Read Mandarin
HSK 4 · Upper Int.

功夫电影Gōngfu diànyǐngKung Fu Movies

HSK 4 reading practice · 144 words · ~2 min
说起shuōqǐ中国Zhōngguó电影diànyǐng很多hěn duō外国人wàiguórén第一dì-yīge想到xiǎngdàode就是jiù shì功夫gōngfu电影diànyǐng
Speaking of Chinese movies, the first thing many foreigners think of is kung fu movies.
cóng李小龙Lǐ Xiǎolóngdào成龙Chéng Lóng这些zhèxiē演员yǎnyuánràng世界shìjiè认识rènshile中国Zhōngguó功夫gōngfu
From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan, these actors made the world know about Chinese kung fu.
功夫gōngfu电影diànyǐngli主人公zhǔréngōng常常chángchángcóngge普通人pǔtōngrén通过tōngguò努力nǔlì变成biànchénggehěn厉害lìhaiderén
In kung fu movies, the protagonist often goes from an ordinary person, through hard work, to become someone truly formidable.
这样zhèyàngde故事gùshiràngrén觉得juéde只要zhǐyào坚持jiānchí练习liànxíshéidōu可以kěyǐ变得biàn degèngqiáng
Stories like this make people feel that as long as you keep practicing, anyone can become stronger.
除了chúle打架dǎjià功夫gōngfu电影diànyǐng经常jīngchángjiǎng友情yǒuqíng家庭jiātíng责任zérèn
Besides fighting, kung fu movies also often talk about friendship, family, and responsibility.
现在xiànzàide年轻人niánqīngrén虽然suīrángèng喜欢xǐhuankàn别的biéde电影diànyǐng但是dànshìlǎo功夫片gōngfu piàn还是háishiyǒu很多hěn duōrén愿意yuànyìzàikànbiàn
Although young people today prefer to watch other movies, there are still many people willing to watch old kung fu films again.
duì来说lái shuō功夫gōngfu电影diànyǐngzuì有意思yǒu yìside地方dìfangshì那种nàzhǒng努力nǔlìjiùnéng变强biàn qiángde简单jiǎndān道理dàolǐ
For me, the most interesting thing about kung fu movies is the simple truth that "if you work hard, you can become strong."
也许yěxǔzhè就是jiù shì为什么wèishénme几十jǐ shínián过去guòqùle功夫gōngfu电影diànyǐng还是háishi那么nàme受欢迎shòu huānyíng
Maybe that's why, even decades later, kung fu movies are still so popular.
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Key words 生词

功夫gōngfukung fu
主人公zhǔréngōngprotagonist
演员yǎnyuánactor
坚持jiānchíto persist
责任zérènresponsibility
受欢迎shòu huānyíngpopular

Grammar note 语法点

从……到…… — From... to...

Marks a range or progression between a starting point and an ending point.

从李小龙到成龙,这些演员让世界认识了中国功夫。— From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan, these actors made the world know Chinese kung fu.
只要……都…… — As long as..., everyone/anyone...

States a condition that, once met, applies to every possible subject (谁, 什么, etc.).

只要坚持练习,谁都可以变得更强。— As long as you keep practicing, anyone can become stronger.
虽然……但是…… — Although... but...

Introduces a concession, followed by a contrasting main point.

年轻人虽然更喜欢看别的电影,但是还是有很多人愿意再看老功夫片。— Although young people prefer other movies, many are still willing to watch old kung fu films again.

Check yourself 小测验

1. Which two actors does the text mention as having made the world know Chinese kung fu?
2. Besides fighting, what else do kung fu movies often talk about?
3. What does the author find most interesting about kung fu movies?
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