The Fisherman and The Little Fish
A poor fisherman catches a tiny fish that pleads for its life, but he refuses and takes it home.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, in a small village by the sea, there lived a fisherman who didn't have much money.
Every day, he would go to the sea and throw his net into the water to catch fish.
One day, when he was pulling his net back, he saw a very tiny fish caught in it.
This fish was really small, almost like a baby fish, and the fisherman felt a bit sad looking at it.
The tiny fish was scared and started to speak to the fisherman, "Please, kind fisherman, let me go back into the sea!
I am too small now, but I promise if you let me go, I will grow big and strong.
Then, you can catch me again, and I will be worth a lot more to you."
The fisherman looked at the small fish in his hand and thought about what it said.
But then, he shook his head and said, "No, little fish.
I have you right now, and I can't let you go.
It's better to have something small now than to wait for something bigger that might not happen."
So, the fisherman put the tiny fish in his basket and took it home.
كان يا مكان في قديم الزمان، في قرية صغيرة بجانب البحر، عاش صياد لم يكن لديه الكثير من المال. كان يذهب كل يوم إلى البحر ويرمي شبكته في الماء لاصطياد الأسماك. وفي يوم من الأيام، عندما كان يسحب شبكته، رأى سمكة صغيرة جدًا علقت فيها. كانت السمكة صغيرة جدًا، كأنها سمكة طفلة، وشعر الصياد بالحزن عندما رآها.
كانت السمكة الصغيرة خائفة وبدأت تتحدث إلى الصياد، "أرجوك أيها الصياد الطيب، دعني أعود إلى البحر! أنا صغيرة جدًا الآن، لكن أعدك إذا تركتني أذهب، سأكبر وأصبح قوية. حينها، يمكنك أن تصطادني مرة أخرى، وسأكون ذات قيمة أكبر لك."
نظر الصياد إلى السمكة الصغيرة في يده وفكر فيما قالته. ولكنه هز رأسه وقال، "لا، أيتها السمكة الصغيرة. لديكي الآن، ولا أستطيع أن أترككي تذهبين. من الأفضل أن أمتلك شيئًا صغيرًا الآن من أن أنتظر شيئًا أكبر قد لا يحدث."
وهكذا، وضع الصياد السمكة الصغيرة في سلته وأخذها إلى المنزل.
Es war einmal in einem kleinen Dorf am Meer.
Dort lebte ein Fischer, der nicht viel Geld hatte.
Jeden Tag ging er zum Meer und warf sein Netz ins Wasser, um Fische zu fangen.
Eines Tages, als er sein Netz zurückzog, sah er einen winzigen Fisch darin gefangen.
Dieser Fisch war wirklich klein, fast wie ein Babyfisch, und der Fischer fühlte sich ein bisschen traurig, als er ihn ansah.
Der winzige Fisch hatte Angst und begann, mit dem Fischer zu sprechen: "Bitte, lieber Fischer, lass mich zurück ins Meer!
Ich bin jetzt noch zu klein, aber ich verspreche dir, wenn du mich freilässt, werde ich groß und stark.
Dann kannst du mich wieder fangen, und ich werde viel mehr wert sein."
Der Fischer schaute den kleinen Fisch in seiner Hand an und dachte über das nach, was er gesagt hatte.
Doch dann schüttelte er den Kopf und sagte: "Nein, kleiner Fisch.
Ich habe dich jetzt, und ich kann dich nicht freilassen.
Es ist besser, jetzt etwas Kleines zu haben, als auf etwas Größeres zu warten, das vielleicht nie passiert."
Daraufhin legte der Fischer den winzigen Fisch in seinen Korb und nahm ihn mit nach Hause.
