Welcome to the lesson notes for 'Chang'e Flies to the Moon'! In this story, you will meet a brave archer, a kind woman, and a magic potion. As you read, tap on the clickable words to see their meanings instantly.
You can also listen to the story with the audio button and read along at your own speed. Then use these lesson notes to learn key vocabulary, practice grammar, and think about the story's themes. Let's begin!
A long time ago, the sky had ten suns. They burned the earth. A great named Houyi nine of them. He became a hero, and he married a woman named Chang'e. They lived a happy life together.
One day, the Queen of Heaven gave Houyi a special . "Drink this, and you will ," she said. Houyi did not want to leave Chang'e, so he gave the potion to her for . "Keep it hidden," he said. "We will decide later."
But a bad man named Peng Meng heard about the potion. He waited until Houyi went . Then he went to Chang'e's house. "Give me the potion!" he shouted. He was .
Chang'e was , but she said, "No! I will not let you have it!" She took the potion from its . Then, she .
Immediately, Chang'e felt . She began to . "Houyi! Houyi!" she cried. But Houyi was far away. She floated , past the clouds.
She floated all the way to the moon. The moon was . Chang'e sat down and felt very sad. She was alone so far from home.
Then a soft white rabbit . It was the Jade Rabbit. "Don't be sad," said the rabbit. "I will be your friend." Chang'e smiled. They built a and lived together.
When Houyi came home, he found his wife gone. He looked up at the moon and saw a that looked like Chang'e. Every night, he set out cakes and fruit for her. "I will always you, my love," he said.
To this day, people the Mid-Autumn Festival. They eat mooncakes and look at the moon, thinking of Chang'e and her rabbit friend. Maybe you can her!
Long ago, ten suns scorched the earth. The archer Houyi shot down nine. He married Chang'e and they lived happily.
The Queen of Heaven gave Houyi a potion for immortality. Not wanting to leave Chang'e, he gave it to her to hide for later.
A villain named Peng Meng learned of the potion. While Houyi hunted, he threatened Chang'e and demanded it.
Frightened, Chang'e refused and drank the potion herself to keep it from Peng Meng.
Instantly, she became weightless and floated upward, calling for Houyi. She rose beyond the clouds.
She drifted to the moon, cold and silent, and sat there sad and lonely, far from home.
The Jade Rabbit comforted her: 'Don't be sad, I'll be your friend.' They built a cozy house and lived together.
Houyi returned to find her gone. Seeing her shape on the moon, he left nightly offerings of cakes and fruit and vowed to always gaze at her.
Today, the Mid-Autumn Festival honors Chang'e with mooncakes and moon gazing. Maybe you can wave to her!
These words appear in the story of Chang'e. Learning them will help you understand the text and talk about festivals, feelings, and actions.
- archer — a person who shoots arrows with a bow
- potion — a magic drink
- hero — a person who does something brave and good
- safekeeping — keeping something safe for someone
- hunting — chasing and catching animals
- float — to move gently in the air or on water
- alone — with no other people around
- festival — a special day with celebrations
In the story, Chang'e floats 'higher and higher.' When we repeat a comparative adjective with 'and,' we show that something is increasing or continuing to change.
We can also use 'more and more' with longer adjectives or with nouns. For example: 'She felt more and more sad,' or 'He missed her more and more every day.'
- She floated higher and higher. (short adjective + and + comparative)
- The moon got brighter and brighter.
- He ran faster and faster to get home.
- She felt more and more lonely on the moon.
- More and more people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
This story is about love that continues even when two people are far apart. Houyi and Chang'e cannot live together, but they remember each other every night.
Houyi sets out cakes and fruit under the moon. Today, people eat mooncakes at the Mid-Autumn Festival and look at the moon, remembering Chang'e and her rabbit friend. Ask yourself: why do people enjoy stories like this one?
- Houyi gives the potion to Chang'e because he trusts her.
- Chang'e drinks the potion to protect it from the bad man.
- Houyi looks at the moon every night to feel close to Chang'e.
- The festival helps people remember the story and the people they love.
Now it's your turn! Use the new words and grammar from this lesson to retell the story in your own words.
Write five to six sentences about what happens in the story, or record yourself telling it out loud. Try to use 'higher and higher' and at least three key words. Then answer this question: What would you do if you were Houyi?
- Write 5–6 sentences retelling the story.
- Use 'higher and higher' or 'more and more' at least once.
- Include three key words from the vocabulary list.
- Speak your summary out loud or record it.
- Answer: What would you do if you were Houyi?
Chang'e Flies to the Moon comes from the Chinese / myth tradition and is best known as a myth. This Yak Yacker article is an original learner retelling based on Traditional Chinese moon myth; public domain, so the wording here is simplified for modern learners rather than copied from one old edition.
Older printings, translations, and retellings of this story can vary quite a bit. The original audience was usually kids/general, but this version is adapted for A2 Elementary learners studying English. Many variants; choose one simple version.
If you want to look into the source tradition, start with Wikipedia.
If you want to keep going, browse more in our English section and review the A2 English Vocabulary List. After that, try Best Graded Readers for English for another useful next step.