Chinese myth story

The Invention of Paper

造纸术的发明

Learn how paper changed knowledge, government, and culture with HSK 5 passive, causative, and argumentative structures.

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1

纸的发明改变了知识保存方式。

Zhǐ de fāmíng gǎibiàn le zhīshi bǎocún fāngshì.

The invention of paper changed how knowledge was preserved.

2

在纸出现以前,文字常被写在竹简上。

Zài zhǐ chūxiàn yǐqián, wénzì cháng bèi xiě zài zhújiǎn shàng.

Before paper appeared, writing was often written on bamboo slips.

3

这些材料沉重,传播效率有限。

Zhèxiē cáiliào chénzhòng, chuánbō xiàolǜ yǒuxiàn.

These materials were heavy, and transmission efficiency was limited.

4

蔡伦改进造纸术,使纸更加实用。

Cài Lún gǎijìn zàozhǐshù, shǐ zhǐ gèngjiā shíyòng.

Cai Lun improved papermaking, making paper more practical.

5

如果没有合适材料,技术难以普及。

Rúguǒ méiyǒu héshì cáiliào, jìshù nányǐ pǔjí.

Without suitable materials, technology is hard to popularize.

6

造纸过程包含选择、浸泡和压平。

Zàozhǐ guòchéng bāohán xuǎnzé, jìnpào hé yāpíng.

The papermaking process includes selection, soaking, and pressing.

7

每一步都促使纤维重新结合。

Měi yí bù dōu cùshǐ xiānwéi chóngxīn jiéhé.

Each step causes fibers to combine again.

8

成品被晾干以后,才能用于书写。

Chéngpǐn bèi liànggān yǐhòu, cái néng yòng yú shūxiě.

Only after the finished product is dried can it be used for writing.

9

纸张轻便,从而降低了学习成本。

Zhǐzhāng qīngbiàn, cóng ér jiàngdī le xuéxí chéngběn.

Paper was light and convenient, thereby lowering the cost of learning.

10

书籍被复制得越多,知识传播越广。

Shūjí bèi fùzhì de yuè duō, zhīshi chuánbō yuè guǎng.

The more books were copied, the more widely knowledge spread.

11

这一变化并非一蹴而就。

Zhè yī biànhuà bìngfēi yī cù ér jiù.

This change was not accomplished overnight.

12

它需要工匠长期观察与改进。

Tā xūyào gōngjiàng chángqī guānchá yǔ gǎijìn.

It required artisans’ long-term observation and improvement.

13

学者常引用纸的例子说明技术与文化的关系。

Xuézhě cháng yǐnyòng zhǐ de lìzi shuōmíng jìshù yǔ wénhuà de guānxi.

Scholars often cite paper to explain the relationship between technology and culture.

14

因为媒介变化会影响思想表达。

Yīnwèi méijiè biànhuà huì yǐngxiǎng sīxiǎng biǎodá.

Because changes in media influence the expression of thought.

15

即便今天进入数字时代,纸仍未消失。

Jíbiàn jīntiān jìnrù shùzì shídài, zhǐ réng wèi xiāoshī.

Even today in the digital age, paper has not disappeared.

16

合同、艺术和档案仍依赖纸张。

Hétong, yìshù hé dàng’àn réng yīlài zhǐzhāng.

Contracts, art, and archives still rely on paper.

17

由此可见,发明的价值会跨越时代。

Yóucǐ kějiàn, fāmíng de jiàzhí huì kuàyuè shídài.

From this one can see that the value of an invention crosses eras.

18

纸让文明记录变得更加稳定。

Zhǐ ràng wénmíng jìlù biàn de gèngjiā wěndìng.

Paper made the recording of civilization more stable.

19

总结而言,它是文化传播的关键工具。

Zǒngjié ér yán, tā shì wénhuà chuánbō de guānjiàn gōngjù.

In summary, it is a key tool for cultural transmission.

20

其影响至今仍不可或缺。

Qí yǐngxiǎng zhìjīn réng bù kě huò quē.

Its influence remains indispensable today.

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Vocabulary

Story words

27 cards

保存

bǎo cún

to save (a file, etc.)

保留

bǎo liú

to retain, to preserve

材料

cái liào

Material Science

产生

chǎn shēng

to produce

程序

chéng xù

computer program, procedure

传统

chuán tǒng

traditional

传播

chuán bō

to propagate, to spread

促使

cù shǐ

to induce

措施

cuò shī

measures (taken to solve a problem)

代表

dài biǎo

representative, delegate

方式

fāng shì

method, way

复制

fù zhì

to copy (text), to duplicate

改进

gǎi jìn

to improve

工具

gōng jù

tool

古代

gǔ dài

ancient times

观察

guān chá

observation

过程

guò chéng

process

技术

jì shù

technology

结论

jié lùn

conclusion

理论

lǐ lùn

theory

普遍

pǔ biàn

universal

使用

shǐ yòng

Use

文化

wén huà

Culture

知识

zhī shi

knowledge

证明

zhèng míng

Prove

重要

zhòng yào

important

影响

yǐng xiǎng

Influence

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 复制 mean?

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 材料?

Question 3

Why did paper improve knowledge transmission?

Question 4

Why does paper still matter in the digital age?

Question 5

Choose the correct passive sentence.

Question 6

What does 由此可见 introduce?

Question 7

How does “即便今天进入数字时代,纸仍未消失” work?

Question 8

What does 一蹴而就 mean?

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Story vocabulary list

保存 · bǎo cún

to save (a file, etc.)

保留 · bǎo liú

to retain, to preserve

材料 · cái liào

Material Science

产生 · chǎn shēng

to produce

程序 · chéng xù

computer program, procedure

传统 · chuán tǒng

traditional

传播 · chuán bō

to propagate, to spread

促使 · cù shǐ

to induce

措施 · cuò shī

measures (taken to solve a problem)

代表 · dài biǎo

representative, delegate

方式 · fāng shì

method, way

复制 · fù zhì

to copy (text), to duplicate

Simple questions

  1. What does 复制 mean?

    Options: to copy or duplicate / to cough / to rent / to applaud

  2. What is the pinyin for 材料?

    Options: cáiliào / cǎiliào / cáiliao / càiliào

  3. Why did paper improve knowledge transmission?

    Options: It was lighter and easier to copy / It made books heavier / It replaced all language / It prevented writing

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

More printable story activities are coming soon.