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一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい）＝very hard; with utmost effort; with all one's might; for dear life

働（はたら）く＝to work; to labor;

そんな＝such; like that; that sort of​

もの＝thing; object;

買（か）う＝to buy; to purchase​

もっと＝(some) more; even more; longer; further

早（はや）く＝early; soon

来（く）る＝to come; to approach; to arrive

あなた＝you

勉強（べんきょう）＝study

それ＝that

注目（ちゅうもく）＝notice; attention; observation

点（てん）＝point; aspect; matter; viewpoint； dot; mark

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Handbook of Japanese Grammar

Book by Masahiro Tanimori

    ⑤ 都市に人口が集中する。

    The population is concentrated in the cities.

都市（とし）＝town; city; municipal; urban

人口（じんこう）＝population

集中（しゅうちゅう）＝concentration; focusing; convergence; centralization; integration; gathering together

    ⑥ 円満な夫婦は口論もすれば不満も言い合う。

    A happy husband and wife may sometimes argue and sometimes complain to each other.

円満(えんまん)＝harmonious; peaceful; happy; amicable; smooth; free from trouble

夫婦（ふうふ）＝married couple; husband and wife

口論（こうろん）＝quarrel; argument; row; (verbal) dispute

不満（ふまん）＝dissatisfaction; displeasure; discontent; complaints; unhappiness;

言（い）い合（あ）う＝to say to each other; to quarrel; to dispute

    ⑦ 山口先生は学生をよくほめる。

    Teacher Yamaguchi often praises his students.

山口（やまぐち）＝Yamaguchi (surname)

先生（せんせい）＝teacher; instructor; master

学生（がくせい）＝student (esp. a university student)

よく＝frequently; often

ほめる＝to praise; to commend; to compliment; to speak well of; to speak highly of

    ⑧ 出口はどちらですか？

    Where is the way out?

出口（でぐち）＝exit; gateway; way out

どちら＝which way; which direction; where​

  Words that were used:

 練習（れんしゅう）＝practice; training;　exercise;

うまい＝skillful; skilful; clever; expert; wise; successful

なる＝to become; to result in;

早い＝fast; quick; hasty; (too) soon; not yet; (too) early​

行（い）く＝to go; to move

食（た）べる＝to eat

悪（わる）い＝bad; poor; undesirable

忙（いそが）しい＝busy; occupied; hectic

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Handbook of Japanese Grammar

Book by Masahiro Tanimori

(For a future condition, ［の］なら is used instead of ば after dictionary form of verb)

           東京に行くのなら新幹線がいいですよ。

            If you’re going to Tokyo, you should take the Shinkansen.

2.       After (adjectival) noun + なら (conditional form of だ)

          明日雨ならば行きません。

           I won’t go if it is rainy tomorrow.

3.       Used in ば-form of adjective.

It is made by replacing the final -い with-ければ. The negative of the ば-form is made by adding –なければ　(ば-form of ない) to the く-form. A future condition is expressed by the く-form +　なれば。

Dict. Form                     ば-form                    Neg. of ば-form

わるい　　　　　　　　わるければ　　　　わるくなけれ ば 　　　　　　　　

いそがしい　　　　　   いそがしければ　　いそがしくなければ

           よろしければどうぞ食べてください。

           If it is all right (if you feel like it), please eat.

           天気が悪ければ延期しましょう。

            If the weather is bad, let’s postpone it.

            あなたの助けがなければできませんでした。

            Without your help, I couldn’t have done it.

            今忙しくなければお話ししたいのですが。

            If you are not busy now, I would like to talk with you.

  Words that were used:

 あそこ＝there (place physically distant from both speaker and listener); over there;

行（い）く＝to go; to move 

山田（やまだ）＝Yamada (surname)

さん＝Mr.; Mrs.; Miss;

会（あ）う＝to meet; to encounter; to see​

もっと＝(some) more; even more; longer; further

早（はや）く＝early; soon; quickly;

来（く）る＝to come; to approach; to arrive; to come back; 

よい＝good; excellent; fine; nice; pleasant;

彼女（かのじょ）＝she; her​

教（おし）える＝to tell; to inform; to teach; to instruct

東京（とうきょう）＝Tokyo

新幹線（しんかんせん）＝Shinkansen; bullet train

明日（あした）＝tomorrow

雨（あめ）＝Rain​

よろしい＝good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do; may; can

食（た）べる＝to eat

悪（わる）い＝bad; poor; undesirable

忙（いそが）しい＝busy; occupied; hectic

天気（てんき）＝weather;

延期（えんき）＝postponement; 

あなた＝you (referring to someone of equal or lower status)

助（たす）け＝assistance; help; aid; support; reinforcement

できまる＝to be able (in a position) to do; to be up to the task

今（いま）＝now; the present time; 

お話（はな）し＝story; tale

   --------------------------------------------------

Handbook of Japanese Grammar

Book by Masahiro Tanimori

⑤     人間と動物の関係からもっと学べる。

          We can learn more from the relationship between people and animals.

