Japanese Graded Readers: Fairy Tales and Short Stories with Read-aloud Method
Lesson 1-4: 北風と太陽 /The North Wind and the Sun
Japanese Script
「じゃあ、次はぼくがやってみるよ。」太陽はそう言うと、ゆっくりと男を照らしました。「あぁ、やっと暖かくなった。」太陽が出てきたので、男は少し安心したようです。男はマントを手で持つのをやめました。次に、太陽は照らす力を少し強くしました。「ちょっと暑くなってきた。」男はそう言うと、マントを一枚脱ぎました。「よし、今だ！」太陽は男がマントを脱ぐのを見て、照らす力をもっと強くしました。「暑い。急に暑くなってきた。」男はそう言って、もう一枚のマントも脱ぎました。「やった！」太陽は喜びました。それから、太陽は力を弱くして、やさしく男を照らし続けました。
English Translation
“Well, next I will try,” the Sun said and then slowly shined on the man. “Ah, it has become warm at last.” Since the Sun appeared, the man looked relieved a little. The man stopped holding his cloaks. Next, the Sun strengthened the power to shine a little. “It’s getting a little hot,” the man said and then took off his cloak. “Now or never!” the Sun looked at the man taking off his cloak and then strengthened the power to shine more. “It’s hot. It’s getting hot suddenly,” the man said, and then took off another cloak. “Yes!” the Sun was glad. Then, the Sun weakened the power and continued to softly shine on the man.
Vocabulary
| Words | Types | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| 次 | noun | next, following, subsequent |
| ゆっくり | noun, adverb, suru verb | slowly, at ease, restful |
| なる | u-verb | to become, to get, to grow, to be |
| 出る | ru-verb | to appear, to come out, to emerge |
| 少し | noun, adverb | small quantity, little, few, something |
| ちょっと | adverb | somewhat, easily, readily, rather |
| 力 | noun | force, strength, might, vigor, energy |
| それから | set phrase | and then, after that |
| 弱い | i-adjective | weak, frail, delicate, tender, unskilled |