Level: HSK 3 | A classic fable about honesty.
从前，
有一个
男孩，
每天
在山上
放羊。
Once upon a time, there was a boy who herded sheep on the mountain every day.
一天，
他觉得
很无聊，
想捉弄
一下
山下的
农民。
One day, he felt very bored and wanted to play a trick on the farmers down the mountain.
于是，
他大声喊：
“狼来了！
狼来了！”
So, he shouted loudly: "The wolf is coming! The wolf is coming!"
农民们
听到后，
跑上山来
帮他，
却发现
没有狼。
When the farmers heard this, they ran up the mountain to help him, but discovered there was no wolf.
男孩大笑。
农民们
生气地
走了。
The boy laughed loudly. The farmers walked away angrily.
后来，
狼真的来了。
男孩大声喊，
但没有人相信他。
Later, the wolf truly came. The boy shouted loudly, but nobody believed him.
Story Insights
1. 捉弄 (zhuō nòng) - "To tease" or "To play a trick"
This verb is often used when playing pranks on someone. Example: 别捉弄我 (Don't tease me).
2. 于是 (yú shì) - "So" / "Therefore"
A very common conjunction in written Chinese to link a cause and an effect in a story context.
3. 生气 (shēng qì) - "Angry"
Literally "grow air/energy". It's the standard word for getting mad. Note the grammar: 生气地 (shēng qì de) means "angrily".
