What is the moral of Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear?

Think of others first. Kong Rong took the smallest pear and did not feel he had lost anything; his brothers loved him more and his father was proud. A child who knows how to give way often ends up with more, not less.

Where does the story of Kong Rong and the pear come from?

From a 6th-century note on A New Account of the Tales of the World, which quotes the Family Record of Kong Rong. The original sentence is printed on this page with our translation. The Three Character Classic, which Chinese children once learned by heart, sums it up in six characters: at four, Rong could give up the pear.

Kong Rong (153–208) was a scholar and official at the end of the Han dynasty, a descendant of Confucius and one of the Seven Masters of the Jian'an era. The pear story is told about him at the age of four, and it is the first lesson in sharing that most Chinese children hear.

Is there a Chinese version of Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear?

Yes. It is called 孔融让梨 (kǒng róng ràng lí), literally “Kong Rong yields the pear.” This page has our Chinese retelling with Mandarin narration next to the English one, plus the classical original.

Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear (孔融让梨)

Ages 3–6
English audio 1 min
Mandarin audio 2 min

Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear is a classic story from Chinese Myths and Legends for Kids, for children aged 3–6. This page has the English story with a native English narration (about 1 min), plus the Chinese version with Mandarin narration (about 2 min). Free to read and listen, no sign-up.

Four-year-old Kong Rong picks the smallest pear in the basket and leaves the big ones for his brothers. China's best-loved little story about sharing, in simple English with narration, plus the Chinese version in Mandarin.

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Read Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear

Long ago in China, there was a little boy called Kong Rong. He had several big brothers. When he was four, something small happened that people still tell today.

One day someone brought a basket of pears. Father washed them and put them on the table. "Come and have a pear, children. One each."

The brothers crowded round. Kong Rong was the smallest. "You pick first, little one," said his big brother. Kong Rong reached in and took the smallest pear of all.

Father was surprised. "Rong, there are so many big pears. Why take the smallest?" Kong Rong looked up. "I am little, so I should have the small one. The big ones are for my brothers."

His big brother patted his head. "Shall we swap? Take my big one." Kong Rong shook his head and took a big bite. "No, thank you. This one is just right!"

Father felt warm inside. People praised the boy who gave up the bigger pear, and the story is still told.

The Chinese version: 孔融让梨

一千八百多年前，东汉的时候，有个小男孩叫孔融。他上面有好几个哥哥。孔融四岁那年发生的一件小事，大家一直讲到今天。

这天，有人送来一篮子梨，黄澄澄的，闻着就香。爸爸把梨洗干净放在桌上，说：“孩子们，来吃梨吧，每人挑一个。”

哥哥们高兴地围了过来。孔融个子最小，脑袋刚到桌边。大哥说：“小融，你先挑。”孔融伸手进篮子，拿了一个最小的梨。

爸爸觉得奇怪，问：“融儿，篮子里那么多大梨，你为什么挑个最小的？”孔融仰起小脸说：“我是小孩子，年纪小，就该吃小的呀。大的留给哥哥们。”

大哥摸摸他的头，笑着说：“那我这个大的和你换，好不好？”孔融摇摇头，抱着小梨咬了一大口：“不换！这个又甜又香，刚刚好。”

爸爸看着孩子们，心里暖暖的。后来，大家都夸孔融小小年纪就懂得让梨，这件事一代一代传下来，就叫孔融让梨。

Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear (孔融让梨): the moral of the story

Think of others first when something good comes round. Giving a little away does not leave you with less; it brings a family closer.

The original Chinese text of Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear

融四岁，与兄食梨，辄引小者。大人问其故，答曰：“我小儿，法当取小者。”由是宗族奇之。

— 《世说新语·言语》刘孝标注引《融家传》

Our translation

When Rong was four, he ate pears with his brothers and always took the small one. When the grown-ups asked him why, he answered, “I am the little one, so by rights I should take the small one.” From then on the whole clan thought him remarkable.

— A New Account of the Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu), “Speech and Conversation,” Liu Xiaobiao's commentary quoting the Family Record of Kong Rong (5th–6th century)

Chinese words in Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear

Play the Chinese narration and listen for these words. The pinyin shows the tones.

梨lí
pear
哥哥gē ge
big brother
爸爸bà ba
dad
挑tiāo
to pick, to choose
最小zuì xiǎo
the smallest
让ràng
to give way, to let someone have
换huàn
to swap
甜tián
sweet

For families learning Mandarin

Mandarin learning pack

Print the story, read it together, then listen and say it back. Made for heritage families and children learning Mandarin.

A printable PDF (3 pages): the Chinese story with pinyin over every character, the words to know, the English version, questions to talk about, and character writing practice.
Slow Mandarin audio (3 min): every sentence at a gentler pace, followed by a pause long enough to say it back.

Buy once, download again any time. The story itself stays free to read and hear. Try the free sample pack (The Tortoise and the Hare) first.

Page one of the Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear learning pack: the Chinese story with pinyin over every character

Bedtime storytelling tips

Pause as Kong Rong reaches into the basket and ask, “Which one do you think he will take?”
Say “I am little, so I should have the small one” in an earnest, slightly proud little voice, and give the big brother a teasing tone when he offers to swap.
If there is fruit or a snack before bed, let your child share it out and see who gets the big piece. Kong Rong is 孔融 (kǒng róng) in Chinese.

Things to talk about afterwards

Which pear did Kong Rong take, and why?
His big brother offered to swap. Why didn't Kong Rong want to?
If there were one big piece of cake and one small piece left, how would you share them?

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Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear (孔融让梨): common questions

What is the moral of Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear?: Think of others first. Kong Rong took the smallest pear and did not feel he had lost anything; his brothers loved him more and his father was proud. A child who knows how to give way often ends up with more, not less.
Where does the story of Kong Rong and the pear come from?: From a 6th-century note on A New Account of the Tales of the World, which quotes the Family Record of Kong Rong. The original sentence is printed on this page with our translation. The Three Character Classic, which Chinese children once learned by heart, sums it up in six characters: at four, Rong could give up the pear.
Who was Kong Rong?: Kong Rong (153–208) was a scholar and official at the end of the Han dynasty, a descendant of Confucius and one of the Seven Masters of the Jian'an era. The pear story is told about him at the age of four, and it is the first lesson in sharing that most Chinese children hear.
Is there a Chinese version of Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear?: Yes. It is called 孔融让梨 (kǒng róng ràng lí), literally “Kong Rong yields the pear.” This page has our Chinese retelling with Mandarin narration next to the English one, plus the classical original.

Source and how we retold it

From a commentary on A New Account of the Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu), compiled by Liu Yiqing in the 5th century, with notes by Liu Xiaobiao in the 6th; the note quotes a lost Family Record of Kong Rong. The text is in the public domain. The original is one sentence: at four, Kong Rong ate pears with his brothers and always took a small one, and when the grown-ups asked why, he said a little child should take the little one. We added the basket of pears arriving, the big brother letting him pick first and offering to swap. Some folk versions have Kong Rong leave the big pears for a younger brother too; that is not in the original, so we left it out.

The narration on this page is AI-generated: the English is read by our narrator and the Chinese by our narrator. The audio files are labeled as AI-generated.

If you liked Kong Rong Gives Up the Bigger Pear (孔融让梨), there are more stories in Chinese Myths and Legends for Kids. You can also read this one to your child in your own voice.