Chinese myth story

The Great Wall — History and Meaning

长城·历史与意义

Study the Great Wall as history, symbol, and cultural memory through formal HSK 5 reading practice.

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1

长城并非某一时代的单一工程。

Chángchéng bìngfēi mǒu yī shídài de dānyī gōngchéng.

The Great Wall is not a single project from one era.

2

它是在长期历史中不断形成的防御体系。

Tā shì zài chángqī lìshǐ zhōng búduàn xíngchéng de fángyù tǐxì.

It is a defensive system formed continuously over long history.

3

由于边疆形势复杂,修筑措施被多次调整。

Yóuyú biānjiāng xíngshì fùzá, xiūzhù cuòshī bèi duō cì tiáozhěng.

Because border conditions were complex, construction measures were adjusted many times.

4

如果只把它看作城墙,便会忽视制度背景。

Rúguǒ zhǐ bǎ tā kàn zuò chéngqiáng, biàn huì hūshì zhìdù bèijǐng.

If one sees it only as a wall, one ignores its institutional background.

5

长城使交通、军事与管理联系在一起。

Chángchéng shǐ jiāotōng, jūnshì yǔ guǎnlǐ liánxì zài yìqǐ.

The Great Wall connected transportation, military affairs, and administration.

6

烽火台被用来传递紧急信息。

Fēnghuǒtái bèi yòng lái chuándì jǐnjí xìnxī.

Beacon towers were used to transmit urgent information.

7

这种设计体现了古代工程的综合能力。

Zhè zhǒng shèjì tǐxiàn le gǔdài gōngchéng de zōnghé nénglì.

This design reflects the integrated ability of ancient engineering.

8

即使材料有限,工匠也因地制宜。

Jíshǐ cáiliào yǒuxiàn, gōngjiàng yě yīn dì zhì yí.

Even with limited materials, artisans adapted to local conditions.

9

在沙漠地区,城墙形式与山区不同。

Zài shāmò dìqū, chéngqiáng xíngshì yǔ shānqū bù tóng.

In desert areas, wall forms differed from mountainous areas.

10

这种差异说明工程必须服从环境。

Zhè zhǒng chāyì shuōmíng gōngchéng bìxū fúcóng huánjìng.

This difference shows engineering must respond to environment.

11

长城被赋予的象征意义越来越丰富。

Chángchéng bèi fùyǔ de xiàngzhēng yìyì yuè lái yuè fēngfù.

The symbolic meaning given to the Great Wall became increasingly rich.

12

它既代表防守,也代表凝聚。

Tā jì dàibiǎo fángshǒu, yě dàibiǎo níngjù.

It represents both defense and cohesion.

13

众志成城这一成语因此常被提起。

Zhòng zhì chéng chéng zhè yī chéngyǔ yīncǐ cháng bèi tíqǐ.

The idiom “united wills make a city wall” is therefore often mentioned.

14

然而,历史记忆也包含辛苦与代价。

Ránér, lìshǐ jìyì yě bāohán xīnkǔ yǔ dàijià.

However, historical memory also contains hardship and cost.

15

若只赞美壮观,便难以全面理解。

Ruò zhǐ zànměi zhuàngguān, biàn nányǐ quánmiàn lǐjiě.

If one only praises its grandeur, one cannot understand it fully.

16

今天,长城被保护为世界文化遗产。

Jīntiān, Chángchéng bèi bǎohù wéi shìjiè wénhuà yíchǎn.

Today, the Great Wall is protected as world cultural heritage.

17

旅游开发若缺乏规划,反而会造成破坏。

Lǚyóu kāifā ruò quēfá guīhuà, fǎn ér huì zàochéng pòhuài.

If tourism development lacks planning, it can instead cause damage.

18

因此,保护与利用必须取得平衡。

Yīncǐ, bǎohù yǔ lìyòng bìxū qǔdé pínghéng.

Therefore, protection and use must achieve balance.

19

概括而言,长城是历史经验的结晶。

Gàikuò ér yán, Chángchéng shì lìshǐ jīngyàn de jiéjīng.

In summary, the Great Wall is a crystallization of historical experience.

20

它的意义随着时代继续被解释。

Tā de yìyì suízhe shídài jìxù bèi jiěshì.

Its meaning continues to be interpreted with the times.

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Vocabulary

Story words

27 cards

背景

bèi jǐng

background

标志

biāo zhì

symbol, mark

传统

chuán tǒng

traditional

承担

chéng dān

to take on (a responsibility)

持续

chí xù

to continue, to persist

措施

cuò shī

measures (taken to solve a problem)

代表

dài biǎo

representative, delegate

发展

fā zhǎn

Development

方式

fāng shì

method, way

风险

fēng xiǎn

risk

概括

gài kuò

to summarize

广大

guǎng dà

(of an area) vast or extensive

规律

guī lv4

regular pattern, rule, law

国际

guó jì

international

过程

guò chéng

process

合理

hé lǐ

reasonable

价值

jià zhí

value

经历

jīng lì

experience

历史

lì shǐ

History

民族

mín zú

Nation

评价

píng jià

evaluation

全面

quán miàn

all-around, comprehensive

深刻

shēn kè

deep, profound

文化

wén huà

Culture

影响

yǐng xiǎng

Influence

责任

zé rèn

responsibility

保护

bǎo hù

protect

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 象征 mean?

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 传统?

Question 3

Why does the story reject seeing the Great Wall only as a wall?

Question 4

What balance is needed today?

Question 5

Choose the correct nested-clause sentence.

Question 6

What does 被用来 do in 烽火台被用来传递紧急信息?

Question 7

What makes “若只赞美壮观,便难以全面理解” advanced?

Question 8

What does 众志成城 mean?

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Printable Story Worksheet

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Story vocabulary list

背景 · bèi jǐng

background

标志 · biāo zhì

symbol, mark

传统 · chuán tǒng

traditional

承担 · chéng dān

to take on (a responsibility)

持续 · chí xù

to continue, to persist

措施 · cuò shī

measures (taken to solve a problem)

代表 · dài biǎo

representative, delegate

发展 · fā zhǎn

Development

方式 · fāng shì

method, way

风险 · fēng xiǎn

risk

概括 · gài kuò

to summarize

广大 · guǎng dà

(of an area) vast or extensive

Simple questions

  1. What does 象征 mean?

    Options: symbol / program / wedding / spoon

  2. What is the pinyin for 传统?

    Options: chuántǒng / chuāntóng / chuǎntǒng / chuántōng

  3. Why does the story reject seeing the Great Wall only as a wall?

    Options: That view ignores its institutional and historical background / The Great Wall is not visible / It was only a poem / It has no cultural value

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

More printable story activities are coming soon.