“Chang’e ben yue” is a story for HSK2+ learners. Stories I shared some are Chinese folk tales, and some are my creations.
This story is one of the most famous stories associated with the Moon Festival. However, there are four different versions of it, each with slight variations. So, if you hear a different story, don’t be surprised.
Story
很久以前有十個太陽,天氣每天都非常的熱,水都沒了,人們非常痛苦。很久以前有十个太阳,天气每天都非常的热,水都没了,人们非常痛苦。
這時候,有一位名字叫后羿的男人來了,后羿射箭射得很好。这时候,有一位名字叫后羿的男人来了,后羿射箭射得很好。
人們希望他把太陽射下來,他說好。人们希望他把太阳射下来,他说好。
一箭、兩箭、三箭……后羿射下來九個太陽,只留下一個太陽在天上。一箭、两箭、三箭……后羿射下来九个太阳,只留下一个太阳在天上。
人們謝謝他,希望他成為王。人们谢谢他,希望他成为王。
可是后羿成為王後,變得很壞,常常殺人,可是后羿成为王后,变得很坏,常常杀人,
人們討厭他也怕他,所以什麼都不敢說。人们讨厌他也怕他,所以什么都不敢说。
后羿喜歡成為王也想永遠成為王,后羿喜欢成为王也想永远成为王,
所以他找了不會死的藥,想要永遠活著。所以他找了不会死的药,想要永远活着。
他的太太嫦娥知道人們很痛苦,人們都希望后羿快點死,他的太太嫦娥知道人们很痛苦,人们都希望后羿快点死,
所以她晚上吃了后羿的不死藥。所以她晚上吃了后羿的不死药。
可是因為吃太多,嫦娥的身體慢慢的飛了起來。可是因为吃太多,嫦娥的身体慢慢的飞了起来。
嫦娥不是神不可以住在天上,嫦娥不是神不可以住在天上,
她沒有地方可以去,最後住在月亮上。她没有地方可以去,最后住在月亮上。
Vocabulary
1. 很久以前 Hěnjiǔ yǐqián:Long time ago
2. 痛苦 tòngkǔ:Suffering; pain
3. 射 shè:Shoot
4. 箭 jiàn:Arrow
5. 讨厌 tǎoyàn:Hate
6. 希望 xīwàng:Wish; hope
7. 留 liú:Remain; stay
8. 成为 chéngwéi:Become
9. 王 wáng:King
10. 坏 huài:Bad
11. 杀 shā:To kill
12. 敢 gǎn:Dare to
13. 永远 yǒngyuǎn:Forever
14. 活着 huózhe:Living; alive
15. 身体 shēntǐ:Body
16. 地方 dìfang:Place; space
Chang’e Ben Yue English Translation
A long time ago, there were ten suns in the sky, and the weather was scorching. The water had dried up, and people were leading miserable lives. At this time, a skilled archer named Houyi arrived and offered to help. He successfully shot down nine of the suns, leaving only one in the sky. The people thanked him and asked him to be their king.
However, after Houyi became the king, he turned into a cruel ruler who often killed his subjects. The people not only hated him but also feared him and did not dare to speak up. Houyi wanted to remain king forever, so he searched for the medicine of eternal life.
His wife, Chang’E, knew how much the people suffered under Houyi’s rule and wished for him to die. One night, she ate the immortality medicine, hoping to prevent her husband from becoming immortal. However, she ate too much and slowly ascended to the sky. Since Chang’E was not a deity, she could not live in heaven and had nowhere to go. Eventually, she settled on the moon, where she resides to this day.