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.