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10 Japanese reading texts for A1, with translation

Short Japanese texts for level A1: 10 stories, about 50 minutes of reading. Every sentence carries its English translation, and each text ends with comprehension questions. Read them right here — no sign-up needed.

At a café in Tokyo

A1 · 5 min

私はトヨタ大学に通っている。
I am a student at Tokyo University.

友達のユキは私に日本語を教えてくれる。
My friend Yuki is teaching me Japanese.

今日は土曜日で、休みだ。
Today is Saturday and it's a holiday.

ユキは私にカフェで出会うことを提案した。
Yuki suggested that we meet at the café.

私はカフェに来ました。ユキも来ました。
I came to the café. Yuki came too.

ユキはコーヒーを飲んでいます。
Yuki is drinking coffee.

私はコーヒーを飲みません。
I am not drinking coffee.

ユキは私に日本語を教えてくれると言っていました。
Yuki said he would teach me Japanese.

私は日本語を勉強しています。
I am studying Japanese.

Check yourself

  1. What day is today?
    Show answer

    Saturday

  2. Who suggested meeting at the café?
    Show answer

    Yuki

  3. What is Dmitry studying?
    Show answer

    Japanese

Taking the Train in Tokyo

A1 · 5 min

トーマスは東京の駅に着いた。
Thomas arrived at the Tokyo station.

彼は友達と一緒に電車に乗った。
He rode the train with his friends.

彼らは東京の中心部に向かって進んでいった。
They were heading towards the center of Tokyo.

トーマスは日本語を勉強しているので、乗り換えの方法を知っていた。
Thomas was studying Japanese, so he knew how to change trains.

彼は友達と一緒に駅を出て、東京の中心部を見た。
He left the station with his friends and saw the center of Tokyo.

トーマスは東京の生活がとても楽しいと感じた。
Thomas felt that life in Tokyo was very fun.

彼は友達と一緒に東京の中心部を歩いた。
He walked with his friends through the center of Tokyo.

トーマスは東京の生活がとても楽しいと感じた。
Thomas felt that life in Tokyo was very fun.

彼は友達と一緒に東京を去った。
He left Tokyo with his friends.

Check yourself

  1. What did Thomas do when he arrived at the Tokyo station?
    Show answer

    He rode the train

  2. Where were Thomas and his friends heading?
    Show answer

    The center of Tokyo

  3. What did Thomas feel about life in Tokyo?
    Show answer

    It was very fun

Ordering Hot Snacks at a Konbini

A1 · 5 min

今日は、デミトリがコンビニでピザを買う日です。
Today is the day Dmitry buys a pizza at the konbini.

彼は友達のユキと一緒にコンビニに行きます。
He goes to the konbini with his friend Yuki.

デミトリは「ピザを1個ください」と言います。
Dmitry says, "Please give me one pizza."

ユキは「はい、1個のピザをください」と言います。
Yuki says, "Yes, please give me one pizza."

デミトリは「コーヒーも1杯ください」と言います。
Dmitry says, "And please give me one coffee."

ユキは「はい、1杯のコーヒーをください」と言います。
Yuki says, "Yes, please give me one coffee."

デミトリは「ありがとうございます」と言います。
Dmitry says, "Thank you."

ユキは「どういたしまして」と言います。
Yuki says, "You're welcome."

デミトリはピザとコーヒーを食べます。
Dmitry eats the pizza and coffee.

Check yourself

  1. What is Dmitry buying at the konbini?
    Show answer

    A pizza

  2. What does Yuki say to Dmitry?
    Show answer

    Yes, please give me one pizza.

  3. What does Dmitry say to Yuki?
    Show answer

    Please give me one pizza.

Asking for Directions in Kyoto

A1 · 5 min

今日は京都に行きます。
Today, we're going to Kyoto.

Dmitry-san、京都駅から何駅まで歩きますか?
Dmitry-san, how many stations from Kyoto Station do you walk?

Yuki-chan、駅の案内はどこですか?
Yuki-chan, where is the station guide?

駅の案内は、駅の手前です。
The station guide is in front of the station.

Dmitry-san、ありがとうございます。
Dmitry-san, thank you.

Yuki-chan、また会いましょう。
Yuki-chan, let's meet again.

Dmitry-san、京都の文化を学びます。
Dmitry-san, you're learning about Kyoto's culture.

Yuki-chan、助けてください。
Yuki-chan, help me.

Dmitry-san、ありがとう。
Dmitry-san, thank you.

Check yourself

  1. What is Dmitry-san doing in Kyoto?
    Show answer

    He's learning about Kyoto's culture

  2. Where is the station guide located?
    Show answer

    In front of the station

  3. What does Yuki-chan say to Dmitry-san?
    Show answer

    Let's meet again

Checking in at a hotel in Osaka

A1 · 5 min

私はエアサンです。
Dmitry is in Osaka.

エアサンはパックです。
Osaka is a big city.

私はエアサンです、パックです、アイストです。
Dmitry is in Osaka, the city is big, and the hotel is nice.

私はアイストです。
Dmitry is at the hotel.

アイストはパックです。
The hotel is big.

私はアイストです、パックです、エアサンです。
Dmitry is at the hotel, the hotel is big, and he is in Osaka.

私はエアサンです、パックです、アイストです。
Dmitry is in Osaka, the city is big, and he is at the hotel.

私はアイストです。
Dmitry is at the hotel.

私はエアサンです。
Dmitry is in Osaka.

Check yourself

  1. What city is Dmitry in?
    Show answer

    Osaka

  2. What is the hotel like?
    Show answer

    big

  3. How does Dmitry feel about the hotel?
    Show answer

    happy

Taking a Taxi

A1 · 5 min

私は東京で留学している。
I am studying in Tokyo.