人間（にんげん）＝human being; person; 

動物（どうぶつ）＝animal

関係（かんけい）＝relation; relationship; connection

から＝from

もっと＝(some) more; even more; longer; further

学（まな）ぶ＝to study (in depth); to learn; to take lessons in

⑥      日本語がやさしいなんて言ったことはないよ。

            I’ve never said that Japanese is easy.

日本語（にほんご）＝Japanese language​

やさしい＝easy; plain; simple

なんて＝things like; something like; someone like; such a thing as; 

言（い）う＝to say; to utter; to declare

⑦       中国人は一人でした。

             There was one Chinese person.

中国人（ちゅうごくじん）＝Chinese person

一人（ひとり）＝one person

⑧　知人に借金をした。

　　　I borrowed money from my acquaintance.

知人（ちじん）＝friend; acquaintance;

借金（しゃっきん）＝debt; loan

⑨　ご家族は何人ですか？

　　　How many people are there is your family

ご家族（かぞく）＝family; members of a family​

何人（なんにん）＝how many people; a number of people

⑩　行けども行けども人家が見えるこない。

　　　No matter how far we go, we still can’t see houses.

行（い）く＝to go; to move 

Vども＝even though

人家（じんか）＝house; dwelling; human habitation

見（み）える＝to be seen; to be in sight

 Words that were used:

 彼（かれ）＝he; him​; boyfriend​

遊（あそ）ぶ＝to play; to enjoy oneself; to have a good time

いつも＝always; usually; every time​

食（た）べる＝to eat

今（いま）＝now; the present time; 

ここ＝here (place physically close to the speaker, place pointed by the speaker while explaining);

着（つ）く＝to arrive at; to reach

勉強（べんきょう）＝study

彼女（かのじょ）＝she; her​; girlfriend

図書館（としょかん）＝library​

行（い）く＝to go; 

一週間（いっしゅうかん）＝one week

留守（るす）＝absence; being away from home

一か月（いっかげつ）＝one month

キロ＝kilo-; kilogram; 

体重（たいじゅう）＝(body) weight

増（ふ）える＝to increase; to multiply​

Handbook of Japanese Grammar

Book by Masahiro Tanimori

ある日老人は、大きな黄金の塊を買いました。

One day he bought a big lump of gold.

 ある日（ひ）＝one day; (on) a certain day

大（おお）きな＝big; large; great​

塊（かたまり）＝lump; mass; bundle; clump; clod; cluster

買（か）う＝to buy; to purchase

 老人はその黄金を、りんごの木の根元に埋めました。

He buried it beneath an apple tree.

 その＝that; the

りんご＝apple

木（き）＝tree; 

根元（ねもと）＝root; source; origin; foundation; base; principle

埋（う）める＝to bury (e.g. in the ground)

 毎日老人はその木のところへやってきて、自分の黄金のことを思いました。

Every day he would visit the tree and think about his gold.

 毎日（まいにち）＝every day

ところ＝place; spot; scene;

やって来（く）る＝to arrive at the present; to get where one is; to come along; 

自分（じぶん）＝oneself;

思（おも）う＝to think;

 老人は、とても幸せでした！

Old man was very happy!

 とても=very;

幸（しあわ）せ＝happiness; good fortune; luck; blessing

 しかし、ある夜、泥棒がその黄金を盗んでしまったのです。

But one night, a thief stole the gold.

 しかし＝however; but

夜（よる）＝evening; night

泥棒（どろぼう）＝thief; burglar; robber

盗（ぬす）む＝to steal

 老人は、空っぽの穴を見て、泣き出しました。

The old man saw the empty hole and started to cry.

