Chinese myth story

Hua Mulan

花木兰

Read a respectful elementary version of Hua Mulan and practice HSK 2 words for family, preparation, courage, and helping others.

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很久以前，花木兰住在一个普通的家里。

Hěn jiǔ yǐqián, Huā Mùlán zhù zài yí ge pǔtōng de jiā lǐ.

A long time ago, Hua Mulan lived in an ordinary home.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

她的父亲年纪比较大。

Tā de fùqin niánjì bǐjiào dà.

Her father was rather old.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

因为家里需要人去打仗，所以木兰很担心。

Yīnwèi jiā lǐ xūyào rén qù dǎzhàng, suǒyǐ Mùlán hěn dānxīn.

Because the family needed someone to go to war, Mulan was worried.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

她觉得自己可以帮助家人。

Tā juéde zìjǐ kěyǐ bāngzhù jiārén.

She felt that she could help her family.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

虽然路很远，但是她还是准备出发。

Suīrán lù hěn yuǎn, dànshì tā háishì zhǔnbèi chūfā.

Although the road was far, she still prepared to set out.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

刚才她告诉家人不要担心。

Gāngcái tā gàosu jiārén bú yào dānxīn.

Just now, she told her family not to worry.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

她已经穿好衣服，骑上马了。

Tā yǐjīng chuān hǎo yīfu, qí shàng mǎ le.

She had already put on her clothes and gotten on the horse.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

木兰一边学习，一边努力保护同伴。

Mùlán yìbiān xuéxí, yìbiān nǔlì bǎohù tóngbàn.

Mulan studied while working hard to protect her companions.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

她做事比较认真，也特别勇敢。

Tā zuò shì bǐjiào rènzhēn, yě tèbié yǒnggǎn.

She did things rather carefully and was also very brave.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

很多年以后，大家知道她是一个女人。

Hěn duō nián yǐhòu, dàjiā zhīdào tā shì yí ge nǚrén.

Many years later, everyone knew she was a woman.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

她还是回到家里，和家人一起生活。

Tā háishì huí dào jiā lǐ, hé jiārén yìqǐ shēnghuó.

She still returned home and lived with her family.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

木兰的故事告诉我们，爱和勇气很重要。

Mùlán de gùshi gàosu wǒmen, ài hé yǒngqì hěn zhòngyào.

Mulan's story tells us that love and courage are important.

Sentence vocabulary

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

女人 · nǚ rén

woman

可以 · kě yǐ

can; may

知道 · zhī dào

to know

路 · lù

road; way

远 · yuǎn

far

Finished reading the story?

Vocabulary

Story words

18 cards

觉得

jué de

to feel; to think

告诉

gào su

to tell

帮助

bāng zhù

to help

已经

yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以……

yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还

hái

still; also

时间

shí jiān

time

非常

fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备

zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始

kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起

yì qǐ

together

比

bǐ

than; compare

女人

nǚ rén

woman

身体

shēn tǐ

body; health

可以

kě yǐ

can; may

知道

zhī dào

to know

路

lù

road; way

远

yuǎn

far

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 准备 mean?

Options

to prepare
to compare
to know
to laugh

Answer: to prepare

准备 means to prepare. Mulan prepared to leave.

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 女人?

Options

nǚrén
nǔrén
nǚrèn
núrén

Answer: nǚrén

女人 is pronounced nǚrén and means woman.

Question 3

Why was Mulan worried?

Options

Her family needed someone to go to war
She lost a book
She wanted tea
She was late for class

Answer: Her family needed someone to go to war

The sentence uses 因为...所以 to explain why Mulan was worried.

Question 4

What does Mulan show in the story?

Options

Love and courage
Only money
A new phone
A big city

Answer: Love and courage

The story closes by saying love and courage are important.

Question 5

Choose the correct sentence for “Although the road was far, she still prepared to set out.”

Options

虽然路很远，但是她还是准备出发
但是路很远虽然她准备出发
她路虽然但是很远准备
准备出发虽然但是路很远

Answer: 虽然路很远，但是她还是准备出发

The structure 虽然...但是... helps connect a difficulty with a continuing action.

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Printable Story Worksheet

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Story vocabulary list

觉得 · jué de

to feel; to think

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

因为……所以…… · yīn wèi suǒ yǐ

because... so...

还 · hái

still; also

时间 · shí jiān

time

非常 · fēi cháng

very; extremely

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

开始 · kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

一起 · yì qǐ

together

比 · bǐ

than; compare

Simple questions

What does 准备 mean?
Options: to prepare / to compare / to know / to laugh
What is the pinyin for 女人?
Options: nǚrén / nǔrén / nǚrèn / núrén
Why was Mulan worried?
Options: Her family needed someone to go to war / She lost a book / She wanted tea / She was late for class

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

花木兰住在一个普通的家里很久以前

Answer: 很久以前，花木兰住在一个普通的家里。

More printable story activities are coming soon.

Hua Mulan

Read the story

Story words

Check your understanding

Printable Story Worksheet

Story vocabulary list

Simple questions

Sentence ordering exercise

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