A good fairy tale is a shortcut to culture: big feelings, simple plots, memorable lines you can actually reuse. In Chinese, “fairy tale” is 童話 tónghuà, but the umbrella also covers 神話 shénhuà (myths), 傳說 chuánshuō (legends), and 民間故事 mínjiān gùshì (folktales). Below is a curated, learner-friendly tour—each story shows the Traditional Chinese title first, pinyin second, a short English gloss, and high-yield vocabulary you’ll see again and again.
How To Talk About Tales In Chinese
童話 tónghuà — fairy tale
神話 shénhuà — myth
傳說 chuánshuō — legend
民間故事 mínjiān gùshì — folk story
主角 zhǔjiǎo — main character
反派 fǎnpài — villain
結局 jiéjú — ending
魔法 mófǎ — magic
Use this sentence to introduce any tale:
這個故事叫＿＿，是關於＿＿的。
zhè ge gùshì jiào ______, shì guān yú ______ de
This story is called ______, and it’s about ______.
Star-Crossed Love & Heartstring Classics
牛郎織女 Niúláng Zhīnǚ — The Cowherd And The Weaver Girl
A mortal cowherd and a celestial weaver fall in love. The Queen Mother separates them, and magpies form a bridge once a year (七夕 Qīxì) so they can meet.
Key words: 天上 tiānshàng heaven, 銀河 yínhé Milky Way, 相會 xiānghuì to meet again.
梁山伯與祝英台 Liáng Shānbó Yǔ Zhù Yīngtái — The Butterfly Lovers
Two students fall in love; family blocks the match; after tragedy they become butterflies. Think “Chinese Romeo & Juliet,” but with wings.
Key words: 才子 cáizǐ gifted scholar, 緣分 yuánfèn fate, 化蝶 huàdié transform into butterflies.
白蛇傳 Báishé Zhuàn — Legend Of The White Snake
A snake spirit becomes a woman, marries a human, fights both monks and fate to keep love alive. Set around 西湖 Xīhú (West Lake), full of magic and moral questions.
Key words: 蛇妖 shéyāo snake spirit, 修行 xiūxíng cultivation, 法海 Fǎhǎi monk antagonist.
Moon, Suns, And Cosmic Arrows
嫦娥奔月 Cháng’é Bēn Yuè — Chang’e Flies To The Moon
Archer 后羿 Hòuyì saves the world by shooting down extra suns; his wife Chang’e drinks the elixir and rises to the moon. Mid-Autumn Festival owes half its poetry to this.
Key words: 靈藥 língyào elixir, 月宮 yuègōng moon palace, 團圓 tuányuán reunion.
后羿射日 Hòuyì Shè Rì — Houyi Shoots The Suns
Ten suns scorch the earth; Houyi shoots down nine. Heroic, simple, great for practicing result complements.
Key words: 大旱 dàhàn great drought, 英雄 yīngxióng hero, 射下 shèxià shoot down.
Immortals, Tricksters, And Superpowers
八仙過海 Bāxiān Guò Hǎi — The Eight Immortals Cross The Sea
Each immortal uses their own magic tool to cross the sea; idiomatically it means “everyone uses their own skill.”
Key words: 法器 fǎqì magic implement, 神通 shéntōng powers, 各顯神通 gè xiǎn shéntōng each shows their skill.
孫悟空 Sūn Wùkōng — The Monkey King (From Journey To The West)
Stone-born monkey learns 72 transformations, causes havoc in heaven, later protects a monk on a pilgrimage. Even kids know 金箍棒 jīngū bàng (his staff).
Key words: 變化 biànhuà transform, 齊天大聖 Qítiān Dàshèng Great Sage, 孫猴子 Sūn hóuzi Monkey Sun.
哪吒鬧海 Nézhā Nào Hǎi — Nezha Rebels Against The Dragon Kings
A child deity with hot-blooded courage fights injustice and later rebirths himself to set things right.
Key words: 蓮花身 liánhuā shēn lotus body, 乾坤圈 qiánkūn quān ring weapon, 風火輪 fēnghuǒ lún wind-fire wheels.
Big Morals In Simple Moves
愚公移山 Yúgōng Yí Shān — The Foolish Old Man Moves The Mountains
An old man decides to move two mountains shovel by shovel; the gods admire persistence and help.
