The Jade Rabbit · chapter 1 of 3
The Hungry Old Man
饿了的老人
A monkey, a fox and a rabbit promise to help someone every day. Then a starving old man shows up, and the rabbit has only grass to give.
Hear the chapter
Read what you hear
- Narrator 很久很久以前，山里有三个好朋友。他们是狐狸、猴子和兔子。
Hěn jiǔ hěn jiǔ yǐqián, shānlǐ yǒu sān gè hǎo péngyou. Tāmen shì húli, hóuzi hé tùzi.
Long, long ago, three good friends lived in the mountains: a fox, a monkey and a rabbit.
- Ah Jin 你们看！我在最高的树上！
Nǐmen kàn! Wǒ zài zuì gāo de shù shang!
Look, everyone! I'm at the top of the tallest tree!
- Ah Hong 我跑得最快！你们看不见我！
Wǒ pǎo de zuì kuài! Nǐmen kàn bú jiàn wǒ!
I run the fastest! You can't even see me!
- Ah Jin 我看得见你！你就在树下！
Wǒ kàn de jiàn nǐ! Nǐ jiù zài shù xià!
I can see you! You're right under my tree!
- Ah Hong 那不算！你在天上，当然看得见！
Nà bú suàn! Nǐ zài tiān shang, dāngrán kàn de jiàn!
That doesn't count! You're up in the sky, of course you can see me!
- Ah Jin 小白，你呢？你只会吃草！哈哈！
Xiǎo Bái, nǐ ne? Nǐ zhǐ huì chī cǎo! Hāhā!
And you, Xiao Bai? All you can do is eat grass! Ha ha!
- Xiao Bai 我喜欢草。草很好吃，也很甜！
Wǒ xǐhuan cǎo. Cǎo hěn hǎochī, yě hěn tián!
I like grass. Grass is tasty, and sweet too!
- Ah Hong 好了，好了。今天我们做什么？
Hǎo le, hǎo le. Jīntiān wǒmen zuò shénme?
All right, all right. What shall we do today?
- Xiao Bai 我们说好了：每天帮一个人！
Wǒmen shuō hǎo le: měi tiān bāng yí gè rén!
We promised: every day, we help one person!
- Ah Jin 对！可是今天谁要我们帮忙呢？
Duì! Kěshì jīntiān shéi yào wǒmen bāngmáng ne?
Right! But who needs our help today?
- Ah Hong 你们看！河边有一个人，他走得很慢！
Nǐmen kàn! Hébiān yǒu yí gè rén, tā zǒu de hěn màn!
Look! There's someone by the river, and he's walking so slowly!
- The Old Man 朋友们，你们好。我好饿。
Péngyoumen, nǐmen hǎo. Wǒ hǎo è.
Hello, friends. I am so hungry.
- Ah Hong 老人，你怎么了？
Lǎorén, nǐ zěnme le?
Old man, what's wrong?
- The Old Man 我走了很远。三天没有吃东西了。
Wǒ zǒu le hěn yuǎn. Sān tiān méiyǒu chī dōngxi le.
I have walked very far. I haven't eaten for three days.
- Ah Jin 三天？我的天啊！你等一等！
Sān tiān? Wǒ de tiān a! Nǐ děng yi děng!
Three days? Oh my goodness! Wait right here!
- Ah Hong 我去河里找鱼！很快就回来！
Wǒ qù hélǐ zhǎo yú! Hěn kuài jiù huílái!
I'll find fish in the river! I'll be right back!
- Narrator 狐狸跑去河里。猴子上了大树。
Húli pǎo qù hélǐ. Hóuzi shàng le dà shù.
The fox ran to the river. The monkey climbed a big tree.
- Ah Hong 老人，你看！三条大鱼！
Lǎorén, nǐ kàn! Sān tiáo dà yú!
Old man, look! Three big fish!
- Ah Jin 我有苹果！又红又大！
Wǒ yǒu píngguǒ! Yòu hóng yòu dà!
I've got apples! Big and red!
- The Old Man 谢谢你们。你们真是好孩子。
Xièxie nǐmen. Nǐmen zhēn shì hǎo háizi.
Thank you both. You are good children.
- Ah Hong 咦？小白怎么不说话？
Yí? Xiǎo Bái zěnme bù shuōhuà?
Huh? Why isn't Xiao Bai saying anything?
- The Old Man 小白，你呢？你有什么给我？
Xiǎo Bái, nǐ ne? Nǐ yǒu shénme gěi wǒ?
Xiao Bai, what about you? What do you have for me?
- Xiao Bai 我……我只有草。对不起，老人。
Wǒ… wǒ zhǐyǒu cǎo. Duìbuqǐ, lǎorén.
I… I only have grass. I'm sorry, old man.
- The Old Man 我不能吃草，孩子。
Wǒ bù néng chī cǎo, háizi.
I can't eat grass, child.
- Ah Jin 小白，快想想！你一定有办法！
Xiǎo Bái, kuài xiǎng xiang! Nǐ yídìng yǒu bànfǎ!
Xiao Bai, think fast! You must have a way!
- Xiao Bai 我没有鱼，也没有苹果……我有什么呢？
Wǒ méiyǒu yú, yě méiyǒu píngguǒ… wǒ yǒu shénme ne?
I have no fish, and no apples… What do I have?
- Xiao Bai 有了！我有我自己！
Yǒu le! Wǒ yǒu wǒ zìjǐ!
I know! I have myself!
- Xiao Bai 老人，请你生一个火，好吗？
Lǎorén, qǐng nǐ shēng yí gè huǒ, hǎo ma?
Old man, would you please make a fire?
- Xiao Bai 火生好了，我就跳进去。我给你吃我自己。
Huǒ shēng hǎo le, wǒ jiù tiào jìnqù. Wǒ gěi nǐ chī wǒ zìjǐ.
When the fire is ready, I will jump in. I will give you myself to eat.
What changed in the story?
- What promise have the three friends made?
“我们说好了：每天帮一个人！”
- What has the old man not done for three days?
“三天没有吃东西了。”
- What does the monkey bring the old man?
“我有苹果！又红又大！”
- Why can't Xiao Bai give the old man grass?
“我不能吃草，孩子。”
- What does Xiao Bai decide to give the old man?
“我有我自己！”……“我给你吃我自己。”