空（から）っぽ＝empty; vacant; hollow

穴（あな）＝hole; 

見（み）る＝to see;

泣（な）き出（だ）す＝to burst into tears; to burst out crying; to begin to cry;

 「わしの黄金が、盗まれた！わしの黄金が、無くなった！」

 わし＝I; me (used by elderly males)

無（な）くなる＝to be missing​; to be lost 

 芋虫が老人に話しかけました。

A worm spoke to him:

 芋虫（いもむし）＝horn-worm (caterpillar of a hawk moth); (hairless) caterpillar​

話（はな）しかける＝to begin to talk; to start a conversation

 「悲しまないで！黄金の代わり、その大きな石を埋めなさい。」

“Don’t be sad! You should bury that large stone instead”

 悲（かな）しむ＝to be sad; to mourn for; to regret

代（か）わり＝substitute; replacement; substituting; replacing

石（いし）＝stone

 老人には、訳が分かりません。

 The old man was confused.

訳（わけ）＝conclusion from reasoning, judgment or calculation based on something read or heard; reason; cause; meaning; circumstances; situation

分（わ）かる＝to understand; to comprehend; to become clear; to be known; 

 「なぜ、その石を埋めなきゃならんのだ？わしの黄金は無くなったのだ！わしは、貧乏なのだ！」

“Why should I bury that stone? My gold is gone! I am poor!”

 なぜ＝why; how​

なきゃ＝have to ...; Must...​

ならない＝must ...; have to ...; ought to

貧乏（びんぼう）＝poor;

  芋虫は答えました。「その石は、黄金と同じ値打ちがあるのですよ。」

The worm replied: “The stone is worth the same as the gold”

 答（こた）える＝to answer; to reply

同（おな）じ＝same; identical; equal; 

値打（ねう）ち＝value; worth; price;

 「黄金を持っていた時、あなたはその黄金を決して使いませんでしたね。」芋虫が訳を話します。

“When you had the gold you never spend it.” He explained.

 持（も）つ＝to possess; to have; to own

時（とき）＝time; hour; moment; occasion; 

あなた＝you 

話（はな）す＝to tell; to explain; 

 「黄金がそこにあると知っているだけで、木を訪れることで、幸せになりましたね」

“You would visit the tree and it would make you happy just knowing the gold was there”

 そこ＝there (place relatively near listener)​

知（し）る＝to be aware of; to know; 

だけ＝only; just; merely; simply; 

訪（おとず）れる＝to visit;

なる＝ to become; 

 「石を埋めなさい。そうすれば、明日その木を訪れて、きっと幸せな気持ちになれますよ。」

  Bury the stone and tomorrow you will visit the tree and you will be happy.

 そうすれば＝if so; in that case; in that situation​

明日（あした）＝tomorrow

きっと＝surely; undoubtedly; almost certainly; most likely (e.g. 90 percent)​

気持（きも）ち＝feeling; sensation; mood; state of mind

 そこで、老人はその石を埋め、毎日そこを訪れました。

So the old man buried the stone and visited it every day.

そこで＝so; accordingly; now; then; thereupon; therefore

 老人が毎日どんなに幸せそうにしているかを見って、芋虫は微笑んだそうです。

And the worm would smile every day when he saw how happy the old man was.

 どんなに＝how; how much

微笑（ほほえ）む＝to smile

 目出度し目出度し

めでたしめでたし

 小さい女の子が「あまり遠くへ行かないでね、すぐ帰って来てよ」と念をおしました。　「心配しないで、ここで待っていてね」と亀は言いました。

A little girl reminded “Don’t go too far, come right back.” “Don’t worry, you wait right here.” said Turtle.

小（ちい）さい＝small; little; tiny

女（おんな）の子（こ）＝girl; daughter

あまり＝not very (with negative sentence);

遠（とお）く＝far away; distant; at a distance;

行（い）く＝to go; to move

すぐ＝immediately; at once; right away; directly

帰（かえ）って来（く）る＝to return; to come back;

念（ねん）＝sense; idea; thought; feeling

念（ねん）を押（お）す＝to remind (someone of something); to call attention to; to make sure of; to emphasize; to emphasise

心配（しんぱい）＝worry; concern; anxiety;

ここ＝here (place physically close to the speaker, place pointed by the speaker while explaining);

待（ま）つ＝to wait​

 亀は茂みの中へはって行くと、すぐに見えなくなってしまいました。亀は大急ぎで自分の家へ帰って行ったのでした。

Turtle crawled off toward the jungle. The moment she was out of sight, she raced all the way back to her house.