Key words: 毅力 yìlì perseverance, 持續 chíxù keep going, 山脈 shānmài mountain range.
孟姜女哭長城 Mèng Jiāngnǚ Kū Chángchéng — Lady Meng Jiang Weeps At The Great Wall
Her husband is taken to build the Wall; her grief shakes a section down. A legend about loyalty and the cost of empire.
Key words: 忠貞 zhōngzhēn fidelity, 長城 Chángchéng Great Wall, 眼淚 yǎnlèi tears.
刻舟求劍 Kèzhōu Qiújiàn — Mark The Boat To Find The Sword
A man drops his sword from a boat and marks the rail to “remember” the spot. Moral: don’t ignore change.
Key words: 變化 biànhuà change, 愚蠢 yúchǔn foolish, 比喻 bǐyù metaphor.
Animals, Rivers, And Transformations
神筆馬良 Shénbǐ Mǎ Liáng — Ma Liang’s Magic Paintbrush
A poor boy’s brush makes drawings real; he helps the people and outsmarts a greedy ruler. Perfect beginner plot.
Key words: 神筆 shénbǐ magic brush, 行善 xíngshàn do good, 欲望 yùwàng greed.
鯉魚躍龍門 Lǐyú Yuè Lóngmén — The Carp Leaps Over Dragon Gate
A carp swims upstream and leaps the gate to become a dragon. Used for exam success and “leveling up.”
Key words: 逆流 nìliú upstream, 蛻變 tuìbiàn transformation, 成功 chénggōng success.
精衛填海 Jīngwèi Tián Hǎi — Jingwei Fills The Sea
A girl becomes a bird after drowning and vows to fill the sea with stones. An extreme image of determination.
Key words: 堅定 jiāndìng steadfast, 石子 shízǐ pebbles, 大海 dàhǎi the sea.
Hidden Worlds And Peach Blossoms
桃花源記 Táohuā Yuán Jì — The Peach Blossom Spring
A fisherman wanders into a utopia by accident, then can’t find it again. Utopia stories start here.
Key words: 世外桃源 shìwài táoyuán hidden paradise, 偶然 ǒurán by chance, 田園 tiányuán pastoral.
牛鬼蛇神 Niúguǐ Shéshén — Ox-Demons And Snake-Spirits
Catch-all phrase for the weird and supernatural; also a grab-bag of short folk spooks.
Key words: 妖怪 yāoguài monster, 鬼故事 guǐ gùshì ghost story, 法力 fǎlì magic power.
Filial Piety, Wit, And Everyday Goodness
二十四孝 Èrshísì Xiào — Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars
Mosaic of mini-tales praising devotion to parents. Historical tone, but phrases pop up everywhere.
Key words: 孝順 xiàoshùn filial piety, 品德 pǐndé character, 榜樣 bǎngyàng role model.
三個和尚 Sān Ge Héshang — Three Monks
One monk carries water; two argue; three can’t get it done—until they cooperate. Minimal plot, maximal lesson.
Key words: 合作 hézuò cooperate, 分工 fēngōng split tasks, 效率 xiàolǜ efficiency.
諸葛亮草船借箭 Zhūgě Liàng Cǎochuán Jiè Jiàn — Borrow Arrows With Straw Boats
From Romance of the Three Kingdoms: use fog and straw dummies to collect enemy arrows. Strategy tale used in business talk.
Key words: 智慧 zhìhuì wisdom, 計謀 jìmóu stratagem, 形勢 xíngshì situation.
Lightning Guide: One-Line Summaries You Can Memorize
嫦娥奔月是關於月亮與思念的神話。
cháng’é bēn yuè shì guān yú yuèliang yǔ sīniàn de shénhuà
“Chang’e To The Moon” is a myth about the moon and longing.
愚公移山教我們堅持到底。
yúgōng yí shān jiào wǒmen jiānchí dàodǐ
“The Foolish Old Man” teaches us to persist to the end.
白蛇傳說的是人與妖之間的愛與選擇。
báishé zhuàn shuō de shì rén yǔ yāo zhī jiān de ài yǔ xuǎnzé
“White Snake” is about love and choices between human and spirit.
