Zhang Qian’s mission to the West

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

HSK 6 About 10 minutes

张骞出使西域

Zhāng Qiān chūshǐ Xīyù

Zhang Qian's mission to the West

Story

，，。
liǎngqiān yìbǎi duō nián qián, Hàn Wǔdì xiǎng liánhé xībian de Dà Yuèzhī, yìqǐ dǎbài jīngcháng qīnfàn biānjìng de Xiōngnú.
Over two thousand one hundred years ago, Emperor Wu of Han wanted to ally with the Yuezhi in the west to defeat the Xiongnu, who kept raiding the border.
Words in this sentence
两千 liǎngqiān
two thousand
一百 yìbǎi
one hundred
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
前 qián
front; before Dictionary
汉武帝 Hàn Wǔdì
Emperor Wu of Han Dictionary
想 xiǎng
to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
联合 liánhé
to ally with Dictionary
西边 xībian
the west Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
大月氏 Dà Yuèzhī
the Yuezhi (an ancient people) Dictionary
一起 yìqǐ
together Dictionary
打败 dǎbài
to defeat Dictionary
经常 jīngcháng
often Dictionary
侵犯 qīnfàn
to raid, to invade Dictionary
边境 biānjìng
border Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
匈奴 Xiōngnú
the Xiongnu (an ancient people) Dictionary
，，。
kěshì shéi yě bù zhīdao Dà Yuèzhī zài nǎli, lù shàng yào chuānguò Xiōngnú de dìpán, háiyǒu dàpiàn de shāmò.
But nobody knew where the Yuezhi were, and the way led through Xiongnu territory and across vast deserts.
Words in this sentence
可是 kěshì
but Dictionary
谁 shéi
who Dictionary
也 yě
also, too Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
知道 zhīdao
to know Dictionary
大月氏 Dà Yuèzhī
the Yuezhi (an ancient people) Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
哪里 nǎli
where, wherever Dictionary
路 lù
road, street Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
要 yào
to need to, to be going to; to want Dictionary
穿过 chuānguò
to cross Dictionary
匈奴 Xiōngnú
the Xiongnu (an ancient people) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
地盘 dìpán
territory Dictionary
还有 háiyǒu
there is still Dictionary
大片 dàpiàn
vast stretch Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
沙漠 shāmò
desert Dictionary
，。
yí gè jiào Zhāng Qiān de niánqīng guānyuán zhǔdòng zhàn le chūlai, dài zhe yìbǎi duō rén chūfā le.
A young official called Zhang Qian volunteered and set off with more than a hundred men.
Words in this sentence
一 yí
one, a Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
叫 jiào
to be called; to call Dictionary
张骞 Zhāng Qiān
Zhang Qian (name) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
年轻 niánqīng
young Dictionary
官员 guānyuán
official Dictionary
主动 zhǔdòng
on one's own initiative Dictionary
站 zhàn
to stand Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
出来 chūlai
to come out Dictionary
带 dài
to take (someone), to bring Dictionary
着 zhe
(-ing: an ongoing state) Dictionary
一百 yìbǎi
one hundred
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
出发 chūfā
to set out Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
，。，。
gāng zǒu jìn Xiōngnú de dìpán, tāmen jiù bèi zhuā zhù le. zhè yì guān, jiùshì shí nián.
They had barely entered Xiongnu lands when they were captured. That captivity lasted ten years.
Words in this sentence
刚 gāng
just Dictionary
走 zǒu
to walk, to go; to leave Dictionary
进 jìn
into; to enter Dictionary
匈奴 Xiōngnú
the Xiongnu (an ancient people) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
地盘 dìpán
territory Dictionary
他们 tāmen
they, them Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
抓 zhuā
to catch, to capture Dictionary
住 zhù
to stay, to live Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
关 guān
to lock up; captivity Dictionary
就是 jiùshì
is exactly, is right Dictionary
十 shí
ten
年 nián
year Dictionary
，，，。
Xiōngnú rén gěi tā qǔ le qīzi, tā hái yǒu le háizi, kěshì tā yìzhí bǎ Hàncháo de shǐjiézhàng dài zài shēnbiān, cónglái méiyǒu wàngjì zìjǐ de rènwu.
The Xiongnu gave him a wife, and he had children, but he always kept the Han envoy's staff by his side and never forgot his mission.
Words in this sentence
匈奴 Xiōngnú
the Xiongnu (an ancient people) Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
给 gěi
to give; for Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
娶 qǔ
to marry (a wife) Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
妻子 qīzi
wife Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
还 hái
also, in addition Dictionary
有 yǒu
to have; there is Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
孩子 háizi
child Dictionary
可是 kěshì
but Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
一直 yìzhí
all along, always Dictionary
把 bǎ
(moves the object before the verb) Dictionary
汉朝 Hàncháo
the Han dynasty Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
使节杖 shǐjiézhàng
envoy's staff
带 dài
to take (someone), to bring Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
身边 shēnbiān
at one's side Dictionary
从来 cónglái
ever (从来不: never) Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
忘记 wàngjì
to forget Dictionary
自己 zìjǐ
oneself Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