茂（しげ）み＝thicket; coppice; brushwood

中（なか）＝inside; in

すぐに＝immediately; at once; right away;

見（み）える＝to be seen; to be in sight

大急（おおいそ）ぎ＝great hurry; great haste; rush

自分（じぶん）＝myself; yourself; oneself;

家（うち）＝house;

 その後亀の姿を見た人は誰もいませんでした。ただその日から森の中で耳をすますと、きれいな笛の音を聞く事が出来る様になりました。

Nobody ever found Turtle again. But to this day, if you strain your ear, you can hear the sweet sound of a flute in the forest.

 その後（ご）＝after that; afterwards; thereafter​

姿（すがた）＝figure; form; appearance; shape

見（み）る＝to see; to look; to watch; to view; to observe

人（ひと）＝man; person

誰（だれ）も＝no one; nobody​; anyone

ただ＝only; merely; just; but; however; simply

その日（ひ）＝that day; the very same day

から＝since

森（もり）＝forest

耳（みみ）＝ear

耳をすます＝to listen carefully; to strain one's ears​

きれい＝pretty; lovely; beautiful; fair​

音（ね）＝sound; noise; 

聞（き）く＝to hear​; to listen

事（こと）＝thing; matter​

出来（でき）る様（よう）になる＝to be able

                                               おわり

  子供達は外で遊び始めました。亀はお父さんの言いつけを守ってジーッとかごの中で静かに座っていました。

The children began to play outside. Turtle sat very still inside her cage, thinking about the father’s command.

 外（そと）＝outside; exterior

遊（あそ）ぶ＝to play; to enjoy oneself; to have a good time

始（はじ）める＝to start; to begin;

お父（とう）さん＝father; dad

言（い）いつけ＝order; command; directions; instructions

守（まも）る＝to protect; to keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe; to obey; to follow

ジーッ＝  either it means “firmly/ intently/still ” or to stare hard at something, focus on something"  eye expressions stare;

中（なか）＝inside; in

静（しず）か＝quiet; silent

座（すわ）る＝to sit;

 亀はかわいいメロディーを吹き始めました。すると子供達が走り寄って来て「亀さん、あなたが吹いているの？」と不思議そうに目を見開いて聞きました。

She began to play a sweet tune on her flute, and the children ran to the cage. “Is that you playing, Turtle?” they asked, their eyes wide with wonder.

 かわいい＝cute; adorable; charming; lovely; pretty​

メロディー＝melody

すると＝thereupon; hereupon

走（はし）る＝to run

寄（よ）る＝to approach; to draw near; to come near; to be close to

来（く）る＝to come 

あなた＝you

不思議（ふしぎ）＝wonderful; marvelous; strange; incredible; amazing; curious; miraculous; mysterious

目（め）＝eye; eyeball

見開（みひら）く＝to open one's eyes wide

聞（き）く＝to ask; to listen; to hear​;

 「そうよ」亀は子供達が喜んでいるのを見て、笛を吹き続けました 。 が、とうとう笛を吹くのを止めて、「私はね、笛より踊りが上手なのよ。見たい？」と聞きました。 

“Yes,” Turtle said. She kept on playing, for she could see the children were delighted. At last she stopped. “I can dance even better than I can play,” she said. “Would you like to see?”

喜（よろこ）ぶ＝to be delighted; to be glad; to be pleased

見（み）る＝to see; to look; to watch; to view;

続（つづ）ける＝to continue; to keep up; to keep on

とうとう＝finally; at last; ultimately; in the end

止（や）める＝ to stop (an activity); to cease; to discontinue; to end; to quit​

私（わたし）＝I, me

より＝than; from; out of; since; at; on

踊（おど）り＝dance

上手（じょうず）＝skillful; skilled; proficient; good (at); adept; clever

  「わあ、見たい、見たい、やって！」と小さい男の子は大声で言いました。 「じゃあ、笛を吹きながら踊って見せるわ。でも、かごを開けてくれなくては駄目だわ。ここは狭いから」と亀は言いました。

“Oh, I want to see, I want to see, please!” the little boy cried. “I’ll show you how to dance and play at the same time,” said Turtle. “But you must open the cage. There is no room in here.”

