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The Nutcracker · chapter 1 of 4

The Gift

圣诞节的礼物

On Christmas Eve, Clara gets a nutcracker from her godfather, and Fritz breaks it. At midnight the toy stands up and speaks. Something is coming.

The Gift illustration

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Read what you hear

  1. Narrator 圣诞节的晚上,家里有很大的树。树上有很多灯。

    Shèngdànjié de wǎnshang, jiā lǐ yǒu hěn dà de shù. Shù shàng yǒu hěnduō dēng.

    It was Christmas Eve. In the house stood a very big tree covered in lights.

  2. Clara 哥哥,你看!这个树真漂亮!我好高兴!

    Gēge, nǐ kàn! Zhège shù zhēn piàoliang! Wǒ hǎo gāoxìng!

    Look, big brother! This tree is so beautiful! I'm so happy!

  3. Fritz 我的礼物在哪儿?我现在就要礼物!

    Wǒ de lǐwù zài nǎr? Wǒ xiànzài jiù yào lǐwù!

    Where is my present? I want my present right now!

  4. Mother 别急,孩子们。你们的教父来了。

    Bié jí, háizimen. Nǐmen de jiàofù lái le.

    Don't rush, children. Your godfather is here.

  5. Godfather Drosselmeyer 圣诞节快乐,孩子们!我给你们带了礼物。

    Shèngdànjié kuàilè, háizimen! Wǒ gěi nǐmen dài le lǐwù.

    Merry Christmas, children! I've brought you presents.

  6. Clara 教父,你来了!我好想你!

    Jiàofù, nǐ lái le! Wǒ hǎo xiǎng nǐ!

    Godfather, you came! I missed you so much!

  7. Fritz 教父,我的礼物是什么?是大马吗?

    Jiàofù, wǒ de lǐwù shì shénme? Shì dà mǎ ma?

    Godfather, what's my present? Is it a big horse?

  8. Godfather Drosselmeyer 克拉拉,这个给你。它是一个胡桃夹子。

    Kèlālā, zhège gěi nǐ. Tā shì yí gè hútáo jiāzi.

    Clara, this is for you. It is a nutcracker.

  9. Clara 这个胡桃夹子好可爱!你看它的大嘴巴!

    Zhège hútáo jiāzi hǎo kě'ài! Nǐ kàn tā de dà zuǐba!

    It's so cute! Look at its big mouth!

  10. Godfather Drosselmeyer 它是一个小士兵。它不大,可是它什么都不怕。

    Tā shì yí gè xiǎo shìbīng. Tā bú dà, kěshì tā shénme dōu bú pà.

    It's a little soldier. It isn't big, but it isn't afraid of anything.

  11. Fritz 给我看看!我也想玩这个小士兵!

    Gěi wǒ kànkan! Wǒ yě xiǎng wán zhège xiǎo shìbīng!

    Let me see! I want to play with this little soldier too!

  12. Clara 不行,哥哥!这个小士兵是我的!

    Bùxíng, gēge! Zhège xiǎo shìbīng shì wǒ de!

    No, brother! This little soldier is mine!

  13. Fritz 看!我有一个很大的胡桃。我来夹一夹!

    Kàn! Wǒ yǒu yí gè hěn dà de hútáo. Wǒ lái jiā yì jiā!

    Look! I have a really big nut. I'll crack it!

  14. Clara 这个胡桃太大了!你别夹它!

    Zhège hútáo tài dà le! Nǐ bié jiā tā!

    That nut is too big! Don't crack it!

  15. Fritz 一,二,三……我要夹了!

    Yī, èr, sān… wǒ yào jiā le!

    One, two, three... I'll crack it with all my might!

  16. Clara 啊!它的嘴巴坏了!我的小士兵!

    A! Tā de zuǐba huài le! Wǒ de xiǎo shìbīng!

    Ah! Its mouth is broken! My little soldier!

  17. Fritz 对不起,克拉拉!是这个胡桃太大了!

    Duìbuqǐ, Kèlālā! Shì zhège hútáo tài dà le!

    Sorry, Clara! It's this nut, it was too big!

  18. Clara 别怕,小士兵。我现在帮你看看。

    Bié pà, xiǎo shìbīng. Wǒ xiànzài bāng nǐ kànkan.

    Don't be afraid, little soldier. Let me look after you.

  19. Godfather Drosselmeyer 好孩子。今天晚上,你要看着它。

    Hǎo háizi. Jīntiān wǎnshang, nǐ yào kànzhe tā.

    Good girl. Tonight, keep an eye on it.

  20. Narrator 十二点了,大家都睡了。

    Shí'èr diǎn le, dàjiā dōu shuì le.

    It was twelve o'clock, and everyone was asleep.

  21. Clara 我睡不着。小士兵,你现在好吗?

    Wǒ shuì bù zháo. Xiǎo shìbīng, nǐ xiànzài hǎo ma?

    I can't sleep. Little soldier, are you all right now?

  22. Clara 什么声音?谁在那儿?

    Shénme shēngyīn? Shuí zài nàr?

    What's that sound? Who's there?

  23. Clara 老鼠!这么多老鼠!我很怕!

    Lǎoshǔ! Zhème duō lǎoshǔ! Wǒ hěn pà!

    Mice! So many mice! I'm scared!

  24. The Nutcracker 克拉拉,你别怕!我是你的胡桃夹子!

    Kèlālā, nǐ bié pà! Wǒ shì nǐ de hútáo jiāzi!

    Clara, don't be afraid! I'm your nutcracker!

  25. Clara 你会说话?你还会动?

    Nǐ huì shuōhuà? Nǐ hái huì dòng?

    You can talk? You can move?

  26. The Nutcracker 对!可是鼠王来了。请你快帮我!

    Duì! Kěshì shǔwáng lái le. Qǐng nǐ kuài bāng wǒ!

    Yes! But the Mouse King is coming. Please, help me quickly!

What changed in the story?

  1. What present does Clara get from her godfather?

    “克拉拉,这个给你。它是一个胡桃夹子。”

  2. Who breaks the nutcracker's mouth?

    “看!我有一个很大的胡桃。我来夹一夹!”……“啊!它的嘴巴坏了!我的小士兵!”

  3. How does Fritz explain what happened?

    “对不起,克拉拉!是这个胡桃太大了!”

  4. What does Clara feel when she sees the mice at midnight?

    “什么声音?谁在那儿?”

  5. Who tells Clara that the Mouse King is coming?

    “你会说话?你还会动?”

All chapters in The Nutcracker.