任务 rènwu
mission, task Dictionary
，，，。
shí nián hòu, tā zhōngyú zhǎodào jīhuì táo le chūqu, jìxù xiàng xī zǒu, zuìhòu zhēnde zhǎodào le Dà Yuèzhī.
Ten years later he finally escaped, continued west, and really did find the Yuezhi.
Words in this sentence
十 shí
ten
年 nián
year Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
终于 zhōngyú
finally, at last Dictionary
找到 zhǎodào
to find Dictionary
机会 jīhuì
chance Dictionary
逃 táo
to escape Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
出去 chūqu
to go out Dictionary
继续 jìxù
to continue Dictionary
向 xiàng
to, towards Dictionary
西 xī
west Dictionary
走 zǒu
to walk, to go; to leave Dictionary
最后 zuìhòu
in the end, finally Dictionary
真的 zhēnde
really Dictionary
找到 zhǎodào
to find Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
大月氏 Dà Yuèzhī
the Yuezhi (an ancient people) Dictionary
，，。
rán'ér, Dà Yuèzhī yǐjīng zài xīn de tǔdì shàng guò shàng le ānwěn de rìzi, bù xiǎng zài dǎzhàng le.
However, the Yuezhi had settled into a peaceful life in their new lands and no longer wanted war.
Words in this sentence
然而 rán'ér
however Dictionary
大月氏 Dà Yuèzhī
the Yuezhi (an ancient people) Dictionary
已经 yǐjīng
already Dictionary
在 zài
at, in; to be at Dictionary
新 xīn
new Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
土地 tǔdì
land Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above 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
安稳 ānwěn
settled, peaceful Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
日子 rìzi
life, days Dictionary
不 bù
not Dictionary
想 xiǎng
to want to, would like to; to think Dictionary
再 zài
again, any more Dictionary
打仗 dǎzhàng
to go to war Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
。，。
Zhāng Qiān de rènwu shībài le. huílai de lù shàng, tā yòu bèi Xiōngnú zhuā le yì nián duō.
Zhang Qian's mission had failed. On the way back he was captured by the Xiongnu again for more than a year.
Words in this sentence
张骞 Zhāng Qiān
Zhang Qian (name) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
任务 rènwu
mission, task Dictionary
失败 shībài
to fail Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
回来 huílai
to come back Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
路 lù
road, street Dictionary
上 shàng
on, above Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
又 yòu
and also, on top of that Dictionary
被 bèi
(passive: by) Dictionary
匈奴 Xiōngnú
the Xiongnu (an ancient people) Dictionary
抓 zhuā
to catch, to capture Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
，，。
shísān nián hòu, dāng tā huídào Cháng'ān shí, chūfā shí de yìbǎi duō rén zhǐ shèng xià liǎng gè.
Thirteen years after setting out, when he returned to Chang'an, only two of the hundred-odd men were left.
Words in this sentence
十三 shísān
thirteen Dictionary
年 nián
year Dictionary
后 hòu
after, later Dictionary
当 dāng
to be, to work as Dictionary
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
回到 huídào
to go back to Dictionary
长安 Cháng'ān
Chang'an (the Han capital) Dictionary
时 shí
when, at the time of Dictionary
出发 chūfā
to set out Dictionary
时 shí
when, at the time of Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
一百 yìbǎi
one hundred
多 duō
many, a lot Dictionary
人 rén
person, people Dictionary
只 zhǐ
only Dictionary
剩 shèng
to be left over Dictionary
下 xià
next; down Dictionary
两 liǎng
two Dictionary
个 gè
(measure word for people and things) Dictionary
，：、。，，。
tā méiyǒu dàihuí jūnduì, què dài huí le Xīyù gèguó de qíngkuàng: nàli de shānchuān, wùchǎn hé fēngsú. hòulái, yì tiáo liánjiē dōngxi de shānglù mànmàn xíngchéng le, zhè jiù shì Sīchóu zhī Lù.
He brought back no army, but he brought back knowledge of the lands of the West: their mountains and rivers, their products and their customs. Later a trade route linking east and west slowly took shape: the Silk Road.
Words in this sentence
他 tā
he, him Dictionary
没有 méiyǒu
there is not; does not have Dictionary
带回 dàihuí
to bring back Dictionary
军队 jūnduì
army Dictionary
却 què
but, yet Dictionary
带 dài
to take (someone), to bring Dictionary
回 huí
to return, to go back Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
西域 Xīyù
the Western Regions Dictionary
各国 gèguó
every country Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
情况 qíngkuàng
situation Dictionary
那里 nàli
there Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
山川 shānchuān
mountains and rivers Dictionary
物产 wùchǎn
products Dictionary
和 hé
and Dictionary
风俗 fēngsú
customs Dictionary
后来 hòulái
later, afterwards Dictionary
一 yì
one, a Dictionary
条 tiáo
(measure word for long things: dragons, rivers) Dictionary
连接 liánjiē
to link Dictionary
东西 dōngxi
thing(s) Dictionary
的 de
(possessive or describing particle) Dictionary
商路 shānglù
trade route Dictionary
慢慢 mànmàn
slowly Dictionary
形成 xíngchéng
to take shape Dictionary
了 le
(marks a completed action or a change) Dictionary
这 zhè
this Dictionary
就 jiù
then, right away Dictionary
是 shì
to be Dictionary
丝绸之路 Sīchóu zhī Lù
the Silk Road Dictionary

