This A2 Elementary retelling of Chang'e Flies to the Moon keeps the plot clear for learners while still giving the story some atmosphere and momentum. A long time ago, the sky had ten suns. A great archer named Houyi shot down nine of them.
This version teaches Traditional Chinese through English and includes clickable word help inside the story, full story audio, and lesson notes after the reading. It is free to use on Yak Yacker and is designed to feel natural, readable, and manageable for learners.
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!
Let's learn some important words that appear in the legend of Chang'e. These will help you talk about the story and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
- 后羿 (Hòu Yì) - The great archer hero
- 嫦娥 (Cháng'é) - The woman who flew to the moon
- 仙藥 (xiān yào) - Magic potion for immortality
- 月亮 (yuè liang) - The moon
- 玉兔 (yù tù) - The Jade Rabbit, Chang'e's companion
In the story, Chang'e floats 'higher and higher.' Chinese uses the pattern 越 [adjective/verb] 越 [adjective/verb] to express that something is increasing in degree. It means 'more and more' or 'increasingly.'
You can put verbs or adjectives in the slots. For example: 她越飄越高 (tā yuè piāo yuè gāo) - She floated higher and higher. Another common phrase: 越來越多 (yuè lái yuè duō) - more and more.
- 天氣越來越冷。 (Tiānqì yuè lái yuè lěng.) - The weather is getting colder and colder.
- 我學中文，越來越喜歡。 (Wǒ xué Zhōngwén, yuè lái yuè xǐhuān.) - I'm learning Chinese and liking it more and more.
- 故事越來越精彩。 (Gùshì yuè lái yuè jīngcǎi.) - The story is getting more and more exciting.
You now know the legend of Chang'e and some useful Chinese expressions. Try retelling the story in your own words using the new vocabulary. Maybe share it with a friend or write a short summary.
Look up at the moon tonight-can you spot Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit? Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
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 Traditional Chinese. 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 Traditional Chinese section. After that, try 1,000 Traditional Chinese Phrases and Expressions for another useful next step.
More Traditional Chinese to explore
The Frog at the Bottom of the Well: A1 Beginner Traditional Chinese Story with Audio
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl: A2 Elementary Traditional Chinese Story with Audio
Journey to the West: B1 Intermediate Traditional Chinese Story with Audio