एक समय की बात है, समुद्र किनारे बसे एक छोटे से गाँव में एक मछुआरा रहता था। उसके पास ज्यादा पैसे नहीं थे, लेकिन हर दिन वह अपनी नाव लेकर समुद्र में मछलियाँ पकड़ने जाता था। एक दिन, जब वह अपने जाल को वापस खींच रहा था, उसने देखा कि उसमें एक बहुत ही छोटी मछली फँसी हुई थी। यह मछली इतनी छोटी थी, मानो किसी मछली का शिशु हो, और मछुआरे को उसे देखकर थोड़ा दुख हुआ।
छोटी मछली डर गई थी और उसने मछुआरे से कहा, "दयालु मछुआरे, मुझे वापस समुद्र में जाने दो! अभी मैं बहुत छोटी हूँ, लेकिन मैं वादा करती हूँ कि अगर तुम मुझे छोड़ दोगे, तो मैं बड़ी और तंदुरुस्त हो जाऊँगी। फिर तुम मुझे पकड़ सकते हो, और तब मैं तुम्हारे लिए बहुत कीमती हो जाऊँगी।"
मछुआरे ने छोटी मछली को अपने हाथों में देखा और उसकी बातों पर विचार किया। फिर उसने अपना सिर हिलाया और कहा, "नहीं छोटी मछली, मैं तुम्हें अब पकड़ चुका हूँ, और तुम्हें छोड़ नहीं सकता। यह बेहतर है कि मेरे पास अभी कुछ छोटा हो, बजाय इसके कि मैं किसी ऐसी चीज की आस में रहूँ जो शायद कभी न हो।"
ऐसा कह कर मछुआरे ने छोटी मछली को अपनी टोकरी में रखा और उसे अपने घर ले गया।
Det var en gång en fiskare som inte hade mycket pengar och som bodde i en liten by vid havet. Varje dag gick han ner till havet och kastade ut sitt nät för att fånga fisk. En dag när han drog upp sitt nät, såg han en pytteliten fisk som fastnat i det. Fisken var verkligen liten, nästan som en fiskbebis, och fiskaren kände sig lite ledsen när han tittade på den.
Den lilla fisken var rädd och började prata med fiskaren: "Snälla, snälla fiskare, låt mig få komma tillbaka till havet! Jag är alldeles för liten nu, men om du låter mig gå, lovar jag att växa mig stor och stark. Då kan du fånga mig igen, och jag kommer att vara mycket mer värd för dig då."
Fiskaren tittade på den lilla fisken i sin hand och funderade på vad den hade sagt. Men sedan skakade han på huvudet och sa: "Nej, lilla fisk. Jag har dig nu, och jag kan inte släppa iväg dig. Det är bättre att ha något litet nu än att vänta på något större som kanske aldrig blir verklighet."
Så fiskaren lade den lilla fisken i sin korg och tog med den hem.
从前，在靠海的一个小村庄里，住着一位并不富裕的渔夫。他每天都会到海边去，把渔网撒进海里，希望能捕到一些鱼。一天，他像往常一样收回渔网，却发现网里只有一条非常小的小鱼。这条鱼小得像个小宝宝，看着它，渔夫心里不禁有些难过。
小鱼很害怕，它开始对渔夫说话：“善良的渔夫，请你让我回到海里吧！我现在太小了，但我保证，如果你放我回去，我会长得又大又强壮。到那时，你再来抓我，我对你来说就更值钱了。”
渔夫看着手里的小鱼，想了想它的话。但随后，他摇了摇头说：“不，小鱼。我现在已经抓到你了，不能放你走。与其等待一个可能抓不到的大鱼，不如现在拥有这个小小的收获。”
于是，渔夫把小鱼放进了他的篮子里，带回了家。
There is a fisherman. He is poor. Every day, he puts his net in the sea. He wants to catch fish.
One day, he catches a small fish. The fisherman feels sad because the fish is so tiny.
The little fish is scared. It talks to the fisherman. It says, "Please let me go. I will grow big. Then, you can catch me again. I will be useful to you."
The fisherman thinks. Then he says, "No, little fish. You are in my net now. I will not let you go. It is better to have you now than to wait."
The fisherman takes the little fish home in his basket.
Once upon a time, in a small village by the sea, there lived a fisherman who didn't have much money. Every day, he would go to the sea and throw his net into the water to catch fish. One day, when he was pulling his net back, he saw a very tiny fish caught in it. This fish was really small, almost like a baby fish, and the fisherman felt a bit sad looking at it.
