故事 (gùshi) — Story in Mandarin
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#381 most common word · HSK 3 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
故事 is pronounced gùshi. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Zhè shì yī ge yǒuqù de gùshi.
This is an interesting story.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 故事 mean?+
故事 (gùshi) means "Story" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 故事?+
故事 is pronounced gùshi. It uses the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 故事 in Mandarin?+
故事 is the #381 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 故事 fits
Every HSK 3 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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