The Equal To Heaven · 跟天庭平等 · Havoc in Heaven · Simplified Mandarin · HSK 3

孙悟空的山上，有一面很大的旗子。风吹着这面旗子。上面写着他跟天庭平等。玉皇大帝看到这面旗子。他非常生气。他要李靖去抓孙悟空。

李靖带了一支很大的军队。他们准备攻击孙悟空。虽然这支军队很大，但是孙悟空一点都不害怕。孙悟空拿出金箍棒。他变出很多只小猴子。他们很快就打败了李靖。李靖觉得很害怕。他只好把军队带回天庭。虽然李靖很生气，但是他没有别的办法。

玉皇大帝问大家该怎么办。太白金星有一个聪明的办法。太白金星说：“ 除了给他一个新名字以外，我们都没有别的办法。” 太白金星准备去见孙悟空。他说要让孙悟空保护仙桃的果园。 “除了这个办法以外，我们不能打败他。” 玉皇大帝同意了。

太白金星来到地上。他告诉孙悟空这个消息。孙悟空觉得自己很聪明。他很高兴跟天庭平等。所以他同意回天庭。

孙悟空来到仙桃的果园。他以为他要保护这里。他走进了这个安静的地方。他不知道神仙们在骗他。

语法 · Grammar

Concession with 虽然……但是……

虽然 + Condition，但是 + Result

This paired conjunction is used to express 'although... but...'. In English, you only need 'although', but in Chinese, 虽然 and 但是 are almost always used together.

虽然这支军队很大，但是孙悟空一点都不害怕。Although this army was very big, Sun Wukong was not afraid at all.

虽然李靖很生气，但是他没有别的办法。Although Li Jing was very angry, he had no other way.

Exception or Addition with 除了……以外

除了 + Noun / Phrase + 以外

This structure is used to express 'except for' or 'besides'. When paired with words like 都 (all) or 没 (none) in the second half of the sentence, it means 'except for [A], there is no [B]'.

除了给他一个新名字以外，我们都没有别的办法。Besides giving him a new name, we have no other way.

除了这个办法以外，我们不能打败他。Other than this method, we cannot defeat him.

练习二 · Matching

Match each Chinese word or phrase to its English meaning.

1.旗子

2.平等

3.军队

4.聪明

5.消息

a.smart

b.flag

c.news

d.equal

e.army

1-b · 2-d · 3-e · 4-a · 5-c

译文 · Translation

On Sun Wukong's mountain, there was a very large flag. The wind was blowing this flag. Written on it was that he was equal to the Heavenly Court. The Jade Emperor saw this flag. He was very angry. He wanted Li Jing to go and catch Sun Wukong.

Li Jing brought a very large army. They prepared to attack Sun Wukong. Although this army was very big, Sun Wukong was not afraid at all. Sun Wukong took out the Golden Cudgel. He conjured up many little monkeys. They quickly defeated Li Jing. Li Jing felt very afraid. He had no choice but to lead the army back to the Heavenly Court. Although Li Jing was very angry, he had no other way.

The Jade Emperor asked everyone what they should do. Taibai Jinxing had a smart idea. Taibai Jinxing said, "Besides giving him a new name, we have no other way." Taibai Jinxing prepared to go see Sun Wukong. He said he wanted to let Sun Wukong protect the immortal peach orchard. "Other than this method, we cannot defeat him." The Jade Emperor agreed.

Taibai Jinxing came down to earth. He told Sun Wukong this news. Sun Wukong felt that he was very smart. He was very happy to be equal to the Heavenly Court. So he agreed to return to the Heavenly Court.

Sun Wukong arrived at the immortal peach orchard. He thought he was supposed to protect this place. He walked into this quiet place. He did not know that the gods were tricking him.