fbpx

0 Comments

February 12, 2023

Yonde Miyo 1 – Clay is Lost – A Beginner’s Hiragana Reader

Like Yonde Miyo? Makoto+ Shogun members gets instant access to all of them! Click here to learn more about becoming a member.

Practice reading Japanese hiragana

Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to build your reading comprehension?

The only requirement is that you can read hiragana. Vocabulary and grammar will be defined and explained. If you are practicing kanji, however, you can view the "Kana and Kanji" tab for a slightly harder reader.

And now…

The following is a true story. Clay had just arrived in Japan (way back in 1998) and, while exploring the area, he got lost...


Slow Audio

Normal Audio

  • Hiragana Only
  • Kana and Kanji
  • Japanese and english
  • Read Along

あるひ、くれいさん は ほんや を さがす こと に しました。

Show Glossary and Notes

あぱーと から じてんしゃ で でかけました。いちじかんご、ほんや を みつけました が、かえる とき に まいご に なりました。あぱーと は、えき の そば です。

Show Glossary and Notes

「すみません、えき は、どこ です か?」くれいさん は、ある 
おばあさん に ききました。

「ごめんなさい!えいご は わかりません。」

Show Glossary and Notes

おばあさん は、そういって さっさと いってしまいました。

「でも、ぼく、にほんご で ききました・・・。」

Show Glossary and Notes

Cultural Note

Most people in Japan love to meet foreigners and practice English, but as you can tell from this story, some people are more reticent. As you may also get from the story, non-English speaking foreigners are often frustrated by the common Japanese belief that all foreigners speak English. Should you ever find yourself in a similar predicament as Clay, try asking younger people. They tend to speak more English and enjoy speaking to foreigners more.

Vocabulary

  • ある日 aru hi—one day
  • 本屋 hon ya—bookstore
  • 探す sagasu—to search for
  • こと koto—thing [makes preceding verb into a noun phrase]
  • にしました ni shimashita—decided upon [from にする ni suru (to decide upon)]
  • アパート apa-to—apartment
  • 自転車 jitensha—bicycle
  • 出かけました dekakemashita—left [from 出かける dekakeru (to leave)]
  • 一時間後 ichijikan go—one hour later
  • 帰るとき kaeru toki—time to return (home)
  • 迷子 maigo—lost
  • 駅のそば eki no soba—next to the station
  • 聞きました kikimashita—asked
  • 英語 eigo—English language
  • そう言って sou itte—saying that…
  • さっさと sassato—quickly
  • ぼく boku—I; me (male language)
  • 日本語 nihongo—Japanese language

  • Kanji

    On reading: pronunciation of the kanji taken or inspired by the original Chinese pronunciation

    Kun reading: pronunciation based on the native Japanese sound of a word with the kanji’s core meaning


    ニチ・ジツ・ひ・~び・~か

    day; sun; Japan; counter for days

    ホン・もと

    book; origin

    オク・や

    roof; house

    タン・さぐる・さがす

    grope; search; look for

    シャ・くるま

    car

    イチ・イツ・ひと~・ひとつ

    one

    ジ・とき

    time; hour

    カン・ケン・あいだ・ま・あい

    interval; space

    ケン・みる・みえる・みせる

    see; idea; opinion

    キ・かえる・かえす・おくる・とつぐ

    homecoming; arrive at

    エキ

    station

    エイ・はなぶさ

    England; English; hero

    ゴ・かたる・かたらう

    word; speech; language


    Like Yonde Miyo? Makoto+ Shogun members gets instant access to all of them! Click here to learn more about becoming a member.

    Don't forget to checkout out our inexpensive digital bundles for learning Japanese including the Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha Beginner's Bundle of digital books and resources. Fast track your Japanese today!

    Sharing is caring!

    {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    Level up your Japanese!

    free-kanji-or-hiragana-offer-final

    For Total Beginners

    Japanese for beginners - Beri-Beri Shoshinsha

    This 15-book study guide + worksheets bundle is ON SALE. For just one-time payment only, you will get this bundle for a very low price plus you will get future contents for free (no additional charge).

    Easy to follow and understand

    This bundle is perfect for absolute beginners. It's thorough without being wordy, giving you exactly enough information to understand the concepts without overloading you with information. 

    TheJapanShop.com Customer

    Makoto+ Membership

    You'll notice many TheJapanesePage.com lessons have bonus content for Makoto+ Members. Well, membership goes well beyond that. Members also get our monthly magazine for learners of Japanese (Beginners to Intermediates), weekly exclusive lessons, Podcast bonus content, and much more.

    >