Tikki Tikki Tembo

Summary

In a quaint Chinese village, a mother names her first son Tiki Tiki Tembo No Saw Rambo Charibari Ruchi Pipari Pembo, while her second son is simply called Chang. When Chang falls into a well, his brother struggles to communicate the urgency of the situation due to his long name. Despite his efforts, it takes time for help to arrive, resulting in Tiki Tiki Tembo's prolonged distress. The tale humorously highlights the cultural lesson learned about the practicality of giving children shorter names to avoid complications in emergencies.

Takeaways

• 😀 In ancient China, first sons were given long, elaborate names while second sons received very short names.
• 👦 The story centers on two brothers: the first son, Tiki Tiki Tembo No Saw Rambo Charibari Ruchi Pipari Pembo, and the second son, Chang.
• 💧 The mother warns her children to stay away from an old well, emphasizing the dangers of disobedience.
• 🏃 When Chang falls into the well, Tiki Tiki Tembo rushes to get help but struggles to communicate due to his brother's long name.
• 🔊 The mother has difficulty hearing Chang's initial cries for help, illustrating a breakdown in communication.
• 👴 The old man with the ladder is summoned, but he is initially distracted and slow to respond due to his dreams.
• 🌊 After rescuing Chang, the brothers avoid the well for several months, showcasing the lesson learned.
• 🍂 After a festival, Tiki Tiki Tembo again falls into the well, leading to a similar communication breakdown.
• 😰 The urgency increases as Chang struggles to say his brother's long name to gain help again.
• 📜 The story concludes with a cultural lesson: from that day forward, the Chinese preferred to give their children shorter names to avoid confusion.

Q & A

What was the naming custom for first and second sons in the village?

In the village, first and honored sons were given long, impressive names, while second sons received hardly any name at all.

What were the names of the two sons?

The second son was named Chang, which means 'little' or 'nothing,' and the first son was named Tiki Tiki Tembo-no Saw Rambo Charibari Ruchi Pipari Pembo, meaning 'the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world.'

What warning did the mother give her children regarding the well?

The mother warned her children not to go near the well, as she feared they would fall in.

What happened when Chang fell into the well?

When Chang fell into the well, Tiki Tiki Tembo ran to their mother to inform her, but she couldn't hear him at first due to the sound of the water.

How did the mother respond when Tiki Tiki Tembo first told her about Chang?

Initially, the mother could not hear Tiki Tiki Tembo and thought he was just being troublesome, urging him to speak clearly.

What did Tiki Tiki Tembo do after realizing Chang had fallen in?

Tiki Tiki Tembo rushed to find the old man with the ladder to help rescue Chang from the well.

What did the old man do when he learned Chang had fallen in?

The old man hurried to the well as quickly as his old legs could carry him and rescued Chang, pumping the water out of him and reviving him.

What lesson did the mother teach her children after the incidents at the well?

After the incidents, the mother believed it was wiser to give all her children short names rather than long ones, reflecting the practical difficulties in emergencies.

How did Tiki Tiki Tembo's long name impact his rescue?

Tiki Tiki Tembo's long name caused difficulties for Chang in communicating the urgency of the situation, leading to delays in the rescue.

What cultural belief emerged from the story's events?

As a result of the story's events, the Chinese have traditionally thought it wise to give their children shorter names instead of long, complicated ones.