小（ちい）さい＝small; little; tiny    

男（おとこ）の子（こ）＝boy; male child; baby boy

大声（おおごえ）＝loud voice​

言（い）う＝to say;

じゃあ＝then; well; so; well then

見（み）せる＝to show; to display

でも＝but; however;

開（あ）ける＝to open (a door, etc.); to unwrap (e.g. parcel, package); to unlock​

駄目（だめ）＝cannot; must not; not allowed

ここ＝here (place physically close to the speaker, place pointed by the speaker while explaining); this place

狭（せま）い＝narrow; confined; small; cramped

 小さい男の子がかごを開けると。亀は自分の 吹く 笛にあわせて踊りだしました。 子供 達 はそんな面白い物を見た事が無かったので笑いながら手をたたいて喜びました。

So the little boy opened the cage and Turtle began to dance and play. The children laughed and clapped their hands, for never had they seen such a wonderful thing.

自分（じぶん）＝oneself; himself; myself; yourself;

あわせて＝ at the same time

面白（おもしろ）い＝interesting; fascinating; amusing; enjoyable; fun;

物（もの）＝thing; object; article; stuff;

事（こと）＝thing; matter;​ thing; matter​

無（な）い＝not had; nonexistent; not being (there)​

笑（わら）い＝laugh; laughter​

ながら＝while; during; as

手（て）＝hand; arm​

たたく＝to clap;

ある日．一人の男が笛の音を聞いて、「ああ、あれは亀が吹いているのに違いない。あの亀は今が丁度おいしい頃だ」と思いました。

One day, a man heard Turtle’s music. “Ah, that must be Turtle making music. Turtle would taste very good right now,” he thought.

ある日（ひ）＝one day; (on) a certain day

一人（ひとり）＝one person​

男（おとこ）＝man; male​

あれ＝that (indicating something distant from both speaker and listener)

違（ちが）いない＝sure; no mistaking it; for certain; without doubt​

あの＝that​

今（いま）＝now; the present time; just now

丁度（ちょうど）＝exactly; precisely; just; right​

おいしい＝delicious; tasty; sweet​

頃（ころ）＝ suitable time; time of year; season; (approximate) time; around; about; toward​; 

思（おも）う＝to think; to consider; to believe

 そして男は「おーい亀よ！お前のきれいな笛を見せておくれ」と大きい声で呼びました。

So he called out in a loud voice: “Turtle! Show me your beautiful flute.”

そして＝and; and then; thus; and now; and finally​

おーい＝hey!; oi!;

お前（まえ）＝you​

きれい＝pretty; lovely; beautiful;

見（み）せる＝to show; to display　

見（み）せておくれ＝Verb て-form + おくれ＝Do ~ for me / to me.

大（おお）きい＝big; large; great

声（こえ）＝voice

呼（よ）ぶ＝to call out (to); to call; to invoke

 亀はゆっくりと戸口へ歩いて来て、笛差し出した。

Turtle slowly walked to the door and held out her flute.

ゆっくり＝slowly; unhurriedly; without haste;

戸口（とぐち）＝door; doorway

歩（ある）く＝to walk

歩（ある）いて来（き）ます＝to come by walking

差(さ)し出（だ）す＝ to hold out; to present; to submit;

  そのとたん男は亀の首をひっつかむと走り出しました。

But the moment the man saw Turtle, he grabbed her by the neck and began to run.

その＝that; the​

とたん＝just (now, at the moment, etc.); just as; in the act of; as soon as; at the moment that

首（くび）＝neck

ひっつかむ＝to snatch (at); to grab

走（はし）り出（だ）す＝to begin to run; to start running;

 亀は助けを求めて叫ぼうとしましたが、怖くて声が出ません。

Turtle tried to scream for help, but she was scared and couldn’t make a sound.

助（たす）け＝assistance; help; aid; support; 

求（もと）める＝to want; to wish for; to request; to demand; to seek; to search for

叫（さけ）ぶ＝to shout; to cry; to scream; to shriek

怖（こわ）く＝scary; frightening;

 亀は目をつぶり、笛をしっかり握りしめ「助かります様に。。。」と心の中で祈りました。

She closed her eyes, holding tightly to her flute prayed to be saved.

目（め）＝eye

つぶる＝to close (eyes); to shut​

しっかり＝tightly (holding on); firmly; securely

握（にぎ）りしめる＝to grasp tightly

様（よう）に＝hoping or wishing for something​

心（こころ）＝mind; heart; spirit

中（なか）＝inside; in

祈（いの）り＝prayer