Chinese myth story

The Art of War — Key Lessons

孙子兵法·要点

Learn key ideas from The Art of War in readable HSK 4 Mandarin with conditional and complex sentence structures.

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孙子兵法是一部著名军事作品。

Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ shì yí bù zhùmíng jūnshì zuòpǐn.

The Art of War is a famous military work.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

它的内容虽然古老，却仍然有影响。

Tā de nèiróng suīrán gǔlǎo, què réngrán yǒu yǐngxiǎng.

Although its content is ancient, it still has influence.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

凡是重要行动，都要先调查情况。

Fánshì zhòngyào xíngdòng, dōu yào xiān diàochá qíngkuàng.

For any important action, the situation must be investigated first.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

如果情况不清楚，判断就容易错误。

Rúguǒ qíngkuàng bù qīngchu, pànduàn jiù róngyì cuòwù.

If the situation is unclear, judgment easily becomes wrong.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

除非条件合适，否则不要轻易行动。

Chúfēi tiáojiàn héshì, fǒuzé bú yào qīngyì xíngdòng.

Unless conditions are suitable, do not act lightly.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

孙子重视计划，也重视变化。

Sūnzǐ zhòngshì jìhuà, yě zhòngshì biànhuà.

Sunzi valued planning and also valued change.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

他认为胜利不只靠力气。

Tā rènwéi shènglì bù zhǐ kào lìqi.

He believed victory does not rely only on strength.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

真正的关键是了解自己和对手。

Zhēnzhèng de guānjiàn shì liǎojiě zìjǐ hé duìshǒu.

The real key is understanding yourself and the opponent.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

凡是只看表面的人，都容易失败。

Fánshì zhǐ kàn biǎomiàn de rén, dōu róngyì shībài.

Anyone who only looks at the surface can easily fail.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

与其盲目竞争，不如冷静分析。

Yǔqí mángmù jìngzhēng, bùrú lěngjìng fēnxī.

Rather than competing blindly, it is better to analyze calmly.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

即使有优势，也不能粗心。

Jíshǐ yǒu yōushì, yě bù néng cūxīn.

Even with an advantage, one cannot be careless.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

否则，小错误会引起大问题。

Fǒuzé, xiǎo cuòwù huì yǐnqǐ dà wèntí.

Otherwise, small mistakes can cause big problems.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

好的将领把风险降到最低。

Hǎo de jiànglǐng bǎ fēngxiǎn jiàng dào zuìdī.

A good general reduces risk to the lowest level.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

同时，他也要鼓励团队。

Tóngshí, tā yě yào gǔlì tuánduì.

At the same time, he must encourage the team.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

这种思想被用在管理和学习中。

Zhè zhǒng sīxiǎng bèi yòng zài guǎnlǐ hé xuéxí zhōng.

This thinking is used in management and study.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

因为目标不同，方法也应该不同。

Yīnwèi mùbiāo bù tóng, fāngfǎ yě yīnggāi bù tóng.

Because goals differ, methods should also differ.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

复句让这些道理表达得更准确。

Fùjù ràng zhèxiē dàolǐ biǎodá de gèng zhǔnquè.

Complex sentences express these ideas more accurately.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

读孙子兵法，可以训练判断能力。

Dú Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ, kěyǐ xùnliàn pànduàn nénglì.

Reading The Art of War can train judgment ability.

Sentence vocabulary

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

能力 · néng lì

ability

判断 · pàn duàn

judge

情况 · qíng kuàng

Situation

任务 · rèn wu

task

失败 · shī bài

fail

条件 · tiáo jiàn

condition

总结 · zǒng jié

summary

Finished reading the story?

Vocabulary

Story words

19 cards

安全

ān quán

security

标准

biāo zhǔn

standard

部分

bù fen

Part

材料

cái liào

Material Science

调查

diào chá

investigation

否则

fǒu zé

otherwise

管理

guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键

guān jiàn

key

计划

jì huà

plan

竞争

jìng zhēng

compete

冷静

lěng jìng

calm down

目的

mù dì

objective

能力

néng lì

ability

判断

pàn duàn

judge

情况

qíng kuàng

Situation

任务

rèn wu

task

失败

shī bài

fail

条件

tiáo jiàn

condition

总结

zǒng jié

summary

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 判断 mean?

Options

judgment
novel
ocean
snack

Answer: judgment

判断 means judgment. The story says unclear situations lead to wrong judgment.

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 条件?

Options

tiáojiàn
tiǎojiàn
tiāojiàn
tiáojian

Answer: tiáojiàn

条件 is pronounced tiáojiàn and means condition.

Question 3

What should happen before important action?

Options

Investigate the situation
Hold a festival
Buy a ticket
Play music

Answer: Investigate the situation

凡是重要行动，都要先调查情况 means every important action needs investigation first.

Question 4

What is the real key according to the story?

Options

Understanding yourself and the opponent
Having more snacks
Moving faster always
Ignoring conditions

Answer: Understanding yourself and the opponent

The story says the true key is understanding oneself and the opponent.

Question 5

Choose the correct 除非...否则 sentence.

Options

除非条件合适，否则不要轻易行动
否则条件合适，除非行动轻易
条件除非行动，否则合适不要
不要除非否则条件行动合适

Answer: 除非条件合适，否则不要轻易行动

除非...否则... means unless the condition is met, otherwise do not act.

Question 6

What does 凡是...都... mean here?

Options

Every case of this kind follows the result
Only one special case
A passive action
A completed past event

Answer: Every case of this kind follows the result

凡是重要行动，都要先调查情况 means all important actions require investigation.

Question 7

Why does the story use complex sentences?

Options

To connect conditions, reasons, and results clearly
To avoid meaning
To make every sentence shorter
To remove grammar patterns

Answer: To connect conditions, reasons, and results clearly

复句 structures help express cause, condition, contrast, and result with more precision.

Printable preview

Printable Story Worksheet

A simple classroom-friendly preview for The Art of War — Key Lessons. Use your browser print command to print this free HTML preview.

Free preview

Story vocabulary list

安全 · ān quán

security

标准 · biāo zhǔn

standard

部分 · bù fen

Part

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

调查 · diào chá

investigation

否则 · fǒu zé

otherwise

管理 · guǎn lǐ

Administration

关键 · guān jiàn

key

计划 · jì huà

plan

竞争 · jìng zhēng

compete

冷静 · lěng jìng

calm down

目的 · mù dì

objective

Simple questions

What does 判断 mean?
Options: judgment / novel / ocean / snack
What is the pinyin for 条件?
Options: tiáojiàn / tiǎojiàn / tiāojiàn / tiáojian
What should happen before important action?
Options: Investigate the situation / Hold a festival / Buy a ticket / Play music

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

著部一是法兵子孙

Answer: 孙子兵法是一部著名军事作品。

More printable story activities are coming soon.

The Art of War — Key Lessons

Read the story

Story words

Check your understanding

Printable Story Worksheet

Story vocabulary list

Simple questions

Sentence ordering exercise

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