I have found while learning a new language, sometimes it is hard to really get interested in media in that language.

I have watched thousands of hours of Japanese TV, tried a hundred of different Japanese bands to listen to, and read dozens of books. However, I just don't find them as deep or interesting as media in English.

I have thought long and hard about this and I have hit upon a simple conclusion: Japanese words have yet to have a real impact on me; therefore, the feeling I get isn't as strong in Japanese when compared to the same words in English.

For example, I have heard and said the words “I love you” from a very young age, and when I hear these words, I can feel love, so to speak. So when I watch a movie and one character says “I love you” to another, I understand that feeling; the words evoke the same feeling in me, and I can connect with the characters. Not so much in Japanese. If I am watching a Japanese drama and a character says 愛してる（あいしてる）　or　大好き（だいすき）, I don’t feel the same connection.

However, there is hope! The one feeling that has broken through this lack of connection is FEAR. From very early on in my Japanese studies, I have been drawn to horror. In fact, some of the first short stories I ever read in Japanese were scary stories for children. As my studies progressed, I really enjoyed mystery novels and movies that are gory or scary.

I figure some of you are running into the same problem, so I have a simple solution: Let’s scare the crap out of each other!
I found a collection of short scary stories online and decided to go over one of them for this lesson. Since they were written for children, they aren’t too scary, but I hope you get the same shiver I did, and I hope that it will solidify some of these words and phrases in your head.

子どもの頃の話。
こども　の　ころ　の　はなし。
A story from my childhood.
Literally: “child + の + time + の + story
Note: 頃 means “at that approximate time,” and it usually used in a set phrase as 子どもの頃 like above to mean “when I was a child.”

子どもの頃、僕は２階建ての借家にすんでいた。
こども　の　ころ、　ぼく　は　にかいだて　の　しゃくや　に　すんでいた。
When I was a child I lived in a rented 2 story house.
Literally: “child + の + time + I + は + 2 story + の + rented house + に + lived”
Note: ～階建て is a counter for “n-story house.”

母親も仕事をしていたので、学校から帰っても自分一人のことが多かった。
ははおや　も　しごと　を　していた　ので、　がっこう　から　かえって　も　じぶん　ひとり　の　こと　が　おおかった。
Since my mother also worked, I was often home by myself after school.
Literally: “mother + also + work + を + did + since + school + from + return home + も + self + alone + の + こと + が + often”

ある日、夕方遅く学校から帰ってくると、家の中が暗い。
あるひ、　ゆうがた　おそく　がっこう　から　かえって　くる　と、　いえ　の　なか　が　くらい。
One day, when I came home from school late in the evening, the house was dark.
Literally: “one day + evening + late + school + from + return home + come + と + house + の + inside +が + dark”

「おかあさ～ん」と呼ぶと、２階から小さな声で「はあ～い」と 応える声がする。
「おかあさ～ん」と　よぶ　と、　にかい　から　ちいさな　こえ　で　「はあ～い」　と　こたえる　こえ　が　する。　
When I yelled “Mom,” I heard a small voice answer “yes,” from the second floor.
Literally: “mom + と + call + と + 2nd floor + from + small + voice + で + “yes” + と + answer + voice + が + する”
Note: The ～ symbol in this case means an elongation of the word when you are speaking. So はあ～い, is much like the English “yeeeees.”

もういっかい呼ぶとまた「はあ～い」。
もういっかい　よぶ　と　また　「はあ～い」。
When I called again, again I heard “yes.”
Literally: “one more time + call + と + again + yes”

自分を呼んでいるような気がして、２階へあがる。
じぶん　を　よんでいる　ような　きがして、にかい　へ　あがる。　
It felt like it was calling out to me, so I climb to the 2nd floor.
Literally: “self + を + calling + like + feeling + 2nd floor + へ + climb.

