童话 (tónghuà): fairy tale

Measure Word

一篇童话 piān

Meanings

1 fairy tale
2 children's story

Characters

Literally 'children's stories' — fairy tales.

Examples

妈妈每晚给孩子讲童话故事。

Māma měi wǎn gěi háizi jiǎng tónghuà gùshi.

Mom tells the child fairy tales every night.

他小时候最喜欢看童话书。

Tā xiǎoshíhou zuì xǐhuan kàn tónghuà shū.

He loved reading fairy tale books when he was young.

生活不是童话。

Shēnghuó bù shì tónghuà.

Life is not a fairy tale.

Tips

usage

Compare: 童话 (fairy tales for children) vs. 神话 (myths about gods). 童话 has a gentle, innocent feel; 神话 has an epic, supernatural feel.

In Pop Culture

童话 Tónghuà

Fairy Tale

iconic 2005 love song by 光良, a karaoke classic across Asia

Stroke Order

童 tóng

话 huà

Related Words

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childhood

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child / children

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myth / mythology / legend

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phone call; to make a phone call / to communicate by phone

童子军 tóngzǐjūn #4,983

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child / boy

说来话长 shuōlái-huàcháng #5,434

it's a long story

听话 tīnghuà HSK 7-9 #4,376

obedient / well-behaved

长话短说 chánghuà-duǎnshuō #8,272

to make a long story short / to cut to the chase

谈话 tánhuà HSK 3 #1,393

to talk; to have a conversation / conversation; talk