BBC Bitesize – KS2 Primary Mandarin Curriculum – Little Red Riding Hood

Xiǎo Hóng Mào

Join Little Red Riding Hood on her adventure to her grandmother's house.

Little Red Riding Hood says goodbye to her mother.

Once upon a time there was a girl called Little Red Riding Hood (Xiǎo Hóng Mào).

One day, her mother (mā ma) asked her to take some cakes (dàn gāo) to her grandmother (wài pó) who lived on the other side of the forest (sēn lín).

In the forest

Little Red Riding Hood is stalked by the wolf on her way through the forest.

In the forest, Little Red saw an enormous wolf (> láng).

Wolf: Hello (> Nǐ hǎo), where are you going?

Little Red: My grandmother’s house (> fáng zi).

Wolf: That's good. Today is very nice (> Tiān qì hěn hǎo).

Little Red: Goodbye (> Zài jiàn).

Grandmother's house

When she arrives, Little Red can see that the wolf (láng) has arrived first.

She comes up with a plan to trick the wolf.

What big eyes you have!

The wolf is disguised as Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother, wearing her clothes.

Little Red: Grandmother, what big (dà) eyes (yǎn jīng) you have!

Wolf: All the better to see (kàn dào) you with.

Little Red: Grandmother, what big (dà) ears (ěr duo) you have!

Wolf: All the better to hear (tīng jiàn) you with.

Little Red: Grandmother, what big (dà) teeth (yá chǐ) you have!

Wolf: All the better to… eat (chī) you with!

A rolling pin

As the wolf (láng) pounces, Little Red takes out a rolling pin and hits him over the head (tóu) with it.

She returns home

Little Red Riding Hood heads home, eating the cakes meant for her grandmother.

The wolf (láng) is defeated and Little Red goes home (huí jiā), enjoying her grandmother’s cakes (dàn gāo) to herself.

Key Mandarin words

Mandarin	Pinyin	English
	chī	eat
	dà	big
	ěr duo	ears
	huí jiā	to go home
	kàn dào	see
	láng	wolf
	mā ma	mother
	tīng jiàn	hear
	tóu	head
	wài pó	grandmother
	yá chǐ	teeth
	yǎn jīng	eyes

The wolf dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother.

Did you know?

In Mandarin, different words are used to describe the grandparents who are your father’s parents and the grandparents who are your mother’s parents:

wài pó – grandmother (mother’s mother)
wài gōng – grandfather (mother’s father)
nǎi nai – grandmother (father’s mother)
yé ye – grandfather (father’s father)

A story in Mandarin: Little Red Riding Hood