Hans and Grethel
Introduction
'Hans and Grethel' is the 32nd tale of the Brothers Grimm, and its German title, 'Clever Hans,' is a joke turned upside down: the more the story praises his cleverness, the plainer his foolishness becomes. In this version we retell the tale as a Chinese fable. We cut the long-winded details, let each scene show one single blunder, and keep the talk short — one sentence to carry the whole point. Oddly enough, this makes the story feel closer to the old sayings that Chinese readers grow up with. Hans makes the very same mistake as the man of Chu, who carved a mark on his boat to find his fallen sword, or the man of Song, who waited by a stump for a hare to knock itself out: he remembers the rule perfectly, yet never lifts his eyes to see that the situation before him has changed. A fable lives by its closing line, so we let Hans's story end with a quiet word of wisdom: knowing rules by heart is not real cleverness; seeing the matter in front of you is. When you read with your child, let him or her guess first how Hans will misuse his mother's advice this time, laugh together when the guess is right, and then ask one last question — what would you do in his place?
Vocabulary from "Hans and Grethel"
12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.
To act in a good and polite way.
守规矩；行为端正。
"Then behave well," said his mother.
“那你可得规规矩矩的。”母亲说。
The part of a coat or shirt that covers your arm.
袖子。
A needle belongs in your sleeve, where you can reach it at once.
针该别在袖子上，用时一抽就到手。
The sharp, flat cutting part of a knife.
刀刃；刀身。
But the sharp blade cut his arm through the cloth.
谁知一路走来，刀锋隔着衣袖，把他的胳膊划出一道道血印。
Breathed out slowly and loudly to show tiredness or sadness.
叹气（表示无奈或难过）。
His mother sighed.
母亲叹了口气。
Pulled something heavy along the ground.
拖；拽。
Hans remembered the goat, so he tied a rope around the meat and dragged it home behind him.
汉斯想起小羊的事，便找了根绳子，把肉拴住，一路拖在身后往回走。
Lost or without a home; wandering alone.
走失的；无家可归的。
On the way, two stray dogs ran out and ate all the bacon.
谁知半道上跳出两条野狗，把肉叼了个精光。
Tried hard to move or get free.
挣扎；奋力挣脱。
All the way home, the calf kicked and struggled, and kicked his face until it was black and blue.
一路上，牛犊又踢又蹬，把他的脸踢得青一块紫一块。
Covered with bruises from being hit or kicked.
青一块紫一块；伤痕累累。
All the way home, the calf kicked and struggled, and kicked his face until it was black and blue.
一路上，牛犊又踢又蹬，把他的脸踢得青一块紫一块。
Painful, especially when touched.
疼痛的；酸痛的。
Hans touched his sore face.
汉斯摸着脸上的伤。
A building where farm animals such as horses and cows live.
牲口棚；马厩。
He remembered the calf, so he tied a rope around Grethel, led her to the stable, tied her to the hay-rack, and spread some grass in front of her.
他想起牛犊的事，便找了根绳子，把格蕾特拴住，一路牵到牲口棚，绑在草料架边，还在她跟前撒了一把草。
A woman on her wedding day, or a woman who has just married.
新娘。
Yet, strange to say, in the end she still became Hans's bride.
可说来也奇，到末了，她还是做了汉斯的新娘。
The quality of being smart and quick to understand.
聪明；机灵。
Knowing rules by heart is not real cleverness.
光会背规矩不算聪明。
Reading Together & Learning More
The Moral
Rules are fixed, but situations change. Hans copied yesterday's method onto today's task and spoiled it every time — so remember: knowing rules by heart is not enough; the wise eye sees the matter before it.
Educational Value
This fable helps children feel that each problem must be judged on its own: the same advice means something different in a new situation. As you read, guess how Hans will misuse the advice next, and after the laughter, ask: what would you do in his place?
Tips for Parents
Before you read, make a game of it: whenever Mother gives new advice, let your child guess how Hans will misuse it next time. The ending, where Hans throws animal eyes at Grethel, is the usual exaggerated nonsense of old numskull tales — pass over it as a joke. After reading, ask your child: what do "friendly eyes" really look like?
Talk About It
- Hans remembers his mother's words every time, so why does he still spoil everything? Where exactly does he go wrong?
- Mother says "a needle belongs in your sleeve," and the next day Hans puts a knife in his sleeve. Can you guess how he will misuse the advice next time?
- Hans's muddle is like the man who carved his boat to find a sword, or the man who waited by a stump for a hare. What fault do they all share?
- Mother says, "You should cast friendly eyes upon her." If you were Hans, how would you understand these words? What would you do?
- This fable says, "Rules are fixed, but situations change." Can you think of a small thing in your own life where copying an old way made things worse?
