Kids Chinese Learning- The Story: 井底之蛙The Frog in the Well

The Chinese idiom “井底之蛙 (jǐngdǐzhīwā)” is derived from a story about a frog who lived at the bottom of an unused well. People now use it to refer to people who are short-sighted and arrogant. Read the story below to improve your Chinese learning.

Yì kǒu fèijǐng lǐ zhùzhe yìzhī qīngwā.
一口废井里住着一只青蛙。
There once was a frog who lived in a well.

Yǒu yì tiān, qīngwā zài jǐngbiān pèngdào le yìzhī hǎiguī.
有一天，青蛙在井边碰到了一只海龟。
One day, the frog met a turtle from the sea.

Qīngwā jiù duì hǎiguī kuākǒu shuō: “Nǐ kàn wǒ zhù zài zhèlǐ duōme kuàilè hé shūshì,
青蛙就对海龟夸口说： “你看我住在这里多么快乐和舒适，
shuí yě bǐbúshàng wǒ, érqiě wǒ háishì zhèlǐ de zhǔrén.”
谁也比不上我，而且我还是这里的主人。”
The frog said proudly to the turtle, “I have lived here happily and comfortably for my whole life as the sole resident of this well. No one’s life can compare with mine!”

Hǎiguī tīngle qīngwā de huà, dào zhēn xiǎng jìnqù kànkan.
海龟听了青蛙的话，倒真想进去看看。
Dàn tā hái méiyǒu jìnqù, jiù yǐjīng bèi bànzhù le.
但它还没有进去，就已经被绊住了。
Upon hearing these words, the turtle wanted to enter the well to have a look. He stumbled on his way in, which made him reconsider.

Hǎiguī liánmáng hòutuì le liǎngbù, ránhòu duì qīngwā shuō: “Nǐ jiànguò dàhǎi ma?”
海龟连忙后退了两步，然后对青蛙说： “你见过大海吗？”
Then the turtle stepped back and asked the frog: “Have you ever seen the sea?”

Qīngwā yáoyáotóu: “Chúle zhèlǐ wǒ méiyǒu qùguò qítā dìfang.”
青蛙摇摇头： “除了这里我没有去过其他地方。”
The frog shook its head and said, “I have never been outside of this well.”

“Dàhǎi wúbiānwújì, měilì zhuàngguān, nàlǐ hái zhùzhe hěnduō qítā de péngyou.
“大海无边无际，美丽壮观，那里还住着很多其他的朋友。
Zhù zài dàhǎi lǐ, cáishì zhēn de kuàilè ne!” Hǎiguī zìháo de shuō.
住在大海里，才是真的快乐呢！”海龟自豪地说。
“The sea is boundless, beautiful and spectacular. I also have many friends there. I am truly happy with my life in the sea.” the turtle said proudly.

Qīngwā tīngle hǎiguī de yì fān huà, chījīng de dāi zài nàlǐ, zài méiyǒu huà kě shuō le.
青蛙听了海龟的一番话，吃惊地呆在那里，再没有话可说了。
After hearing this, the frog felt embarrassed and somewhat ashamed of his arrogance.

Key Learning Points:

快乐 (kuàilè): adv./adj./n. happily/happy/happiness

Zhège tónghuà de jiéjú shì wángzǐ hé gōngzhǔ kuàilè de shēnghuó zài yìqǐ.
这个童话的结局是王子和公主快乐地生活在一起。
In the end, the prince and the princess lived happily ever after.