Chinese myth story

Dream of the Red Chamber — A Glimpse

红楼梦·片段

Read a gentle upper-intermediate glimpse of Dream of the Red Chamber with complex clauses about family, feeling, poetry, and fate.

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贾府很大，生活看起来十分丰富。

Jiǎfǔ hěn dà, shēnghuó kàn qǐlái shífēn fēngfù.

The Jia family mansion was large, and life seemed very rich.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

可是繁华背后，也有许多烦恼。

Kěshì fánhuá bèihòu, yě yǒu xǔduō fánnǎo.

But behind the splendor, there were many troubles.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

宝玉不但喜欢诗文，而且重视感情。

Bǎoyù búdàn xǐhuan shīwén, érqiě zhòngshì gǎnqíng.

Baoyu not only liked poetry and writing, but also valued feelings.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

黛玉身体较弱，心情却很细腻。

Dàiyù shēntǐ jiào ruò, xīnqíng què hěn xìnì.

Daiyu was physically weak, but emotionally delicate.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

既然来到贾府，她就努力适应。

Jìrán lái dào Jiǎfǔ, tā jiù nǔlì shìyìng.

Since she came to the Jia mansion, she tried hard to adapt.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

凡是花开花落，她都容易感动。

Fánshì huā kāi huā luò, tā dōu róngyì gǎndòng.

Whenever flowers bloomed and fell, she was easily moved.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

宝玉把落花轻轻收在一起。

Bǎoyù bǎ luòhuā qīngqīng shōu zài yìqǐ.

Baoyu gently gathered the fallen flowers together.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

黛玉觉得这个动作很有意义。

Dàiyù juéde zhè ge dòngzuò hěn yǒu yìyì.

Daiyu felt this action was meaningful.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

他们在园子里讨论诗句。

Tāmen zài yuánzi lǐ tǎolùn shījù.

They discussed poetic lines in the garden.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

一句话有时比礼物更珍贵。

Yí jù huà yǒushí bǐ lǐwù gèng zhēnguì.

A single sentence was sometimes more precious than a gift.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

可是家族规定越来越复杂。

Kěshì jiāzú guīdìng yuè lái yuè fùzá.

But family rules became more and more complicated.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

凡是重要决定，都由长辈安排。

Fánshì zhòngyào juédìng, dōu yóu zhǎngbèi ānpái.

All important decisions were arranged by elders.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

年轻人的想法常常被忽视。

Niánqīng rén de xiǎngfǎ chángcháng bèi hūshì.

Young people’s thoughts were often ignored.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

宝玉既然不能改变一切，就只好沉默。

Bǎoyù jìrán bù néng gǎibiàn yíqiè, jiù zhǐhǎo chénmò.

Since Baoyu could not change everything, he had to stay silent.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

这部小说不但写爱情，也写社会。

Zhè bù xiǎoshuō búdàn xiě àiqíng, yě xiě shèhuì.

This novel writes not only about love, but also about society.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

读者通过细节理解人物性格。

Dúzhě tōngguò xìjié lǐjiě rénwù xìnggé.

Readers understand characters through details.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

红楼梦的美丽常带着失望。

Hónglóumèng de měilì cháng dài zhe shīwàng.

The beauty of Dream of the Red Chamber often carries disappointment.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

因此，它被认为是伟大的作品。

Yīncǐ, tā bèi rènwéi shì wěidà de zuòpǐn.

Therefore, it is considered a great work.

Sentence vocabulary

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

内容 · nèi róng

content

篇 · piān

piece

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

态度 · tài du

attitude

文章 · wén zhāng

Article

心情 · xīn qíng

mood

小说 · xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家 · zuò jiā

writer

Finished reading the story?

Vocabulary

Story words

20 cards

爱情

ài qíng

Love

表演

biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅

bù jǐn

not only

丰富

fēng fù

rich

感情

gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆

huí yì

Memory

既然

jì rán

although

精彩

jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法

kàn fǎ

view

凉快

liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽

měi lì

beautiful

梦

mèng

dream

内容

nèi róng

content

篇

piān

piece

情况

qíng kuàng

Situation

态度

tài du

attitude

文章

wén zhāng

Article

心情

xīn qíng

mood

小说

xiǎo shuō

Novel

作家

zuò jiā

writer

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 感情 mean?

Options

feeling or emotion
flight
form
cash

Answer: feeling or emotion

感情 means feelings or emotions. Baoyu values feelings in the story.

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 小说?

Options

xiǎoshuō
xiàoshuō
xiǎoshū
xīaoshuō

Answer: xiǎoshuō

小说 is pronounced xiǎoshuō and means novel.

Question 3

What contrast appears in the Jia mansion?

Options

Rich life and hidden troubles
A small house and no people
Only exams and grades
Travel and ocean storms

Answer: Rich life and hidden troubles

The story says life looked rich, but behind it there were many troubles.

Question 4

Why is Dream of the Red Chamber considered great?

Options

It writes about both love and society
It only describes food
It is very short
It has no characters

Answer: It writes about both love and society

The story says the novel writes not only love, but also society.

Question 5

Choose the correct 凡是...都 sentence.

Options

凡是重要决定，都由长辈安排
都凡是重要决定，由长辈安排
重要决定凡是，由长辈都安排
长辈都凡是安排重要决定

Answer: 凡是重要决定，都由长辈安排

凡是...都... means all cases of a type share the same result.

Question 6

In 既然来到贾府，她就努力适应, what does 既然...就... do?

Options

It gives a known situation and a natural response
It marks a passive action
It asks for permission
It counts objects

Answer: It gives a known situation and a natural response

既然...就... means since this is true, then do that.

Question 7

What does 不但...而且... add in 宝玉不但喜欢诗文，而且重视感情?

Options

A second related quality
A warning
A time expression
A location

Answer: A second related quality

The grammar adds another important quality: he liked poetry and valued feeling.

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Story vocabulary list

爱情 · ài qíng

Love

表演 · biǎo yǎn

perform

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

感情 · gǎn qíng

feeling

回忆 · huí yì

Memory

既然 · jì rán

although

精彩 · jīng cǎi

Marvellous

看法 · kàn fǎ

view

凉快 · liáng kuai

Pleasantly cool

美丽 · měi lì

beautiful

梦 · mèng

dream

Simple questions

What does 感情 mean?
Options: feeling or emotion / flight / form / cash
What is the pinyin for 小说?
Options: xiǎoshuō / xiàoshuō / xiǎoshū / xīaoshuō
What contrast appears in the Jia mansion?
Options: Rich life and hidden troubles / A small house and no people / Only exams and grades / Travel and ocean storms

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

生活看起来十分丰富贾府很大

Answer: 贾府很大，生活看起来十分丰富。

More printable story activities are coming soon.

Dream of the Red Chamber — A Glimpse

Read the story

Story words

Check your understanding

Printable Story Worksheet

Story vocabulary list

Simple questions

Sentence ordering exercise

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