友達のユキと一緒に日本語を勉強しています。
I am studying Japanese with my friend Yuki.

今日は雨が降っています。
It's raining today.

ユキは私にタクシーを呼んでくれてありがとう。
Yuki called a taxi for me, thank you.

タクシーが来ました。
The taxi arrived.

ユキは私と一緒にタクシーに乗りました。
Yuki got in the taxi with me.

タクシーは東京の中心部まで運んでくれました。
The taxi took us to the center of Tokyo.

ありがとう、ユキ。
Thank you, Yuki.

私たちは友達になりました。
We became friends.

Check yourself

  1. Why did Yuki call a taxi for Dmitry?
    Show answer

    Because it was raining

  2. Where did the taxi take Dmitry and Yuki?
    Show answer

    To the center of Tokyo

  3. How did Dmitry feel when Yuki called a taxi for him?
    Show answer

    Happy

Eating Sushi

A1 · 5 min

私は東京で勉強しています。
I am studying in Tokyo.

私の友達はYukiです。
My friend is Yuki.

Yukiは日本語を教えています。
Yuki is teaching Japanese.

私たちは昨日、スーパーで買い物をしました。
We went shopping at the supermarket yesterday.

今日は、スーパーではなくて、近くの食料品店で買い物をします。
Today, we are going to buy groceries at a nearby store, not at the supermarket.

Yukiは私にスイーツを買ってきてください。
Yuki, please buy sweets for me.

私はスイーツが好きです。
I like sweets.

Yukiは私にスイーツを食べさせてください。
Yuki, please let me eat the sweets.

私たちは今日、スイーツを食べました。
We ate sweets today.

Check yourself

  1. What is Dmitry doing in Tokyo?
    Show answer

    He is studying at a language school

  2. What did Yuki ask Dmitry to do?
    Show answer

    Buy sweets at the store

  3. What did Dmitry and Yuki eat today?
    Show answer

    Sushi

Cherry Blossom Viewing

A1 · 5 min

今日は、桜の見物に行きます。
Today, we're going to see the cherry blossoms.

Dmitry-san、友達と一緒に桜の木を見ます。
Dmitry-san is going to see the cherry blossom tree with his friends.

Yuki-chan、桜の木の写真を撮ります。
Yuki-chan is taking a picture of the cherry blossom tree.

Dmitry-san、桜の木の花がきれいです。
Dmitry-san thinks the cherry blossom tree's flowers are beautiful.

Yuki-chan、桜の木の花がきれいです。
Yuki-chan also thinks the cherry blossom tree's flowers are beautiful.

Dmitry-sanとYuki-chan、桜の木の花を楽しんでいます。
Dmitry-san and Yuki-chan are enjoying the cherry blossom tree's flowers.

桜の木の花がきれいな日は、心が軽いです。
When the cherry blossom tree's flowers are beautiful, the heart feels light.

Dmitry-sanとYuki-chan、桜の木の花を楽しんでいます。
Dmitry-san and Yuki-chan are enjoying the cherry blossom tree's flowers.

桜の木の花がきれいな日は、心が軽いです。
When the cherry blossom tree's flowers are beautiful, the heart feels light.

Check yourself

  1. Why are Dmitry-san and Yuki-chan happy?
    Show answer

    Because they're enjoying the cherry blossom tree's flowers.

  2. What do Dmitry-san and Yuki-chan think about the cherry blossom tree's flowers?
    Show answer

    They think they're beautiful.

  3. What do Dmitry-san and Yuki-chan do when they see the cherry blossom tree's flowers?
    Show answer

    They enjoy them.

The Rain and the Umbrella

A1 · 5 min

今日は朝から雨です。
It has been raining since the morning today.

ドミトリーさんは傘を持っていません。
Dmitry does not have an umbrella.

駅の前のコンビニで傘を買います。
He buys an umbrella at the convenience store in front of the station.

ビニール傘は七百円です。
The clear plastic umbrella costs seven hundred yen.

「安いですね」とドミトリーさんは言います。
"That is cheap," Dmitry says.

会社に着くと、雨がやみました。
When he arrives at the office, the rain stops.

でも、帰りにまた降りました。
But on the way home it rained again.

傘を買ってよかったと思いました。
He thought it was good that he had bought the umbrella.

Check yourself

  1. Where does Dmitry buy the umbrella?
    Show answer

    At a convenience store by the station

  2. How much does it cost?
    Show answer

    700 yen

  3. Was the umbrella useful in the end?
    Show answer

    Yes, it rained again on the way home

Yuki's family

A1 · 5 min

ユキさんの家族は四人です。
Yuki's family has four people.

お父さんとお母さんと、妹が一人います。
There is a father, a mother and one younger sister.

お父さんは会社員で、お母さんは先生です。
The father is an office worker and the mother is a teacher.

妹は高校生で、バスケットボールが好きです。
The younger sister is a high-school student and likes basketball.

日曜日に、ドミトリーさんはユキさんの家に行きました。
On Sunday Dmitry went to Yuki's house.

お母さんはカレーを作ってくれました。
Her mother made curry for him.

「辛くないですか」とお母さんが聞きました。
"Is it not too spicy?" the mother asked.

「大丈夫です。とてもおいしいです」とドミトリーさんは答えました。
"It is fine. It is very tasty," Dmitry answered.

Check yourself

  1. How many people are in Yuki's family?
    Show answer

    Four

  2. What does Yuki's mother do?
    Show answer

    She is a teacher

  3. What did they eat?
    Show answer

    Curry

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