The Chinese Zodiac Race

The Jade Emperor holds a race to choose the twelve zodiac animals. The little rat uses the kind ox's help to arrive first, and the story explains how Chinese zodiac years got their animal names.

HSK 1–2

Illustration inspired by The Chinese Zodiac Race.

Story preview

  1. 很久以前，天上有一个玉皇大帝。

    hen3 jiu3 yi3 qian2 tian1 shang4 you3 yi1 ge4 yu4 huang2 da4 di4

    Long ago, there was a Jade Emperor in heaven.

  2. 他想给每一年一个动物名字。

    ta1 xiang3 gei3 mei3 yi1 nian2 yi1 ge4 dong4 wu4 ming2 zi5

    He wanted to give each year an animal name.

  3. 他说：“明天有一个比赛。先到河对面的十二个动物，可以成为十二生肖。”

    ta1 shuo1 ming2 tian1 you3 yi1 ge4 bi3 sai4 xian1 dao4 he2 dui4 mian4 de5 shi2 er4 ge4 dong4 wu4 ke3 yi3 cheng2 wei2 shi2 er4 sheng1 xiao4

    He said, “Tomorrow there will be a race. The first twelve animals to reach the other side of the river can become the twelve zodiac animals.”