Chinese myth story

The Legend of the White Snake

白蛇传

Read an intermediate retelling of White Snake with love, help, rules, and HSK 3 grammar patterns like 把, 被, and 不但...而且.

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很久以前，西湖边住着一条白蛇。

Hěn jiǔ yǐqián, Xīhú biān zhù zhe yì tiáo bái shé.

A long time ago, a white snake lived beside West Lake.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

她不但会说话，而且很关心别人。

Tā búdàn huì shuōhuà, érqiě hěn guānxīn biérén.

She could not only speak, but also cared deeply about others.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

雨天里，她把伞借给了许仙。

Yǔtiān lǐ, tā bǎ sǎn jiè gěi le Xǔ Xiān.

On a rainy day, she lent an umbrella to Xu Xian.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

许仙觉得她比较热情，也很聪明。

Xǔ Xiān juéde tā bǐjiào rèqíng, yě hěn cōngming.

Xu Xian felt she was rather warm-hearted and smart.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

两个人很快成了重要的朋友。

Liǎng ge rén hěn kuài chéng le zhòngyào de péngyou.

The two quickly became important friends.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

白蛇把药带到城里帮助病人。

Bái Shé bǎ yào dài dào chéng lǐ bāngzhù bìngrén.

White Snake brought medicine into the city to help sick people.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

很多人被她的善良感动了。

Hěn duō rén bèi tā de shànliáng gǎndòng le.

Many people were moved by her kindness.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

法海认为这段关系很奇怪。

Fǎhǎi rènwéi zhè duàn guānxi hěn qíguài.

Fahai thought this relationship was strange.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

他把白蛇带到一座高塔里。

Tā bǎ Bái Shé dài dào yí zuò gāo tǎ lǐ.

He took White Snake into a tall tower.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

白蛇被关起来以后，许仙非常担心。

Bái Shé bèi guān qǐlái yǐhòu, Xǔ Xiān fēicháng dānxīn.

After White Snake was locked away, Xu Xian was very worried.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

朋友们不仅安慰他，而且一起想办法。

Péngyou men bùjǐn ānwèi tā, érqiě yìqǐ xiǎng bànfǎ.

His friends not only comforted him, but also thought of a plan together.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

虽然他们害怕，但是没有放弃希望。

Suīrán tāmen hàipà, dànshì méiyǒu fàngqì xīwàng.

Although they were afraid, they did not give up hope.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

这个故事把爱和责任放在一起。

Zhè ge gùshi bǎ ài hé zérèn fàng zài yìqǐ.

This story places love and responsibility together.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

最后，人们记住了白蛇的勇敢。

Zuìhòu, rénmen jìzhù le Bái Shé de yǒnggǎn.

In the end, people remembered White Snake’s courage.

Sentence vocabulary

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

重要 · zhòng yào

important

告诉 · gào su

to tell

帮助 · bāng zhù

to help

一起 · yì qǐ

together

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

Finished reading the story?

Vocabulary

Story words

17 cards

把

bǎ

hold

被

bèi

cover

不但……而且……

búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙

bāng máng

Help

船

chuán

ship

担心

dān xīn

Worry

害怕

hài pà

Fear

机会

jī huì

Opportunity

决定

jué dìng

Decision

认为

rèn wéi

think

相信

xiāng xìn

believe

最后

zuì hòu

Last

重要

zhòng yào

important

告诉

gào su

to tell

帮助

bāng zhù

to help

一起

yì qǐ

together

已经

yǐ jīng

already

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 关心 mean?

Options

to care about
to close
to compare
to print

Answer: to care about

关心 means to care about someone or something. In the story, White Snake cares about others.

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 被?

Options

bèi
bēi
bǐ
bǎ

Answer: bèi

被 is pronounced bèi and often marks a passive sentence.

Question 3

What did White Snake lend to Xu Xian?

Options

An umbrella
A book
A horse
A map

Answer: An umbrella

The sentence uses 把: 她把伞借给了许仙, meaning she lent the umbrella to Xu Xian.

Question 4

Why were people moved by White Snake?

Options

Because of her kindness
Because she won a race
Because she had a shop
Because she wrote news

Answer: Because of her kindness

很多人被她的善良感动了 means many people were moved by her kindness.

Question 5

Choose the sentence with correct 把 word order.

Options

她把伞借给了许仙
她伞把借给了许仙
把她许仙借伞了
许仙把她借伞了

Answer: 她把伞借给了许仙

In a 把 sentence, the object usually comes after 把: subject + 把 + object + verb phrase.

Question 6

What does 不但……而且…… show?

Options

It adds two related points
It asks a yes/no question
It marks past time only
It means no matter

Answer: It adds two related points

不但……而且…… means not only...but also..., adding a second related idea.

Printable preview

Printable Story Worksheet

A simple classroom-friendly preview for The Legend of the White Snake. Use your browser print command to print this free HTML preview.

Free preview

Story vocabulary list

把 · bǎ

hold

被 · bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

帮忙 · bāng máng

Help

船 · chuán

ship

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

认为 · rèn wéi

think

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

最后 · zuì hòu

Last

Simple questions

What does 关心 mean?
Options: to care about / to close / to compare / to print
What is the pinyin for 被?
Options: bèi / bēi / bǐ / bǎ
What did White Snake lend to Xu Xian?
Options: An umbrella / A book / A horse / A map

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

西湖边住着一条白蛇很久以前

Answer: 很久以前，西湖边住着一条白蛇。

More printable story activities are coming soon.

The Legend of the White Snake

Read the story

Story words

Check your understanding

Printable Story Worksheet

Story vocabulary list

Simple questions

Sentence ordering exercise

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