The tiny fish was scared and started to speak to the fisherman, "Please, kind fisherman, let me go back into the sea! I am too small now, but I promise if you let me go, I will grow big and strong. Then, you can catch me again, and I will be worth a lot more to you."
The fisherman looked at the small fish in his hand and thought about what it said. But then, he shook his head and said, "No, little fish. I have you right now, and I can't let you go. It's better to have something small now than to wait for something bigger that might not happen."
So, the fisherman put the tiny fish in his basket and took it home.
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, by the edge of a large, quiet sea, there lived a fisherman. Every day, he would cast his net into the ocean, hoping to catch enough fish to live on. One ordinary day, as he pulled in his net, he found a small fish caught among the threads. The fish was hardly bigger than a minnow, and the fisherman felt disappointed as he looked at his catch.
The small fish, trembling with fear, spoke to the fisherman, "Please, kind sir, let me go! If you release me back into the sea, I promise that one day I will come back much bigger and be more valuable to you."
The fisherman thought about the fish's words. He looked into the eyes of the tiny, pleading creature in his hands. But despite the fish's sincere request, he slowly shook his head, making up his mind. "No, little friend," he said gently but firmly, "it's better to have something small for sure now than to hope for something bigger that might never come. It's wiser to be happy with what I have now, rather than to wish for something that might not happen."
With a heavy heart, the fisherman placed the small fish into his basket and went back to his home.
Once upon a time, in a big, big ocean that was like the world's biggest bathtub but without the rubber ducks, there was a fisherman. This guy was having a rough time. Seriously, if fishing was a game, he was still waiting to score his first point.
So, this one day, our fisherman throws his net into the water, thinking, "This is it! Tonight, we feast!" He pulls up his net and feels something heavy. "Yes! Dinner time!" he thinks. But what does he find? Not a big fish, not even a medium one, but this teeny-tiny little fish. I mean, this fish was so small, it could have been a goldfish’s baby cousin.
The little fish starts shaking like he’s dancing and says, "Hey, hey, hold up! You don't want to eat me. I'm like a tiny snack. Let me go, and I promise, I’ll get big and strong. Think of me as the superhero of fish. Catch me later, and it'll be worth the wait!"
The fisherman looks at the little fish and laughs. "Superhero of fish, you say? What’s next? Are you gonna wear a cape and save other fish from bad guys?"
The little fish tries to look serious, which is hard because, well, he’s a fish. "No capes, but I promise I’ll grow big enough to make a really good dinner!"
The fisherman chuckles. "You're funny, but you know what they say—a tiny fish today is better than maybe, possibly, perhaps a big fish tomorrow."
The Little Fish flaps his fins and rolls his eyes, "So, you’re Mr. Wise Fisherman now? What's next, are you gonna write a book about life lessons?"
"Nah," says the fisherman, "you’ll just have to be the star of today's dinner story."
And with that, the fisherman puts the little fish in his basket, singing a happy tune as he walks home. It's sorta like "Under the Sea," but without the singing lobsters and more just one man and his fish.
A fisherman, so humble, with nets wide and vast,
Searched the deep waters, hoping for a catch at last.
To his surprise, what could it be?
A tiny fish, as small as a pea!
The wee fish trembled, eyes glistening bright,
"Dear sir," it whispered, "I'm not a good bite.
Let me swim free, grow big in the sea,
Then catch me later, a treat I will be!"
Gazing at the fish, so tiny and sleek,
The fisherman pondered the promise it did speak.
"No, little one, I can't take that bet,
A bird in the hand is a sure safe bet."
Into the basket, the fish went with a sigh,
The fisherman walked home, looking at the sky.
A day like others, his catch was quite small,
But in that moment, he felt ten feet tall.
Word Finder
Fisherman
A man who catches fish.Poor
Not having much money or things.Net
Thing used to catch fish.Sea
Big water with fish and salt.Tiny
Very small in size.Scared
Feeling afraid or worried.Grow
To become bigger or larger.Useful
Good for helping or doing something.Thinks
Uses the mind to decide.Basket
Container to carry things.
