The Tortoise and the Hare
Steady and patient, a slow tortoise dares to race against a confident hare. Who will cross the finish line first?
Once upon a time, there lived a hare who loved to brag. “I’m the fastest animal in the whole forest!” he told everyone. “No one can beat me in a race!” He ran fast through trees, leaped over bushes, and raced past other animals, just to show off.
But the one he made fun of the most was the tortoise. “Look at you, crawling so slowly!” the hare laughed. “You wouldn’t win a race even if you started yesterday!”
The tortoise, who was quiet and patient, finally spoke up. “Let’s race, Hare. Let’s see if speed alone makes a winner.”
The animals gasped. A race between the fastest and the slowest? It seemed impossible! The hare burst into laughter. “You? Race me? This will be over before you take your first step!”
Still chuckling, the hare agreed. The fox set the racecourse, marking a path to the big oak tree. All the animals gathered, eager to watch.
“Ready, set, go!” called the fox.
The hare shot forward, kicking up dust. In a blink, he was far ahead. The tortoise, as always, moved slowly, one steady step at a time.
After a while, the hare looked back. The tortoise was nowhere close. “This is too easy,” he smirked. “I could take a nap and still win!”
He spotted a shady tree, stretched out, and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, the tortoise kept going. He didn’t stop. He didn’t rush. Step by step, he made his way forward. Soon, he reached the tree where the hare was snoring. The tortoise glanced at him, then kept moving. The other animals watched in amazement as he passed right by.
Much later, the hare finally woke up. He yawned, stretched, and looked ahead. Then he gasped.
The tortoise was almost at the finish line!
“Wait, what?” the hare shouted. He leaped up and ran as fast as he could, his feet pounding the ground. But it was too late.
The tortoise took one final step and crossed the finish line.
The forest filled with cheers. Birds chirped, squirrels clapped, and the fox called out, “The tortoise wins!”
The hare hung his head in disbelief. He had been so sure of victory, but now he saw the truth.
Humbled by his loss, the hare stopped bragging and never made fun of the tortoise again.
Featured in the Book Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there lived a hare who loved to brag.
“I’m the fastest animal in the whole forest!” he told everyone.
“No one can beat me in a race!”
He ran fast through trees, leaped over bushes, and raced past other animals, just to show off.
But the one he made fun of the most was the tortoise.
“Look at you, crawling so slowly!” the hare laughed.
“You wouldn’t win a race even if you started yesterday!”
The tortoise, who was quiet and patient, finally spoke up.
“Let’s race, Hare.
Let’s see if speed alone makes a winner.”
The animals gasped.
A race between the fastest and the slowest?
It seemed impossible!
The hare burst into laughter. “You? Race me?
This will be over before you take your first step!”
Still chuckling, the hare agreed.
The fox set the racecourse, marking a path to the big oak tree.
All the animals gathered, eager to watch.
“Ready, set, go!” called the fox.
The hare shot forward, kicking up dust.
In a blink, he was far ahead.
The tortoise, as always, moved slowly, one steady step at a time.
After a while, the hare looked back.
The tortoise was nowhere close.
“This is too easy,” he smirked.
“I could take a nap and still win!”
He spotted a shady tree, stretched out, and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, the tortoise kept going. He didn’t stop. He didn’t rush.
Step by step, he made his way forward.
Soon, he reached the tree where the hare was snoring.
The tortoise glanced at him, then kept moving.
The other animals watched in amazement as he passed right by.
Much later, the hare finally woke up.
He yawned, stretched, and looked ahead.
Then he gasped.
The tortoise was almost at the finish line!
“Wait, what?” the hare shouted.
He leaped up and ran as fast as he could, his feet pounding the ground.
But it was too late.
The tortoise took one final step and crossed the finish line.
The forest filled with cheers.
Birds chirped, squirrels clapped, and the fox called out, “The tortoise wins!”
The hare hung his head in disbelief.
He had been so sure of victory, but now he saw the truth.
Humbled by his loss, the hare stopped bragging and never made fun of the tortoise again.
في يوم من الأيام، في غابة كثيفة، كان هناك أرنب سريع وسلحفاة بطيئة. كان الأرنب فخورًا بسرعته وكان يتفاخر بذلك أمام الحيوانات الأخرى. وكان يحب أن يسخر من السلحفاة لبطئها.
في أحد الأيام، شعرت السلحفاة بالضجر من تفاخر الأرنب، فتحدّته في سباق. ظن الأرنب أن هذا أمر مضحك، فوافق على التحدي. اختار المتسابقان مضمارا للسباق، وجاءت جميع الحيوانات في الغابة لمشاهدته.
