In this A2 Elementary Chinese graded reader, follow the adventures of the young hero Nezha as he faces the fearsome Dragon King. Nezha's courage and magical powers are put to the test when the Dragon King threatens his family and village. This classic Chinese myth is retold in accessible Simplified Chinese with pinyin and English support, so you can follow along even if you're new to the language.
As you read, you can click on any word to see its meaning, listen to the story audio to improve your pronunciation, and check the integrated lesson notes for extra guidance. It's a free, interactive way to learn Chinese while enjoying a timeless tale.
Whether you're just starting out or brushing up on your skills, this retelling of Nezha Conquers the Dragon King will help you build vocabulary and reading confidence in Simplified Chinese.
很久以前，有个男孩叫哪吒。他很小，但是很勇敢。哪吒有和。他的爸爸是李靖，妈妈是殷夫人。大家都喜欢哪吒。
有一天，东海龙王。他不让天下雨。太阳很大，河水都。人们没有水喝，庄稼都。大家很伤心。
哪吒说："我要去龙王！"他海边，："龙王！你为什么不下雨？快下雨！"
龙王从海里出来了。他很，很。龙王说："小孩子，你不怕我吗？"哪吒说："我不怕你！我要为人们！"
哪吒混天绫，混天绫，龙王的手。哪吒又用乾坤圈龙王的头。龙王叫起来："哎呀！好疼啊！"哪吒龙王。
龙王不敢再。他对哪吒说："我，马上！"很快，天上来了很多云，大雨落下来了。人们高兴地，喊："哪吒！哪吒！"
哪吒回到家，爸爸和妈妈："你是好孩子！"哪吒很开心。他知道，只要有，就能。
Long ago, a boy named Nezha was small but brave. He had a red silk sash and a golden ring. His father was Li Jing, mother Lady Yin. Everyone liked him.
One day, the Dragon King of the East Sea got angry and stopped the rain. The sun blazed, rivers dried. People had no water, crops died. They were sad.
Nezha said, 'I'll find the Dragon King!' He ran to the sea, shouting, 'Dragon King! Why won't you rain? Make it rain now!'
The Dragon King emerged, tall and mean. 'Child, you're not afraid?' Nezha replied, 'I'm not afraid! I'm here to beg rain for the people!'
Nezha threw his sash; it bound the Dragon King's hands. He struck his head with the ring. The Dragon King cried out in pain. Nezha defeated him.
The Dragon King dared not anger further. 'I was wrong, I'll rain now.' Dark clouds gathered, heavy rain fell. People jumped, cheering 'Nezha! Nezha!'
At home, his parents smiled, 'You're a brave, good child.' Nezha was happy. He knew courage could help others.
Let's pick out some powerful words from the story. These will help you talk about bravery, weather, and even magic treasures!
Each comes with a simple example so you can start using them right away.
- 勇敢 (yǒnggǎn) - brave: 哪吒很勇敢。(Nezha is very brave.)
- 龙王 (lóngwáng) - Dragon King: 东海龙王生气了。(The East Sea Dragon King got angry.)
- 下雨 (xiàyǔ) - to rain: 快下雨！(Rain quickly!)
- 乾坤圈 (qiánkūnquān) - Universe Ring: 哪吒有金色的乾坤圈。(Nezha has a golden Universe Ring.)
- 混天绫 (húntiānlíng) - Red Armillary Sash: 混天绫绑住了龙王的手。(The Red Armillary Sash tied the Dragon King's hands.)
The story uses simple but expressive structures. Let's look at three patterns that appear repeatedly and are perfect for everyday conversation.
Notice how they connect ideas and show determination.
- ……但是…… (…but…): Connect contrasting ideas. 他很小，但是很勇敢。(He is small, but very brave.)
- 我要…… (I want to / I'm going to…): Express strong intention. 哪吒说：我要去找龙王！(Nezha said: I'm going to find the Dragon King!)
- 用……打/conquer: Describe using a tool to do something. 哪吒用乾坤圈打龙王的头。(Nezha used the Universe Ring to hit the Dragon King's head.)
Nezha isn't just a story-he's a beloved figure in Chinese culture. Filial, rebellious, and undeniably brave, he appears in classic novels like Investiture of the Gods (封神演义) and modern movies.
His battle against the Dragon King symbolizes standing up to unfair power and protecting the common people. This tale has been told for centuries and still inspires today.
- Often depicted with a fiery wheel and spear, Nezha is a symbol of youthful energy.
- Many temples in China and Southeast Asia honor Nezha as a protective deity.
- The phrase '哪吒闹海' (Nezha Makes Havoc in the Sea) is a common idiom for a young person causing a big stir.
You've learned new vocabulary and patterns. Now, try retelling Nezha's story in your own Chinese words-or describe someone you think is brave using 但是 and 用.
Remember, language learning is an adventure. Just like Nezha, a little courage goes a long way. Keep practicing, and soon you'll conquer new sentences as boldly as he faced the Dragon King!
Nezha Conquers the Dragon King comes from the Chinese / legend tradition and is best known as a myth/classic episode. This Yak Yacker article is an original learner retelling based on Investiture of the Gods / folk tradition; 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 Simplified Chinese. Avoid modern movie/anime designs and dialogue.
If you want to look into the source tradition, start with Wikipedia.
If you want to keep going, browse more in our Simplified Chinese section and review the HSK Level 1 Chinese Vocabulary. After that, try Essential Chinese Grammar Words for another useful next step.
More Simplified Chinese to explore
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The Battle of Red Cliffs: B1 Intermediate Simplified Chinese Story with Audio
The Oath of the Peach Garden: A Sworn Brotherhood Tale with Audio for Intermediate Chinese Learners
