故事 (gùshi) means "story" or "tale," referring to a narrative account of events, whether real or fictional. It is one of the most commonly used nouns in Chinese and appears in contexts ranging from children's bedtime stories to historical narratives. The term combines 故 (old/past) and 事 (matter/event).
睡觉前,爸爸总会给我讲一个故事。
Shuìjiào qián, bàba zǒng huì gěi wǒ jiǎng yī gè gùshi.
Before bed, Dad always tells me a story.
这部电影讲的是一个真实的故事。
Zhè bù diànyǐng jiǎng de shì yī gè zhēnshí de gùshi.
This movie tells a true story.
你听过嫦娥奔月的故事吗?
Nǐ tīng guò Cháng'é bēn yuè de gùshi ma?
Have you heard the story of Chang'e flying to the moon?