Vocabulary Nuggets By Theme
Love & Fate: 緣分 yuánfèn fate, 發誓 fāshì to vow, 守護 shǒuhù to protect
Heroics: 英勇 yīngyǒng brave, 挑戰 tiǎozhàn challenge, 勝利 shènglì victory
Magic & Spirits: 仙人 xiānrén immortal, 變身 biànshēn transform, 法術 fǎshù magic art
Moral Lessons: 誠實 chéngshí honesty, 勤勞 qínláo diligence, 仁慈 réncí kindness
Pronunciation Tips For Names You’ll See A Lot
嫦娥 Cháng’é: second + second tones; keep é rising, not flat.
哪吒 Nézhā: both second tones; light zh sound, not “zha” in English.
孫悟空 Sūn Wùkōng: first + fourth + first; clip the falling fourth on 悟.
梁山伯 Liáng Shānbó: rising, high, rising; 伯 bó is rising, not “bóh.”
How To Retell A Tale In 5 Sentences (Template)
第一，主角叫＿＿，住在＿＿。
dì yī, zhǔjiǎo jiào ______, zhù zài ______
First, the main character is ______, living in ______.
第二，有一天＿＿發生了。
dì èr, yǒu yì tiān ______ fāshēng le
Second, one day ______ happened.
第三，他／她決定＿＿。
dì sān, tā juédìng ______
Third, he/she decided to ______.
第四，經過＿＿之後，＿＿。
dì sì, jīngguò ______ zhīhòu, ______
Fourth, after ______, ______.
第五，結局是＿＿，告訴我們＿＿。
dì wǔ, jiéjú shì ______, gàosu wǒmen ______
Fifth, the ending is ______, teaching us ______.
Mini Dialogues For Practice
A：你最喜歡哪個中國童話？
A: nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎ ge zhōngguó tónghuà
Which Chinese fairy tale do you like most?
B：我最喜歡白蛇傳，因為故事又浪漫又有魔法。
B: wǒ zuì xǐhuān báishé zhuàn, yīnwèi gùshì yòu làngmàn yòu yǒu mófǎ
I like “White Snake” the most—romantic and magical.
A：我覺得愚公移山很激勵人，特別是「堅持」這一點。
A: wǒ juéde yúgōng yí shān hěn jīlì rén, tèbié shì “jiānchí” zhè yì diǎn
I find “The Foolish Old Man” inspiring, especially the “perseverance” part.
Quick Reference Table
| Traditional Title | Pinyin | English |
| 牛郎織女 | niúláng zhīnǚ | Cowherd & Weaver Girl |
| 梁山伯與祝英台 | liáng shānbó yǔ zhù yīngtái | The Butterfly Lovers |
| 白蛇傳 | báishé zhuàn | Legend of the White Snake |
| 嫦娥奔月 | cháng’é bēn yuè | Chang’e Flies to the Moon |
| 后羿射日 | hòuyì shè rì | Houyi Shoots the Suns |
| 八仙過海 | bāxiān guò hǎi | Eight Immortals Cross the Sea |
| 孫悟空 | sūn wùkōng | The Monkey King |
| 哪吒鬧海 | nézhā nào hǎi | Nezha Rebels at the Sea |
| 愚公移山 | yúgōng yí shān | The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountains |
| 孟姜女哭長城 | mèng jiāngnǚ kū chángchéng | Lady Meng Jiang Weeps at the Great Wall |
| 刻舟求劍 | kèzhōu qiújiàn | Marking the Boat to Seek the Sword |
| 神筆馬良 | shénbǐ mǎ liáng | Ma Liang’s Magic Paintbrush |
| 鯉魚躍龍門 | lǐyú yuè lóngmén | Carp Leaps Over Dragon Gate |
| 精衛填海 | jīngwèi tián hǎi | Jingwei Fills the Sea |
| 桃花源記 | táohuā yuán jì | The Peach Blossom Spring |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
Pick one tale you already know in English. Write a five-sentence Chinese retell using the template above, then record yourself reading it once slowly with pinyin, once without looking at pinyin. Finally, swap one key word for a synonym (例如 英雄→勇士) to stretch your vocabulary.
Yak-Style Closing Spark
Chinese fairy tales are compact language gyms: big metaphors, lovable heroes, and just enough magic to make new words stick. Learn a handful well, retell them simply, and you’ll carry a pocketful of stories—and sentence patterns—you can use anywhere.