عندما بدأ السباق، انطلق الأرنب بسرعة تاركًا السلحفاة بعيدة وراءه. عندما رأى الأرنب مدى بطء السلحفاة، شعر بالثقة في فوزه. فكر قائلاً، "لدي الكثير من الوقت، يمكنني أن آخذ قيلولة قصيرة"، ونام تحت شجرة.
لكن السلحفاة استمرت في التقدم ببطء وثبات. لم تهتم بمدى سرعة الأرنب، بل ركزت فقط على الوصول إلى النهاية.
بينما كان الأرنب نائمًا، اقتربت السلحفاة ببطء من خط النهاية. وعندما استيقظ الأرنب ورأى أن السلحفاة كانت على وشك الوصول، كان الوقت قد فات. ركض بأقصى سرعة ممكنة، ولكن السلحفاة كانت قد وصلت بالفعل وفازت بالسباق.
احتفلت الحيوانات في الغابة بفوز السلحفاة. لقد أظهرت لهم أن الثبات وعدم الاستسلام يمكن أن يؤدي إلى النجاح.
بعد ذلك، توقف الأرنب عن الاعتقاد بأنه أفضل من الآخرين ولم يعد يسخر منهم.
Es war einmal in einem dichten Wald, da lebten ein schneller Hase und eine langsame Schildkröte. Der Hase war stolz darauf, wie schnell er rennen konnte, und erzählte das oft den anderen Tieren. Er neckte gerne die Schildkröte, weil sie so langsam war.
Eines Tages hatte die Schildkröte genug von dem Prahlen des Hasen. Also forderte die Schildkröte den Hasen zu einem Rennen heraus. Der Hase fand das lustig und stimmte zu. Sie wählten einen Weg für das Rennen, und alle Tiere im Wald kamen, um zuzuschauen.
Als das Rennen begann, rannte der Hase schnell los und ließ die Schildkröte weit hinter sich. Als er sah, wie langsam die Schildkröte sich bewegte, war er sich sicher, dass er gewinnen würde. Er dachte: „Ich habe so viel Zeit, ich kann ein kurzes Nickerchen machen,“ und legte sich unter einen Baum schlafen.
Aber die Schildkröte machte weiter, langsam und stetig. Sie machte sich keine Sorgen darüber, wie schnell der Hase war. Sie konzentrierte sich einfach darauf, das Ziel zu erreichen.
Während der Hase schlief, kam die Schildkröte langsam dem Ziel näher. Als der Hase aufwachte und sah, dass die Schildkröte fast da war, war es zu spät. Er rannte so schnell er konnte, aber die Schildkröte hatte das Rennen bereits gewonnen.
Die Tiere im Wald jubelten der Schildkröte zu. Sie hatte ihnen gezeigt, dass Beständigkeit und nicht aufzugeben zum Erfolg führen können.
Nach diesem Tag hörte der Hase auf zu denken, dass er besser als die anderen war, und machte sich nicht mehr über andere lustig.
एक समय की बात है, एक घने जंगल में एक तेज़ खरगोश और एक धीमा कछुआ रहता था। खरगोश को अपनी तेज़ दौड़ने की क्षमता पर बहुत गर्व था, और वह अक्सर अन्य जानवरों को इस बारे में बताता था। वह कछुए को उसकी धीमी गति के लिए चिढ़ाता भी था।
एक दिन, कछुआ खरगोश की डींगें सुन-सुनकर थक गया। उसने खरगोश को एक स्पर्धा की चुनौती दी। खरगोश को यह बहुत मजेदार लगा और वह तुरंत मान गया। उन्होंने दौड़ के लिए एक रास्ता चुना, और जंगल के सभी जानवर वह स्पर्धा देखने के लिए इकट्ठा हो गए।
जैसे ही दौड़ शुरू हुई, खरगोश तेज़ी से आगे भागा, और कछुआ पीछे रह गया। कछुए की धीमी चाल देखकर, खरगोश को पक्का विश्वास हो गया कि वह आसानी से जीत जाएगा। उसने सोचा, "मेरे पास तो बहुत समय है, मैं थोड़ा आराम कर सकता हूँ," और वह एक पेड़ के नीचे सो गया।
लेकिन कछुआ धीरे-धीरे और दृढ़ निश्चय से लगातार चलता रहा। उसे इस बात की चिंता नहीं थी कि खरगोश कितना तेज़ है। उसका ध्यान केवल अंत तक पहुँचने पर केंद्रित था।
जितनी देर खरगोश सो रहा था, उतनी देर में कछुआ धीरे-धीरे लक्ष्य रेखा के पास पहुँच गया। जब तक खरगोश की नींद खुली और उसने देखा कि कछुआ लगभग लक्ष्य तक पहुँच चुका है, तब तक बहुत देर हो चुकी थी। वह जितनी तेज़ दौड़ सकता था, दौड़ा, लेकिन कछुआ पहले ही स्पर्धा जीत चुका था।
जंगल के सभी जानवर कछुए की जीत पर खुशी से झूम उठे। कछुए ने सिद्ध कर दिया था कि लगातार प्रयास करने और हार न मानने से सफलता मिल ही जाती है।
इसके पूर्व खरगोश ने यह सोचना बंद कर दिया कि वह बाकि सबसे बेहतर है, और उसने दूसरों का उपहास करना भी बंद कर दिया।
Det var en gång en hare som var snabb och en sköldpadda som var långsam. De bodde djupt inne i skogen. Haren var mycket stolt över hur fort han kunde springa och pratade ofta om det inför de andra djuren. Han tyckte mycket om att retas med sköldpaddan för att den var så långsam.
