短文チャレンジ – The Three Great Gardens of Japan
Read the news, cultural articles, and history notes in levels
How to improve your Japanese vocabulary and reading skills with 100 Word Challenge. While you can approach these lessons in any order, here are a few tips:
- Review the Key Vocabulary below
- Read the story in either the EASY version or the native-level NORMAL version or both (Click or tap the tabs to view the essay)
- Read again while listening to the audio
- Listen to the audio alone
- Lastly, leave a comment about the article ! Let us know what you think!
Read about Japan’s three great gardens in two versions: easier short sentences or in natural Japanese.
Even the beginner essay is a little difficult due to the place names. But I would encourage you to work through the names and even try to memorize one, two, or all of them. Next time you are in Japan, visit the closest garden.
Japanese gardens in general are always impressive, but the three mentioned in today’s article are magnificent. In Japanese, these three are called 「日本三名園」 which literally means, “Japan’s three famous gardens”. Kenrokuen in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Korakuen in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, and Kairakuen in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Take the time to learn these place names.
If you are a beginner, try memorizing one name. If you’ve heard of these gardens before, memorize all three. You can use the Anki deck to help with this.
KEY VOCABULARY
Mouse over or tap to see the furigana
Easy Version Vocabulary
- 日本庭園 - Japanese garden
- とても - very
- 美しい - beautiful
- 特に - especially
- 石川県 - Ishikawa Prefecture
- 金沢市 - Kanazawa City
- 兼六園 - Kenrokuen Garden
- 岡山県 - Okayama Prefecture
- 岡山市 - Okayama City
- 後楽園 - Korakuen Garden
- 茨城県 - Ibaraki Prefecture
- 水戸市 - Mito City
- 偕楽園 - Kairakuen Garden
- 有名 - famous
- あります - there is; to be
- 池 - pond
- 橋 - bridge
- 四季 - four seasons
- 景色 - scenery
- 楽しめます - can enjoy
- 自然 - nature
- 散歩 - walk; stroll
- 春 - spring
- 梅 - plum
- 花 - flower
- 咲きます - to bloom
- これら - these
- 歴史 - history
- 文化 - culture
- わかります - to understand
- 多く - many
- 人 - person; people
- 観光 - sightseeing; tourism
- 癒し - healing; soothing
- 場所 - place
- みんな - everyone
- 美 - beauty
Normal Version Vocabulary
- 日本庭園 - Japanese garden
- 自然 - nature
- 調和 - harmony; balance
- 静寂 - tranquility; stillness
- 美 - beauty
- 表現 - expression
- 世界的 - worldwide; global
- 評価 - evaluation; appraisal
- 石川県 - Ishikawa Prefecture
- 金沢市 - Kanazawa City
- 兼六園 - Kenrokuen Garden
- 岡山県 - Okayama Prefecture
- 岡山市 - Okayama City
- 後楽園 - Korakuen Garden
- 茨城県 - Ibaraki Prefecture
- 水戸市 - Mito City
- 偕楽園 - Kairakuen Garden
- 日本 - Japan
- 代表 - representative; symbol
- 特に - especially; particularly
- 知られています - is known
- 江戸時代 - Edo period
- 名園 - famous garden
- 大小 - large and small
- 池 - pond
- 立体的 - three-dimensional
- 橋 - bridge
- 特徴的 - characteristic; distinctive
- 四季折々 - every season; all year round
- 風景 - scenery; landscape
- 楽しめます - can enjoy
- 位置 - location; position
- 地形 - terrain; topography
- 生かした - made use of; utilized
- 回遊式庭園 - stroll garden; circuit-style garden
- 美しい - beautiful
- 景観 - scenery; view
- 広がっています - is spreading; is expanding
- 梅 - plum
- 名所 - famous place; place of interest
- 有名 - famous; well-known
- 花 - flower
- 咲く - to bloom
- 春 - spring
- 観光客 - tourist; sightseer
- 賑わいます - to be crowded; to be bustling
- 歴史 - history
- 文化 - culture
- 深さ - depth
- 感じさせる - to make someone feel; to cause someone to sense
- 場所 - place; location
- 国内外 - domestic and foreign; international
- 親しまれています - is popular; is well-liked
- 訪れる - to visit
- 人々 - people
- 堪能 - full enjoyment; thorough experience
- させてくれる - to let someone do; to allow someone to
- 魅力的 - charming; attractive
- スポット - spot; location
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Very hard but very engaging and the first time I have learned the kanji (at say 1 year after seeing it for the first time without that inkling) by my own imagination seeming to fit their intention which is mega exciting.
This one was pretty difficult (even the easy version) due to the people and place names. よくがんばりました。
This was a hard story to understand, but I tried my best.
The names are difficult, certainly, and this had tons of names. But these are all good to know or at least become familiar with. Next time you come across them, they won’t seem as hard or foreign. Keep at it a little at a time!
Lovely to learn but surely more technical noun parts than grammar. I really like the hover hiragana reveal. tx