The Empty Pot

A Chinese Folktale

Unit 5 Story 5

By Mrs Nailon

emperor

Male ruler of an empire

The emperor of China was very powerful.

successor

A person who comes next

Simba was Mufasa’s successor.

swarmed

to move in a large group

The bees swarmed out of the hive.

ashamed

To feel bad or guilty because you have done something wrong

To feel bad because you have failed

Ping was ashamed because he couldn’t grow a flower.

worthy

deserving

The emperor was looking for a person worthy of being an emperor.

admire

To approve

To respect

I admire Ping because he was honest with the emperor.

courage

The strength to overcome fear

It takes courage to do something when you are afraid.

proclamation

A public announcement

The emperor issued a proclamation to the people in his kingdom.

issue

To give

To send

The emperor issued a proclamation to his people.

sprout

The youngest form of a plant

Ping could not even grow a sprout to show the emperor.

soil

Bits of rock, dead animals, and plants

dirt

I planted the seed in dark brown soil.

transfer

To move from one place to another

Did you transfer that plant to a larger pot?

tend

Care for

Take care of

If I tend to my plants, they will grow into beautiful flowers.

perfume

Aroma

smell

The flowers smelled like perfume.