Learn Chinese with Bedtime Stories: Tortoise and Hare

Ah... I'm a bit sleepy, Li Ming.

Sleepy? Wang Yu, look, it's still early, and it's not dark yet.

I know. But I didn't sleep very well last night.

Really? Why? Too busy with work?

Not really. Before going to bed last night, I wanted to find a story to listen to.

You know, the kind of... relaxing story that helps you sleep.

I understand, you mean 'bedtime stories.'

Right! Exactly, bedtime stories. But I searched for a long time and couldn't find one I liked.

So, I went to sleep very late.

I see. Bedtime stories... that's a very interesting topic.

Do you really like listening to stories?

I love it! Especially when I was a kid.

Me too. Why don't we chat about that today? Let's talk about 'stories.'

Maybe our listeners can also fall asleep peacefully tonight while listening to our podcast.

That's a great idea! I love it!

Wang Yu, you just said you really loved listening to stories when you were little.

Did your parents tell you stories?

Not my parents. It was my grandma.

Your grandma?

Yes. When I was very young, every night my grandma would sit by my bed,

and tell me stories. Her voice was incredibly gentle and beautiful.

Do you still remember what stories she told you?

Hmm... I don't remember all of them.

There were too many stories. But I remember the feeling.

The feeling? What kind of feeling?

Just... a very safe and warm feeling.

It might have been very cold outside, but in the room, listening to my grandma's voice, I felt very, very comfortable.

Sometimes, before the story was even finished, I was already asleep.

I completely understand. That feeling is more important than the story itself.

Exactly! What about you, Li Ming? Did anyone tell you stories when you were a kid?

Yes. It was my dad. But my dad was a bit different from your grandma.

Oh? How so?

My dad also told me stories, but every time he finished, he would ask me a question.

What question?

He would ask, 'Li Ming, what did you learn after listening to this story?' (Laughs) Your dad was like a teacher.

Yeah. He felt that every story has its meaning and lesson.

So when I listened to stories as a kid, I didn't just listen, I had to think. I had to think about what the story was trying to tell me.

That's also good. Do you remember any stories your dad told you?

I do. He told me many stories about animals.

In the stories, there were clever animals, and some a bit silly. Good characters, and bad characters.

My grandma loved telling animal stories too! I think all kids like listening to animal stories.

Because they are very simple and interesting.

Exactly. Simple, interesting stories are best for bedtime listening.

They don't make your brain too tired.

Yes. Speaking of animal stories, one immediately comes to mind. A very, very famous story.

Oh? Are we thinking of the same one?

In this story, is there an animal that runs very fast, and another that runs very slowly?

Yes! That's the one! 'The Tortoise and the Hare'!

It looks like we are thinking of the same one.

I think every child in China has heard this story.

Shall we tell this story to our listeners now?

Using the simplest Chinese.

Great idea. We can tell it together.

Okay, I'll start.

Our story begins.

A long, long time ago, many animals lived in the forest.

There was a hare.

This hare had a certain trait.

He ran very, very fast.

Yes, he was the fastest animal in the forest.

So, he was a bit proud.

He often said to other animals, 'Look at me, see how fast I run!' There was also a tortoise in the forest.

As for this tortoise, he also had a trait.

He walked very, very slowly.

Yes. He did everything very slowly.

Eating slowly, walking slowly.

One day, the hare saw the tortoise walking.

The hare laughed and said to the tortoise, 'Tortoise, tortoise, you are too slow!

Look at the way you walk, it's really too slow!' Hearing this, the tortoise was unhappy.

He said to the hare, 'You are fast, I know.

But if we race, you might not win.' Hearing this, the hare laughed out loud.

He said, 'What? You say I won't win?

That is so funny!

Fine! We will race tomorrow!

Let all the animals in the forest come and watch!'

The tortoise said, 'Okay. See you tomorrow.' The next day, the weather was beautiful.

All the forest animals came.

The birds came, the dogs came, and the cats came too.

They all wanted to watch the race between the hare and the tortoise.

The hare and the tortoise stood at the starting line.

A bird said, 'Ready, set, go!' The hare dashed out like the wind. Extremely fast!

In the blink of an eye, he was out of sight.

And what about the tortoise? He was also trying hard to run.

But, as we know, he was very slow.

Step by step, he slowly walked forward.

The hare ran a long way.

He looked back. He couldn't see the tortoise.

Not at all.

The hare thought, 'The tortoise is too slow.

He probably won't get here until tomorrow morning.

The weather is so nice, I want to take a nap here.

Even after I wake up, there will still be plenty of time to run.' So, the hare started to sleep under a big tree.

He slept very soundly.

Where was the tortoise at this time?

The tortoise was still on the way.

He was very tired and very hot.

But he didn't rest.

He thought to himself, 'I must keep going.

I cannot stop.' So, the tortoise kept walking and walking.

He walked very slowly, but he didn't stop.