Chinese myth story

Journey to the West — Sun Wukong

西游记·孙悟空

Follow Sun Wukong through discipline, freedom, and responsibility with HSK 4 grammar like 宁可...也不, 哪怕...也, and 除非...否则.

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孙悟空从石头里出生，性格活泼。

Sūn Wùkōng cóng shítou lǐ chūshēng, xìnggé huópō.

Sun Wukong was born from stone and had a lively personality.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

他学会功夫以后，能力越来越强。

Tā xuéhuì gōngfu yǐhòu, nénglì yuè lái yuè qiáng.

After learning kung fu, his abilities became stronger and stronger.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

哪怕别人反对，他也坚持自由。

Nǎpà biérén fǎnduì, tā yě jiānchí zìyóu.

Even if others opposed him, he still insisted on freedom.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

他宁可受罚，也不愿意低头。

Tā nìngkě shòufá, yě bú yuànyì dītóu.

He would rather be punished than bow his head.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

这种态度让天宫非常紧张。

Zhè zhǒng tàidù ràng Tiāngōng fēicháng jǐnzhāng.

This attitude made the heavenly palace very tense.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

孙悟空把金箍棒举得很高。

Sūn Wùkōng bǎ Jīngū Bàng jǔ de hěn gāo.

Sun Wukong raised the golden staff very high.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

许多天兵被他打得没有办法。

Xǔduō tiānbīng bèi tā dǎ de méiyǒu bànfǎ.

Many heavenly soldiers were beaten by him until they had no solution.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

可是力量越大，责任也越重。

Kěshì lìliang yuè dà, zérèn yě yuè zhòng.

But the greater the power, the heavier the responsibility.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

佛祖认为，除非他学会冷静，否则难成大事。

Fózǔ rènwéi, chúfēi tā xuéhuì lěngjìng, fǒuzé nán chéng dà shì.

The Buddha believed that unless he learned calmness, he could not achieve great things.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

孙悟空后来被压在五行山下。

Sūn Wùkōng hòulái bèi yā zài Wǔxíng Shān xià.

Sun Wukong was later pressed under Five Elements Mountain.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

五百年过去，他终于遇到唐僧。

Wǔbǎi nián guòqù, tā zhōngyú yùdào Táng Sēng.

Five hundred years passed, and he finally met Tang Sanzang.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

既然要去西天，就必须遵守规则。

Jìrán yào qù Xītiān, jiù bìxū zūnshǒu guīzé.

Since he was going west, he had to follow rules.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

他不但保护师父，而且学习耐心。

Tā búdàn bǎohù shīfu, érqiě xuéxí nàixīn.

He not only protected his master, but also learned patience.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

路上遇到危险时，他总是第一个行动。

Lù shàng yùdào wēixiǎn shí, tā zǒngshì dì yī ge xíngdòng.

When danger appeared on the road, he was always the first to act.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

哪怕妖怪很厉害，他也不退后。

Nǎpà yāoguài hěn lìhai, tā yě bú tuìhòu.

Even if the demons were powerful, he did not step back.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

他慢慢明白，勇敢需要智慧。

Tā mànmàn míngbai, yǒnggǎn xūyào zhìhuì.

He slowly understood that courage needs wisdom.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

孙悟空的故事被很多孩子喜欢。

Sūn Wùkōng de gùshi bèi hěn duō háizi xǐhuan.

Sun Wukong’s story is loved by many children.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

因为他有缺点，也有成长。

Yīnwèi tā yǒu quēdiǎn, yě yǒu chéngzhǎng.

Because he has flaws, and also growth.

Sentence vocabulary

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

能力 · néng lì

ability

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

危险 · wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢 · yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许 · yǔn xǔ

allow

支持 · zhī chí

Support

Finished reading the story?

Vocabulary

Story words

19 cards

刀

dāo

knife

动作

dòng zuò

action

反对

fǎn duì

Opposition

否则

fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫

gōng fu

Kungfu

好像

hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使

jí shǐ

even if

举行

jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝

jù jué

refuse

困难

kùn nan

difficulty

冷静

lěng jìng

calm down

厉害

lì hai

Fierce

能力

néng lì

ability

任务

rèn wu

task

失败

shī bài

fail

危险

wēi xiǎn

danger

勇敢

yǒng gǎn

Brave

允许

yǔn xǔ

allow

支持

zhī chí

Support

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 能力 mean?

Options

ability
ocean
snack
address

Answer: ability

能力 means ability. Wukong’s abilities become stronger and stronger.

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 否则?

Options

fǒuzé
fǒuzhě
fóuzé
fǒusè

Answer: fǒuzé

否则 is pronounced fǒuzé and means otherwise.

Question 3

Why was Sun Wukong pressed under the mountain?

Options

He needed to learn calmness and rules
He lost his passport
He wanted to sleep
He broke a boat

Answer: He needed to learn calmness and rules

The story links his power with the need for calmness and responsibility.

Question 4

What does Wukong learn on the journey?

Options

Courage needs wisdom
Gold is always useful
Rules are never important
He should never help others

Answer: Courage needs wisdom

The story says he slowly understands that courage needs wisdom.

Question 5

Choose the correct 宁可...也不 sentence.

Options

他宁可受罚，也不愿意低头
他也不受罚，宁可愿意低头
宁可他低头，也不受罚愿意
受罚宁可，也不他低头愿意

Answer: 他宁可受罚，也不愿意低头

宁可 A，也不 B means would rather A than B.

Question 6

What does 除非...否则... express?

Options

Unless one condition is met, the result will not happen
Two actions at the same time
A passive sentence only
A list of nouns

Answer: Unless one condition is met, the result will not happen

除非 he learns calmness, otherwise he cannot achieve great things.

Question 7

What does 哪怕妖怪很厉害，他也不退后 show?

Options

Even if the demon is powerful, he still does not step back
Because the demon is powerful, he leaves
The demon is not powerful
He compares two demons

Answer: Even if the demon is powerful, he still does not step back

哪怕...也... is similar to even if...still....

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Story vocabulary list

刀 · dāo

knife

动作 · dòng zuò

action

反对 · fǎn duì

Opposition

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

功夫 · gōng fu

Kungfu

好像 · hǎo xiàng

Be like, seem

即使 · jí shǐ

even if

举行 · jǔ xíng

hold

拒绝 · jù jué

refuse

困难 · kùn nan

difficulty

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

厉害 · lì hai

Fierce

Simple questions

What does 能力 mean?
Options: ability / ocean / snack / address
What is the pinyin for 否则?
Options: fǒuzé / fǒuzhě / fóuzé / fǒusè
Why was Sun Wukong pressed under the mountain?
Options: He needed to learn calmness and rules / He lost his passport / He wanted to sleep / He broke a boat

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

性格活泼孙悟空从石头里出生

Answer: 孙悟空从石头里出生，性格活泼。

More printable story activities are coming soon.

Journey to the West — Sun Wukong

Read the story

Story words

Check your understanding

Printable Story Worksheet

Story vocabulary list

Simple questions

Sentence ordering exercise

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