Chinese myth story

Zheng He's Voyages

郑和下西洋

Travel with Zheng He across the ocean and practice comparison, complex purpose clauses, and 不但...而且.

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明朝时期，郑和多次下西洋。

Míngcháo shíqī, Zhèng Hé duō cì xià Xīyáng.

During the Ming dynasty, Zheng He sailed west many times.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

他的船队规模比普通船队大得多。

Tā de chuánduì guīmó bǐ pǔtōng chuánduì dà de duō.

His fleet was much larger than ordinary fleets.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

船上不但有货物，而且有翻译。

Chuán shàng búdàn yǒu huòwù, érqiě yǒu fānyì.

On the ships there were not only goods, but also translators.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

出发以前，官员把计划检查了很多遍。

Chūfā yǐqián, guānyuán bǎ jìhuà jiǎnchá le hěn duō biàn.

Before departure, officials checked the plan many times.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

海洋环境复杂，安全非常关键。

Hǎiyáng huánjìng fùzá, ānquán fēicháng guānjiàn.

The ocean environment was complex, and safety was crucial.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

与其急着前进，不如先看方向。

Yǔqí jízhe qiánjìn, bùrú xiān kàn fāngxiàng.

Rather than rushing forward, it was better to check direction first.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

郑和要求大家按照规定行动。

Zhèng Hé yāoqiú dàjiā ànzhào guīdìng xíngdòng.

Zheng He required everyone to act according to rules.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

即使遇到风浪，队伍也保持冷静。

Jíshǐ yùdào fēnglàng, duìwu yě bǎochí lěngjìng.

Even when encountering wind and waves, the group stayed calm.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

他们经过许多国家，进行友好交流。

Tāmen jīngguò xǔduō guójiā, jìnxíng yǒuhǎo jiāoliú.

They passed through many countries and held friendly exchanges.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

当地人被中国丝绸和瓷器吸引。

Dāngdì rén bèi Zhōngguó sīchóu hé cíqì xīyǐn.

Local people were attracted by Chinese silk and porcelain.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

这些旅行不但发展贸易，也增加理解。

Zhèxiē lǚxíng búdàn fāzhǎn màoyì, yě zēngjiā lǐjiě.

These journeys developed not only trade, but also understanding.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

比较其他航行，郑和更重视和平。

Bǐjiào qítā hángxíng, Zhèng Hé gèng zhòngshì hépíng.

Compared with other voyages, Zheng He valued peace more.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

船队把礼物送给远方朋友。

Chuánduì bǎ lǐwù sòng gěi yuǎnfāng péngyou.

The fleet gave gifts to distant friends.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

他们也把新的见闻带回中国。

Tāmen yě bǎ xīn de jiànwén dài huí Zhōngguó.

They also brought new experiences back to China.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

航行过程被记录在历史中。

Hángxíng guòchéng bèi jìlù zài lìshǐ zhōng.

The process of the voyages was recorded in history.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

这种经验说明交流的重要作用。

Zhè zhǒng jīngyàn shuōmíng jiāoliú de zhòngyào zuòyòng.

This experience shows the important role of exchange.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

如果没有准备，远航很难成功。

Rúguǒ méiyǒu zhǔnbèi, yuǎnháng hěn nán chénggōng.

Without preparation, long voyages are hard to succeed.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

郑和的故事体现了开放的态度。

Zhèng Hé de gùshi tǐxiàn le kāifàng de tàidù.

Zheng He’s story reflects an open attitude.

Sentence vocabulary

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

计划 · jì huà

plan

经验 · jīng yàn

experience

距离 · jù lí

distance

目的 · mù dì

objective

任务 · rèn wu

task

支持 · zhī chí

Support

Finished reading the story?

Vocabulary

Story words

18 cards

安排

ān pái

arrange

安全

ān quán

security

保证

bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅

bù jǐn

not only

成功

chéng gōng

Success

出发

chū fā

Set out

发展

fā zhǎn

Development

方向

fāng xiàng

direction

丰富

fēng fù

rich

国际

guó jì

international

海洋

hǎi yáng

ocean

交流

jiāo liú

Communication

计划

jì huà

plan

经验

jīng yàn

experience

距离

jù lí

distance

目的

mù dì

objective

任务

rèn wu

task

支持

zhī chí

Support

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 交流 mean?

Options

exchange or communication
pressure
cash
temperature

Answer: exchange or communication

交流 means exchange or communication. Zheng He’s voyages encouraged friendly exchange.

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 海洋?

Options

hǎiyáng
hàiyáng
hǎiyǎng
hāiyáng

Answer: hǎiyáng

海洋 is pronounced hǎiyáng and means ocean.

Question 3

What made Zheng He’s voyages difficult?

Options

Complex ocean conditions and safety needs
Only classroom rules
A lack of poems
Too many restaurants

Answer: Complex ocean conditions and safety needs

The story says the ocean environment was complex and safety was crucial.

Question 4

How were Zheng He’s voyages different from many others?

Options

They valued peace and exchange
They avoided every country
They had no plan
They only carried soldiers

Answer: They valued peace and exchange

The story compares other voyages and says Zheng He valued peace more.

Question 5

Choose the correct comparison sentence.

Options

他的船队比普通船队大得多
普通船队比他的船队大得多
大得多比他的船队普通
船队普通他的比大得多

Answer: 他的船队比普通船队大得多

A 比 B + adjective + 得多 means A is much more adjective than B.

Question 6

What does 与其急着前进，不如先看方向 mean?

Options

Rather than rush ahead, first check the direction
Because they rushed, they arrived
They never checked direction
Direction is not important

Answer: Rather than rush ahead, first check the direction

与其...不如... presents a wiser choice over a less useful one.

Question 7

What does 不但...而且... show in 船上不但有货物，而且有翻译?

Options

The ships had two important kinds of resources
The ships had nothing
The translators were passive
The goods were lost

Answer: The ships had two important kinds of resources

The structure adds information: not only goods, but also translators.

Printable preview

Printable Story Worksheet

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Free preview

Story vocabulary list

安排 · ān pái

arrange

安全 · ān quán

security

保证 · bǎo zhèng

ensure

不仅 · bù jǐn

not only

成功 · chéng gōng

Success

出发 · chū fā

Set out

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方向 · fāng xiàng

direction

丰富 · fēng fù

rich

国际 · guó jì

international

海洋 · hǎi yáng

ocean

交流 · jiāo liú

Communication

Simple questions

What does 交流 mean?
Options: exchange or communication / pressure / cash / temperature
What is the pinyin for 海洋?
Options: hǎiyáng / hàiyáng / hǎiyǎng / hāiyáng
What made Zheng He’s voyages difficult?
Options: Complex ocean conditions and safety needs / Only classroom rules / A lack of poems / Too many restaurants

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

郑和多次下西洋明朝时期

Answer: 明朝时期，郑和多次下西洋。

More printable story activities are coming soon.

Zheng He's Voyages

Read the story

Story words

Check your understanding

Printable Story Worksheet

Story vocabulary list

Simple questions

Sentence ordering exercise

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