Tian Ji's Horse Race

Sun Bin helps Tian Ji win a horse race by changing the order of matchups. The story teaches strategy, resource arrangement, and seeing the whole competition rather than only one round.

HSK 4–5

Illustration inspired by Tian Ji's Horse Race.

Story preview

  1. 战国时期，齐国有一位将军，名字叫田忌。

    zhan4 guo2 shi2 qi1 qi2 guo2 you3 yi1 wei4 jiang1 jun1 ming2 zi5 jiao4 tian2 ji4

    During the Warring States period, the State of Qi had a general named Tian Ji.

  2. 田忌喜欢赛马，也有几匹很不错的马。

    tian2 ji4 xi3 huan5 sai4 ma3 ye3 you3 ji3 pi3 hen3 bu4 cuo4 de5 ma3

    Tian Ji liked horse racing and owned several good horses.

  3. 可是，他和齐王比赛的时候，常常输。

    ke3 shi4 ta1 he2 qi2 wang2 bi3 sai4 de5 shi2 hou5 chang2 chang2 shu1

    However, when he raced against the King of Qi, he often lost.