En dag tröttnade sköldpaddan på harens skrytande och bestämde sig för att utmana den på en kapplöpning. Haren tyckte det lät roligt, så han gick med på det. De valde ut en bana för tävlingen, och alla djuren i skogen samlades för att titta.
När tävlingen började kastade sig haren snabbt iväg och lämnade sköldpaddan långt bakom sig. När haren såg hur långsamt sköldpaddan rörde sig, blev han säker på att han skulle vinna. Han tänkte: "Jag har så gott om tid att jag kan ta en liten tupplur", och han gick och la sig under ett träd för att sova.
Men sköldpaddan fortsatte framåt, långsamt och envetet. Han brydde sig inte om hur fort haren sprang. Han riktade bara in sig på att nå målet.
Medan haren slumrade vidare kom sköldpaddan långsamt allt närmare mållinjen. När haren vaknade och såg att sköldpaddan nästan var i mål, var det för sent. Han sprang så fort han kunde, men sköldpaddan hade redan vunnit loppet.
Djuren i skogen hurrade för sköldpaddan. Han hade visat dem att om man bara jobbar på och inte ger upp, så kan man lyckas.
Efter den dagen slutade haren att tro att han var bättre än alla andra och retades inte längre med någon.
从前，在一片茂密的森林里，住着一只跑得很快的兔子和一只跑得很慢的乌龟。兔子为自己跑得快感到自豪，经常向其他动物炫耀。他喜欢嘲笑乌龟慢吞吞的样子。
有一天，乌龟厌倦了兔子的自夸。于是，乌龟向兔子发起了挑战，要和兔子比一场赛跑。兔子觉得 比赛这件事很好笑，毫不犹豫地答应了。他们选定了一条赛道，森林里的所有动物都来看热闹。
比赛一开始，兔子就迅速跑在前面，把乌龟远远地甩在了后面。看到乌龟走得这么慢，兔子觉得自己肯定会赢。他心想：“我有大把的时间，可以小睡一会儿。”于是，他就在一棵树下睡着了。
而乌龟呢？他一直慢慢地往前走，不着急，也不担心兔子跑得有多快。他只是专注于走到终点。
当兔子还在睡觉的时候，乌龟慢慢地接近了终点线。当兔子醒来时，看到乌龟快到终点了，已经太晚了。他拼命地跑，但乌龟已经赢得了比赛。
森林里的动物们都为乌龟欢呼。他们明白了，坚持不懈，稳扎稳打，最终会取得成功。
从那以后，兔子不再自以为比别人强，也不再嘲笑别人了。
Kwathi kwathi ngaminazana ithile, kwakukho umvundla owayethanda ukuqhayisa. "Ndisesona silwanyane sibalekayo kunazo zonke ehlathini!" nto leyo, wayeyithetha kumntu wonke. "Akukho namnye unondodlula ekubalekeni!" wayesithi letshe emithini, athi tshe ematyholweni, ezishiya zibethwe ngumoya ezinye izilwanyana efuna nje ukutshambaza.
Kodwa oyena wayemenza intlekisa lufundo."Zijonge ube ucotha ukhasa!" ehleka isiqhazolo. "Ubunganoze uphumelele nokuba ubunoqala izolo!"
Ufudo,lwaluzolile lunomonde, ekugqibeleleni lwathetha lwathi "Masikhuphisane, mvundla masibone ukuba kukubaleka kodwa okukwenza uphumelele."
Zothuka ezinye izilwanyane, ukhuphiswano phakathi koyena ubalekayo noyena ucothayo? Yayingakholeleki! Waphela yintsini umvundla "Wena? Ukhuphisane nam? Le izophela ungeka beki nelokuqala unyawo!"
Wavuma, ehleka enjalo. Impungutye yalulungisela olukhuphiswano sevula nendlela kumthi omkhulu. Zaqokelelana zonke izilwanyane, sezingxamele ukubukela ukhuphiswano.
“Nikulungele ukuqala? Maziye!” ikhwaza impungutye. Wadubuleka phambili umvundla, wavumbulula uthuli,ngophanyazo wankenqeza ngaphambili. Njengesiqhelo,ufudo lancangathisa,chu unyawo phambi kwelinye.
Emva kwexesha umvundla wajonga emva, lwabe ufudo lusemva kakhulu. “Ilula lento,” watsho encumile umvundla. “Ndingaphumelela noba ndinothi nqwa!”
Wabona umthi onomthunzi, wazolula,wavala amehlo.
Lwabe ufudo lusaqhuba, lungemanga, lungangxamanga, chu-ngcembe, ukubheka phambili. Kungekudala ufudo lwabe selufika emthini, umvundla usarhona. Ufudo lwathi krwaqu, lwaqhubekeka nendlela. Ezinye izilwanyane zabe zibukele zimangalisiwe, lwabe ufudo lugqitha.
Ethubeni, umvundla wavuka, wazamla, wazolula wajonga phambili. Wothuka!
Ufudo lwabe seluzofika ukugqibeleni!
Umangalisiwe umvundla wothuka wakwaza, “Kwenzeka ntoni?” Vandla ukuphakama, waleqisa kanga ngoko, iinyawo nkqi emhlabeni, kodwa kwabe sekonakele.
Ufudo lwanyathela okokugqibela laqabela emgceni.
Kwazala uvuyo ehlathini. Intaka zintyiloza, onomatse baqhwaba izandla, impungutye yakhwaza “Lwaphuma phambili ufudo!”
Wajingisa intloko umvundla, ungakholelwa! Wawusowuzixelele ngempumelelo, kodwa inyani yavela. Edaniswa kukogqithwa, wayeka ukuqhayisa umvundla kwaye zange aphinde agezele ufudo kwakhona.
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Word Finder
Brag
Say great things about yourself proudly.Leaped
Jumped high or far with energy.Crawling
Moving very slowly, close to the ground.Patient
Waiting calmly without getting upset.Gasped
Took a quick, surprised breath.Chuckling
Laughing quietly in a happy way.Smirked
Gave a cheeky, proud little smile.Snoring
Making sounds while sleeping deeply.Amazement
A strong feeling of surprise and wonder.Humbled
Felt less proud after learning a lesson.
Understanding Questions
- Why did the tortoise challenge the hare to a race?
- What did the hare do when he was far ahead in the race?
- How did the tortoise approach the race, despite his slow speed?
- What was the hare’s reaction when he woke up and saw the tortoise near the finish line?
- How did the hare’s behavior change after the race?
Reflection Questions
- What happened in the story?
- How did the tortoise win the race even though he was much slower than the hare?
- Can you think of a time when staying calm and working steadily helped you succeed?
- What does this story teach us about arrogance and taking a nap during a race?
- How can you practice patience and perseverance in your daily life?
Fable Quotes
Slow and steady wins the race.
Those who underestimate others overestimate themselves.
Remember to be humble, no matter how fast you are.
Just One More Fable
- Deception
- Consequences
The Blue Jackal
A jackal turns blue and deceives forest animals to become their king, but is exposed and driven out.
- Fear
- Cunning
The Fox and the Turkeys
A clever fox tricks tired turkeys all night, causing them to fall from their tree, and he catches them.
- Value
- Humility
Anansi and the Wisdom Pot
A spider named Anansi gathered all the wisdom in a large pot, but a child's simple suggestion shattered it, spreading wisdom everywhere.
- Ignorance
- Patience
The Tortoise And The Geese
Geese help tortoise move to new lake, but he dies after opening his mouth trying to respond to children's insults.
Read it on paper, too
“The Tortoise and the Hare” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
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