Grammar focus

然而 "however"
当……时 "when …"

Vocabulary

联合liánhéto ally with Dictionary
沙漠shāmòdesert Dictionary
官员guānyuánofficial Dictionary
主动zhǔdòngon one's own initiative Dictionary
任务rènwumission, task Dictionary
继续jìxùto continue Dictionary
土地tǔdìland Dictionary
形成xíngchéngto take shape Dictionary

Questions

Writing task

你怎么看张骞？他是成功了还是失败了？

Nǐ zěnme kàn Zhāng Qiān? Tā shì chénggōng le háishi shībài le?

What do you think of Zhang Qian? Did he succeed or fail?

Tips

既……又…… presents two sides at once.

Try it yourself first, then show the model answer

我觉得张骞既失败了，又成功了。他没完成汉武帝的任务，但是他打开了一条新的路，影响了以后两千年。

Wǒ juéde Zhāng Qiān jì shībài le, yòu chénggōng le. Tā méi wánchéng Hàn Wǔdì de rènwu, dànshì tā dǎkāi le yì tiáo xīn de lù, yǐngxiǎng le yǐhòu liǎngqiān nián.

I think he both failed and succeeded. He didn't complete the emperor's mission, but he opened a new road that shaped the next two thousand years.

About the HSK 6 level