The concept of a "Ghost Dog" (鬼狗) can be found in various cultures, each with its own unique stories and interpretations. The idea generally involves a supernatural dog that possesses protective or guiding qualities.
In Chinese mythology, dogs have been associated with loyalty and protection. While the specific term '鬼狗' may not be prevalent in ethnic Han Chinese culture, mythical dogs like the celestial Tiangou (天狗) are well-known. The expressions '日食' (rì shí), meaning solar eclipse, literally 'eaten sun,' and '月食' (yuè shí), meaning lunar eclipse, literally 'eaten moon,' are both directly related to the legend of Tiangou.
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《鬼狗的故事》
从前,有一只黑色的狗,叫鬼狗。它住在村庄的边缘,人们都很怕它,因为它眼神幽幽,还喜欢在夜里嗥叫。
鬼狗虽然看起来可怕,但其实内心很善良。它喜欢帮助迷路的小动物们回家,还会偷偷守护村庄里的孩子们。
一天晚上,一个小男孩迷路了,鬼狗悄悄跟在他身后,确保他安全。小男孩发现了鬼狗,开始害怕,但鬼狗只是轻轻嗅了嗅他的手,然后引导他回家。
越来越多的村民开始注意到鬼狗的善行。他们发现原来鬼狗并不是他们想象中的怪物,而是村庄的守护者。
鬼狗每天夜里都会巡逻,确保村庄的安全。村民们渐渐接受了它,还用美味的食物来感谢它的保护。
从那以后,鬼狗成为了村庄的英雄。孩子们再也不会害怕夜晚,因为他们知道鬼狗会守护他们的安全。
Download dialogue PDF file HERE.
These PDFs are designed to help you immerse yourself fully in the language, focusing on reading and comprehension without Pinyin or vocabulary lists. You can download, print them out, and use them for study and review at your own pace.
鬼狗 = ghost dog
故事 = story
从前 = once upon a time
它 = ”it” (animals and inanimate things)
村庄 = village
边缘 = 边上; edge
眼神幽幽 = a ghostly look
夜里 = at night
嗥叫 = to howl
可怕 = 吓人;scary, frightful
但 = 但是;but, however
内心 = 心里;in one’s heart
善良 = 慈善;good-hearted, compassionate
迷路 = to lose one’s way, lost
偷偷 = 悄悄;secretly, quietly
守护 = 保护;to watch over, care for
跟在 = 跟随;to follow
身后 = 身体后面;behind someone
确保 = to protect, insure safety
发现 = to notice, discover
轻轻 = lightly, softly
嗅 = 闻;to smell
引导 = 领;to guide, lead
Let’s take a closer look.
The English translation shows the characters following English, arranged by meaning.
One night 一天晚上, a little boy 一个小男孩 got lost 迷路了, Ghost Dog 鬼狗 quietly 悄悄 followed behind him 跟在他身后, ensuring 确保 his 他 safety 安全. The little boy 小男孩 noticed 发现了 the Ghost Dog 鬼狗 and began 开始 to feel scared 害怕, but 但 the Ghost Dog 鬼狗 only 只是 lightly 轻轻 smelled 嗅了嗅 his 他的 hand 手, then 然后 led 引导 him 他 home 回家.
越来越多 = more and more
村民 = 乡亲;villagers
注意到 = 发现到;to notice, become aware of
善行 = 善良的行为;acts of kindness, good deeds, goodwill
想象中 = in one’s thoughts, perception
怪物 = monster
守护者 = 保护着;protector
巡逻 = to patrol
确保 = to guarantee, ensure
渐渐 = 慢慢;gradually
接受 = to accept
美味食物 = 好吃的;flavorful food, tasty food
感谢 = to thank, show appreciation
保护 = 守护;to watch over, care for
从那以后 = after that
成为 = 变成;to become
英雄 = hero
再也不 = 不再;not again, no more
害怕夜晚 = 怕夜里;to be afraid of the night
安全 = safety
Let’s take a closer look.
The English translation shows the characters following English, arranged by meaning.
After that 从那以后, the Ghost Dog 鬼狗 became 成为了 the village 村庄的 hero 英雄. The children 孩子们 would never again 再也不会 be afraid of 害怕 the night 夜晚, because 因为 they 他们 knew 知道 the Ghost Dog 鬼狗 would 会 ensure 守护 their 他们的 safety 安全.
Character Radical:
亻= This is the “person” radical, 人字旁 (rén zì páng). 人 (rén) means “person” or “people.” The “person” radical is common in characters related to actions and behaviors, such as 做 (zuò) - “to do, to make” and 信 (xìn) - “to believe, trust;” human characteristics, such as 他 (tā) - “he, him” and 仁 (rén) - “benevolence;” professions and roles, such as 保 (bǎo) - “to protect” and 便 (biàn) - “convenient, handy;” and the body, such as 体 (tǐ) - “body” and 伤 (shāng) - “injury, wound.”
Yin-yang Character Groups:
鬼神 (guǐ shén) = ghosts-gods; supernatural beings, spirits
善恶 (shàn è) = good-evil; good versus evil
轻重 (qīng zhòng) = light-heavy; weight, level of severity
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