Chinese myth story

Mulan Joins the Army

木兰从军

Read an intermediate Mulan story with grammar for passive voice, even, and not only...but also.

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1

木兰的父亲被要求去从军。

Mùlán de fùqin bèi yāoqiú qù cóngjūn.

Mulan’s father was required to join the army.

2

他年纪大了,连马也骑不稳。

Tā niánjì dà le, lián mǎ yě qí bù wěn.

He was old and could not even ride a horse steadily.

3

木兰不但担心父亲,而且担心全家。

Mùlán búdàn dānxīn fùqin, érqiě dānxīn quán jiā.

Mulan was worried not only about her father, but also about the whole family.

4

她把自己的想法告诉了母亲。

Tā bǎ zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ gàosu le mǔqin.

She told her mother her own idea.

5

母亲害怕,可是也理解她。

Mǔqin hàipà, kěshì yě lǐjiě tā.

Her mother was afraid, but also understood her.

6

既然已经决定,木兰就马上准备。

Jìrán yǐjīng juédìng, Mùlán jiù mǎshàng zhǔnbèi.

Since she had already decided, Mulan prepared at once.

7

她把长头发藏在帽子下面。

Tā bǎ cháng tóufa cáng zài màozi xiàmiàn.

She hid her long hair under a hat.

8

路上很冷,连水也快结冰了。

Lù shàng hěn lěng, lián shuǐ yě kuài jiébīng le.

It was cold on the road; even the water was almost freezing.

9

她被同伴认为是认真勇敢的人。

Tā bèi tóngbàn rènwéi shì rènzhēn yǒnggǎn de rén.

Her companions considered her a serious and brave person.

10

无论训练多累,她都不说放弃。

Wúlùn xùnliàn duō lèi, tā dōu bù shuō fàngqì.

No matter how tiring the training was, she never said she would quit.

11

木兰不仅学会了骑马,而且学会了合作。

Mùlán bùjǐn xuéhuì le qímǎ, érqiě xuéhuì le hézuò.

Mulan learned not only to ride horses, but also to cooperate.

12

很多年后,她完成了重要任务。

Hěn duō nián hòu, tā wánchéng le zhòngyào rènwu.

Many years later, she completed an important mission.

13

当真相被发现时,大家都很惊讶。

Dāng zhēnxiàng bèi fāxiàn shí, dàjiā dōu hěn jīngyà.

When the truth was discovered, everyone was surprised.

14

木兰的故事影响了很多年轻人。

Mùlán de gùshi yǐngxiǎng le hěn duō niánqīng rén.

Mulan’s story influenced many young people.

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Vocabulary

Story words

16 cards

bèi

cover

不但……而且……

búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

担心

dān xīn

Worry

害怕

hài pà

Fear

机会

jī huì

Opportunity

决定

jué dìng

Decision

努力

nǔ lì

Strive

认真

rèn zhēn

earnest

相信

xiāng xìn

believe

重要

zhòng yào

important

准备

zhǔn bèi

to prepare

已经

yǐ jīng

already

可以

kě yǐ

can; may

帮助

bāng zhù

to help

女人

nǚ rén

woman

road; way

Mini quiz

Check your understanding

Question 1

What does 认真 mean?

Question 2

What is the pinyin for 影响?

Question 3

Why did Mulan decide to join the army?

Question 4

How did Mulan’s companions see her?

Question 5

Choose the correct sentence with 连...也....

Question 6

What does 被 do in 父亲被要求去从军?

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Story vocabulary list

· bèi

cover

不但……而且…… · búdàn…érqiě…

not only…but also…

担心 · dān xīn

Worry

害怕 · hài pà

Fear

机会 · jī huì

Opportunity

决定 · jué dìng

Decision

努力 · nǔ lì

Strive

认真 · rèn zhēn

earnest

相信 · xiāng xìn

believe

重要 · zhòng yào

important

准备 · zhǔn bèi

to prepare

已经 · yǐ jīng

already

Simple questions

  1. What does 认真 mean?

    Options: serious; careful / sweet / nearby / thirsty

  2. What is the pinyin for 影响?

    Options: yǐngxiǎng / yīngxióng / yīnxíng / yǐnjǐng

  3. Why did Mulan decide to join the army?

    Options: Her father was too old and was required to go / She wanted to buy clothes / She wanted to meet a teacher / Her friend asked her to travel

Sentence ordering exercise

Put these parts in the correct order.

More printable story activities are coming soon.