Story Time 故事时间

A Let's read. 一起读吧。

The Story of Guo Nian 过年的故事

Long ago there was a monster called Nian. 很久以前有一个怪物叫年。

He lived in the sea. 他住在海里。

He always went to small villages in the south of China before the new year. 他总在新年前去中国南部的小山村。

He ate many people. 他吃很多人。

Everyone was afraid of him, so they ran away to the mountains. 每个人都很怕他,所以他们逃到了大山里。

One year, a wise old man came to a village. 某年,一个智慧的男人来到山村。

He said he was not afraid of the monster and he could scare the monster away. 他说他不怕怪兽,他能吓跑它。

He stayed at an old woman's house. 他呆在一个老女人的房子里。

I can scare the monster away. 我能吓跑怪兽。

No, it's too dangerous! 不,太危险了！

Come with us to the mountains. 和我们一起去山中。

At midnight, the monster came to the village. 半夜,怪兽来到山村。

He saw the old woman's house. 他看到一个老女人的房子。

There was red paper on the door and windows. 门窗上有红纸。

The monster hated the colour red. 怪兽讨厌红色。

There was also a bright light. 还有一盏明灯。

The monster hated bright lights. 怪兽讨厌明灯。

Then the old man came out. 老男人出来。

He was wearing red clothes.  他穿着红色的衣服。

He lit some firecrackers. 他点燃鞭炮。

Bang! Bang! Bang!  梆！梆！梆！

The monster hated the loud noise. 怪兽讨厌吵闹。

He was afraid and ran back to the sea. 他害怕得跑回了大海。

The people came back to the village. 人们回到山村。

They were happy to see the old man. 他们很高兴见到老男人。

He told them how to be safe. 他告诉他们如何自保。

On New Year's Day, put red paper on your doors and windows. 新年那天,把红纸放在门窗上。

Have bright lights and light firecrackers. 点明灯和放鞭炮。

The monster will not come again. 怪兽不会再来了。

Now, every New Year, Chinese people put red paper on their doors and windows. 现在,每年中国人都在他们的门窗上放红纸。

They put up bright lights and light firecrackers. 他们挂明灯和点鞭炮。

They also say "Guo Nian Hao!" 他们还说：“过年好！”

And now, the monster never comes! 现在,怪兽再也不来了！