Village
A small group of houses in the countryside.Fisherman
A person who catches fish for a living.Net
A device made of threads to catch fish.Tiny
Very small in size.Caught
Trapped or captured by something.Promise
To say you will do something in the future.Strong
Having power or being physically powerful.Worth
Having value or being important.Thought
Considered or reflected in the mind.Basket
A container used to carry or hold things.
Faraway
A place that is very distant or remote.Fisherman
A person who catches fish for living.Ordinary
Something that is usual or not special.Trembling
Shaking because of fear, excitement, or cold.Release
To let something go or set it free.Valuable
Something that is worth a lot or important.Sincere
Honest and truthful in what you say.Creature
Any living thing, especially an animal.Pleading
Begging or asking in a serious way.Disappointed
Feeling sad because something did not happen.
Ocean
A very large body of salt water, much bigger than a lake.Fisherman
Someone who catches fish for a living or as a hobby.Feast
A large meal, usually a celebration with lots of food.Teeny-tiny
Extremely small.Superhero
A character in stories that has special powers and helps people.Cape
A piece of clothing that hangs from someone's back and does not have sleeves. Chuckles: Quiet, soft laughs.Flaps
Moves something, like wings or fins, back and forth.Wise
Having knowledge and good judgement.Tune
A series of musical notes that are pleasant to listen to.
Fisherman
A person who catches fish.Humble
Not proud; simple.Vast
Very big.Trembled
Shook slightly because of fear or cold.Glistening
Shiny, reflecting light.Pondered
Thought about something carefully.Sleek
Smooth and shiny.Bet
A risk taken for a possible reward.Basket
A container made of woven strands.Sigh
To breathe out slowly and deeply, often showing sadness or relief.
Understanding Questions
- What does the fisherman do every day?
- He puts his net in the sea.
- He goes to the park.
- He eats fish.
- He swims in the sea.
- What does the fisherman catch one day?
- A big fish.
- A small fish.
- A crab.
- A shell.
- How does the fisherman feel about the small fish?
- Happy.
- Sad.
- Angry.
- Excited.
- What does the small fish ask the fisherman?
- "Please eat me."
- "Please let me go."
- "Please give me to a friend."
- "Please sell me."
- What does the fisherman decide to do with the small fish?
- He lets it go.
- He takes it home.
- He puts it back in the sea.
- He gives it to a friend.
- Where did the fisherman live?
- What did the fisherman do every day to make a living?
- How did the fisherman feel when he saw the tiny fish in his net?
- What did the tiny fish promise to the fisherman if he let it go?
- Why did the fisherman decide not to let the tiny fish go?
- What does the fisherman do every day, and why is this routine important for his livelihood?
- How does the fisherman's reaction to the small fish reflect his overall perspective on life and opportunities?
- What reasoning does the small fish use to try and convince the fisherman to let it go?
- How does the fisherman justify his decision to keep the small fish despite its plea?
- How does the fisherman feel when he makes his final decision, and what does this feeling tell us about his character?
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think the fisherman decided not to let the little fish go?
- How do you imagine the little fish felt when the fisherman didn't accept its offer?
- Can you think of a time when you had something small, but you didn't want to wait for it to grow or get better?
- What does this story teach us about the importance of contentment and the risks of being too hopeful?
- How can we apply the lesson from this story in our lives, especially when we're tempted to always want more than we have now?
Fable Quotes
Adapt or miss the chance, for in the sea of change, opportunities swim away.
A small gain is worth more than a large promise.
Contentment is appreciating what you have now, rather than longing for what may never come.
Just One More Fable
- Justice
- Perception
The Bull, The Lioness, and The Wild-Boar Hunter
A Bull accidentally trampled a Lioness's cub, causing grief, but a hunter reminded her of her own past actions.
- Resourcefulness
- Contentment
The Faith of a Starving Man
A man collects seemingly useless items on his journey, which later help him survive by a river.
- Caution
- Consequences
The Mouse in the Wine Jar and the Cat
A trapped mouse promises a cat anything for help, but later refuses, teaching the cat about broken promises made under the influence.
- Leadership
- Responsibility
The Peacock and The Magpie
Birds chose Peacock for king based on beauty, but Magpie's questions made them realize wisdom and courage were crucial.