到 kàndào
to see Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
世界 shìjiè
world Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
用 yòng
to use Dictionary
它 tā
it Dictionary
提醒 tíxǐng
to remind, to warn Dictionary
后人 hòurén
later generations Dictionary
一时 yìshí
a moment's Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
愤怒 fènnù
anger Dictionary
可能 kěnéng
may, might Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
让 ràng
to let, to make (someone do) Dictionary
所有 suǒyǒu
all Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
付出 fùchū
to pay (a price) Dictionary
代价 dàijià
price, cost Dictionary

Grammar focus

则 literary "whereas, on the other hand"
始终 "all along, throughout"

Vocabulary

远古yuǎngǔremote antiquity Dictionary
柱子zhùzipillar Dictionary
倾斜qīngxiéto tilt Dictionary
创造chuàngzàoto create Dictionary
人类rénlèihumankind Dictionary
灾难zāinàndisaster Dictionary
恢复huīfùto recover Dictionary
解释jiěshìto explain Dictionary
愤怒fènnùanger Dictionary
代价dàijiàprice, cost Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

这个故事用神话解释了哪些自然现象？用自己的话说一说。

Zhè gè gùshi yòng shénhuà jiěshì le nǎxiē zìrán xiànxiàng? Yòng zìjǐ de huà shuō yì shuō.

Which natural phenomena does this myth explain? Say it in your own words.

Tips

以及 joins items in formal writing.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

这个故事解释了为什么太阳和月亮向西落下，以及为什么中国的大河大多向东流。古人认为，这是因为不周山被撞断以后，天和地都倾斜了。

Zhè gè gùshi jiěshì le wèishénme tàiyáng hé yuèliang xiàng xī luò xià, yǐjí wèishénme Zhōngguó de dà hé dàduō xiàng dōng liú. Gǔrén rènwéi, zhè shì yīnwèi Bùzhōu Shān bèi zhuàng duàn yǐhòu, tiān hé dì dōu qīngxié le.

The story explains why the sun and moon set in the west and why most of China's great rivers flow east. People of old believed it was because heaven and earth tilted after Mount Buzhou was broken.

About the HSK 7–9 band