階段をあがったところでまた母親を呼ぶと、奥の部屋から「はあ～い」と声がする。
かいだん　を　あがった　ところで　また　ははおや　を　よぶ　と、　おく　の　へや　から　「はあ～い」　と　こえ　が　する。
As I was climbing the stairs, when I called my mother again, from the inside room, the voice said “yes.”
Literally: “stairs + を + climb + ところで + again + mother + を + call + と + interior + room + from + “yes” + と + voice + が + do”

奇妙な胸騒ぎを感じるのと、いっこくも早く母に会いたいのとで、奥の部屋へゆっくりと 近づいていく。
きみょうな　むなさわぎ　を　かんじる　のと、いっこくもはやく　はは　に　あいたい　のと　で、おく　の　へや　へ　ゆっくり　と　ちかづいていく。
I slowly moved closer to the inside room because I had a strange premonition and I wanted to see my mother.
Literally: “strange + premonition + を + feel + のと + right away + mother + に + want to see + のと + で + inside + の + room + へ + slowly + と + got closer.
Note: ～のと～のとin this sentence is showing the reason for doing something. The narrator climbs up the stairs because he has a strange premonition and he wants to see his mother, のと is just labeling those reasons.

そのとき、下で玄関を開ける音がする。
そのとき、　した　で　げんかん　を　あける　おと　が　する。
In that moment, there was the noise of the front door opening below me.
Literally: “in that moment + below + で + entryway + を + open + sound + が + do”
Note: 玄関 is the small entrance space in which you remove your shoes in a Japanese house, after entering the front door. Even the smallest apartments have one.

母親があわただしく買い物袋をさげて帰ってきた。
ははおや　が　あわただしく　かいものぶくろ　を　さげて　かえってきた。
My mother hurriedly came in, the shopping bags hanging from her.
Literally: “mother + が + hurriedly + shopping bag + を + to hang from + return home + came”

「しゅんすけ、帰ってる～？」明るい声で僕を呼んでいる。
「しゅんすけ、　かえってる～？」　あかるい　こえ　で　ぼく　を　よんでいる。
“Shunsuke, are you home?” Her bright voice was calling me.
Literally: “Shunsuke + return home + bright + voice + で + me + を + calling”
Note: 帰ってる in this sentence in “the state of returning home.” So even though it is not past tense, she is asking if Shunsuke is currently at home.

僕はすっかり元気を取り戻して、階段を駆け下りていく。
ぼく　は　すっかり　げんき　を　とりもどして、　かいだん　を　かけおりて　いく。
I regained my composure and ran down the stairs.
Literally: “I + は + thoroughly + vigor + を + take back + stairs + を + rundown + go”

そのとき、ふと奥の部屋に目をやる。
そのとき、　ふと　おく　の　へや　に　めをやる。
In that moment, I look toward the inside room.
Literally: “in that moment + without reason + inside + の + room + に + look toward”

奥の部屋のドアがキキキとわずかに動いた。
おく　の　へや　の　どあ　が　ききき　と　わずかに　うごいた。
The door to the inside room creaked, moving a little.
Literally: “inside + の + room + の + door + が + creak + と + a little + moved”
Note: キキキ is an onomatopoeia that the door makes as it is creaking open.

僕は一瞬、ドアのすきまに奇妙なものを見た。
ぼく　は　いっしゅん、　どあ　の　すきま　に　きみょうな　もの　を　みた。
For a moment, I saw something strange through the crack in the door.
Literally: “ I + は + one moment + door + の + gap, crack + に + strange + thing + saw”

こっちを見ている白い人間の顔だった。
こっち　を　みている　しろい　にんげん　の　かお　だった。
It was the white face of a person looking.
Literally: “here + を + looking + white + person + の + face + だった”

Traditionally scary stories are told in the summer in Japan to give you the cold chill you need during the hottest months of the year.
Did you get a cold shiver when you read this story?

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This lesson was written by Cassy L., a guest contributor: