Bull Wrestling in Zhejiang

浙江的捽牛


Introduction

Guanniu is an old sport in Jiaxing. People wrestle with bulls. Now, this sport has many problems.

捽牛是嘉興一項古老的運動。人們與牛摔跤。現在這項運動面臨許多問題。

Main Body

This sport is 600 years old. It is not like Spanish bullfighting. The people do not kill the bulls. They only hold the bull down to win.

這項運動有 600 年歷史。它不像西班牙鬥牛,人們不會殺牛,只要將牛壓制住就能獲勝。

Government leaders helped the sport in the 2000s. They gave some money and places to play. But the places are still bad. In 2026, bulls stayed in bathrooms because there were no stables.

政府在 2000 年代曾支持這項運動,提供了一些資金和場地。但場地條件依然很差。在 2026 年,因為沒有牛舍,牛隻甚至被安置在洗手間內。

Young people do not do this as a job. There is not enough money. The sports school now sells food and gifts to tourists to make money.

年輕人不會將此作為職業,因為收入不足。現在體育學校必須透過向遊客銷售食物和禮品來獲利。

Conclusion

Guanniu is a special tradition. But it may stop because there is no money and no full-time workers.

捽牛是一個特別的傳統。但因為缺乏資金且沒有全職工作者,可能會就此終止。

Vocabulary Learning

💡 The 'Now vs. Then' Pattern

Look at how the text talks about time. To reach A2, you need to switch between what happened in the past and what is happening today.

1. The Past (Finished actions)

  • "Government leaders helped..."
  • "They gave some money..."
  • "Bulls stayed in bathrooms..."

Rule: Just add -ed to the action word (Help \rightarrow Helped).

2. The Present (Current facts)

  • "This sport has many problems."
  • "The school sells food..."
  • "It is a special tradition."

Comparison Table

Past (Yesterday)Present (Today)
Helped \rightarrowHelps \rightarrow
Stayed \rightarrowStays \rightarrow
Gave \rightarrowGives \rightarrow

Quick Tip for A2 Learners: When you see a year (like 2000s or 2026), look for the -ed ending. When you see words like "Now," use the simple present form.

Vocabulary Learning

wrestle (v.)
To fight by holding someone and trying to push them to the ground
Example:The two athletes wrestle on the mat to see who is stronger.
bullfighting (n.)
A sport where a person fights a bull
Example:Bullfighting is a famous tradition in Spain.
stables (n.)
Buildings where horses or bulls live
Example:The farmer cleans the stables every morning.
tourists (n.)
People who travel to a place for a holiday
Example:Many tourists visit the museum to see the old art.
tradition (n.)
Something that people have done for a long time
Example:Eating special food on New Year's Day is a family tradition.
Practice A2 words in a crossword