OK guys, let’s talk about reading Japanese books.

I would venture to say that reading Japanese as a beginner is harder than any other language. There are so many problems.

If you pick a children's book it is full of only hiragana, which makes it difficult to read because you are not familiar with the words and expressions, so if you run into words like かける, you don’t know which of the 5000 meanings to choose from. (That is an exaggeration--かける only has like 100 meanings :P)

If you pick a harder book, maybe one for Junior High School students, you run into all sorts of kanji and grammar that you don’t know.

Then add on the fact that even a Japanese 5 year old is familiar with slang, accents, puns, onomatopoeia and a host of other language nuances that beginners won't run into for years. This makes reading native Japanese material a real challenge.

So let’s do it together.

I picked out a picture book from ehonnavi.net that we can read. Since explaining all of the grammar will make this lesson a bit long, I decided to split it into 2 parts.

Now don’t click away if you feel you are a bit more advanced than picture books; because of all the things I just listed above, even someone who is advanced in Japanese can still learn a lot from native material for children.

The book is all in hiragana, but it spaces words and particles out in a way that you are probably not familiar with. To make it a bit easier for us to read, I will use the second line to space out the words in the order we are used to seeing in these lessons. For you extra-serious students, I've also added versions of the sentences including kanji.

Take a look at each page before looking at the English meaning and see if you can challenge yourself to understand it!

Let’s get right into it then!

PART I

わたしはあかねこ
わたし　は　あか　ねこ
I am a red cat
Literally: “I + は + red + cat”
With Kanji: "私は赤ネコ"

わたしはあかねこ。
わたし　は　あか　ねこ。
I am a red cat.
Literally: “I + は + red + cat”
With Kanji: "私は赤ネコ"

しろねこかあさんと　くろねことうさんから　うまれたの。
しろ　ねこ　かあさん　と　くろ　ねこ　とうさん　から　うまれた　の。
I was born from a white cat mother and a black cat father.
Literally: “white + cat + mother + と + black + cat + father + born + の”
With Kanji: "白ネコ母さんと 黒ネコ父さんから 生まれたの"
Note: The ending particle の, when not used as a question, makes the sentence more child-like or feminine sounding. Since our main character is both a child and a girl (cat) you will see this sentence-ending particle used throughout the book.

きょうだいは　しろねこちゃんと　くろねこちゃんと、
きょうだい　は　しろ　ねこちゃん　と　くろ　ねこちゃん　と、
My siblings are; White Cat, Black Cat,
Literally: “siblings + は + white + cat + ちゃん + と + black + cat + ちゃん + と”
With Kanji: "兄弟は 白ネコちゃんと 黒ネコちゃんと、"

とらねこちゃんと　ぶちねこちゃん。
とら　ねこちゃん　と　ぶち　ねこちゃん。
Striped Cat, and Spotted Cat.
Literally: “striped + cat + ちゃん + と + spotted + cat + ちゃん”
With Kanji: "トラネコちゃんと ぶちネコちゃん。"
Note: Speakers can add the suffix ちゃん at the end of names to show that they think someone is cute. In this case, it is used to show the names of the cats.
Note: とら means tiger. So とらねこ is a cat that is like a tiger, which means it has stripes.

うまれたとき、ひとりだけ　あかい　わたしを　みて、
おとうさんも　おかあさんも　ビックリ　したんだって。
うまれた　とき、ひとり　だけ　あかい　わたし　を　みて、
おとうさん　も　おかあさん　も　ビックリ　したんだって。
When I was born, I heard that dad and mom were surprised one of us was red--me.
Literally: “born + when + one + only + red + I + を + see + dad + も + mom + も + surprised + んだって”
With Kanji: "生まれた時、一人だけ 赤い私を 見て、お父さんも お母さんも ビックリ したんだって。"
Note: んだって is a grammar point that is added onto the end of a plain form verb to convey a report of information. So it's usually translated as “I heard that,” or something similar.

ほかの　みんなは　おとうさんと　おかあさんを
うけついだ　けの　いろなのに、
ほか　の　みんな　は　おとうさん　と　おかあさん　を
うけついだ　け　の　いろ　な　のに、
Although everyone else inherited their fur color from dad and mom,
Literally: “other + の + everyone + は + dad + と + mom + を + inherited + fur + の + color + な + のに”
With Kanji: "ほかの みんなは お父さんと お母さんを 受けついだ 毛の 色なのに、"

わたしだけが　ぜんぜん　ちがう　いろだったから。
わたし　だけ　が　ぜんぜん　ちがう　いろ　だった　から。
Because only my color was totally different.
Literally: “I + only + が + totally + different + color + だった + because”
With Kanji: "私だけが 全然 違う 色だったから。"
Note: This から points to the previous sentence. Dad and Mom were surprisedbecause I was the only one with a different color.

「どうして　あのこだけ　いろが　ちがうんだろう」
「どうして　あの　こ　だけ　いろ　が　ちがうん　だろう」
“I wonder why only that child’s color is different”
Literally: “why + that + child + only + color + が + different + wonder”
With Kanji: "「どうして あの子だけ 色が 違うんだろう」"
Note: だろう has a lot of meanings but in this case it is used as “I wonder (why)..”

って、おとうさんと　おかあさんは　よく　ためいきを
ついてるの。
って、おとうさん　と　おかあさん　は　よく　ためいき　を
ついてる　の。
Dad and mom would often sigh and say.
Literally: “say + dad + と + mom + は + often + sigh + の”
With Kanji: "って、お父さんと お母さんは よく ため息を ついてるの。"
Note: って is a colloquial way to say と or というwhen talking about someone speaking. When it is used after parentheses (「」in Japanese) it means “..said.”

でもね、わたしは　このいろ、きれいで、かわいくて、
とっても、きにいってたの。
でも　ね、わたし　は　この　いろ、きれい　で、かわいくて、
とっても、きにいってた　の。
However, I really liked this color; it is pretty and cute.
Literally: “however +ね + I + は + this + color + pretty + で + cute + て + very + like + の”
With Kanji: "でもね、私は この色、きれいで、かわいくて、とっても、気に入ってたの。"
Note: When emphasizing something, you will often see とても written as とっても.

「あかねこちゃんだけ　いろが　ちがって　かわいそう」
「あか　ねこちゃん　だけ　いろ　が　ちがって　かわいそう」
“It's a pity that only Red Cat is a different color,”
Literally: “red + cat + ちゃん + only + color + が + different + what a pity”
With Kanji: "「赤ネコちゃんだけ 色が 違って かわいそう」"
Note: Be careful when using ～そう with かわいい. Usually, ～そう is added to an adjective to make the phrase “seems~” So おいしそう means “seems delicious.” However かわいそう is its own word meaning “what a pity,” not“seems cute.”

って、きょうだいたちも　いうの。
って、きょうだい　たち　も　いう　の。
Said all of my siblings.
Literally: “said + sibling + たち + も + say + の”
With Kanji: "って、兄弟たちも 言うの。"
Note: Adding たち to a pronoun makes it plural. So わたしたち means “us,” and あなたたち means “you all.”

でもね、わたしは　きれいで　かわいい
このいろが　すき。
でも　ね、わたし　は　きれい　で　かわいい
この　いろ　が　すき。
But, I liked this pretty, cute color.
Literally: “but + ね + I + は + pretty + で + cute + this + color + が + like”
With Kanji: "でもね、私は きれいで かわいい この色が 好き。"

みんなと　いっしょなんて　つまんないって
おもってたの。
みんな　と　いっしょ　なんて　つまんないって
おもってた　の。
If I were the same as everyone, I thought it would be boring.
Literally: “everyone + and + together + なんて + boring + thought + の”
With Kanji: "みんなと 一緒なんて つまんないって 思ってたの。"
Note: なんて is used in this case to mean “things like x.” It comes after the noun it modifies, so 本なんて would be “things like books.”

「しろいミルクを　いっぱい　のめば、しろくなれるかも　しれないわ」
って、おかあさん。
「しろい　ミルク　を　いっぱい　のめば、しろく　なれる　かもしれない　わ」
って、おかあさん。
“If you drink a lot of white milk, you might become white,” said Mom
Literally: “white + milk + を + a lot + if you drink + white + can become + might + わ + って, + Mom.”
With Kanji: "「白いミルクを いっぱい 飲めば、白くなれるかも しれないわ」って、お母さん。"
Note 1: ～ば attached to a verb is a conditional meaning “if.” I will try to cover the complexities in another lesson for you guys.
Note 2:The sentence ending particle わ is almost the same as よ but a bit softer. It can also be used to denote feminine speech.
Note 3: しろい or “white” becomes しろく because the い is changed to a く when you connect い-type adjectives to verbs.

みんなより　いっぱい　ミルク　を　のませようと　するけれど、
みんな　より　いっぱい　ミルク　を　のませよう　と　する　けれど、
Although she tries to make me drink more milk than everyone,
Literally: “everyone + than + a lot + milk + を + tries to make (me) drink + と + do + although”
With Kanji: "みんなより いっぱい ミルク を 飲ませようと するけれど、"
Note: のむ “to drink” in this sentence is first being conjugated into a causative verb のませる meaning “to force to drink.” Then it is again conjugated into the volitional form のませよう which has the connotation of trying to do something. It sounds complicated and it is, (causative and passive verbs are the bane of my existence) but there are concrete rules that you can follow. Maybe I will have to write a lesson for you guys, and myself...

わたし　べつに　しろくなんか　なりたく　ないの。
わたし　べつに　しろく　なんか　なりたく　ない　の。
I don't particularly want to become white.
Literally: “I + (not) particularly + white + things like + want to become + not + の “
With Kanji: "私 べつに 白くなんか なりたく ないの。"
Note: なんか is used much like なんて from earlier, meaning “things like x.”

「くろいさかなを　いっぱい　たべれば、くろくなれるかも　しれないよ」
って、おとうさん。
「くろい　さかな　を　いっぱい　たべれば、くろく　なれる　かもしれない　よ」
って、おとうさん。
“If you eat a lot of black fish, you might become black,” says Dad.
Literally: “black + fish + を + a lot + if you eat + black + can become + might + よ + って, + Dad.”
With Kanji: "黒い魚を いっぱい 食べれば、黒くなれるかも しれないよ」って、お父さん。"
Note: かもしれない is usually added at the end of a sentence to convey “might” or “maybe.”

みんなより　いっぱい　さかなを　たべさせようと　するけれど、
みんな　より　いっぱい　さかな　を　たべさせよう　と　する　けれど、
Although he tries to make me eat more fish than everyone,
Literally: “everyone + than + a lot + fish + を + tries to make (me) eat + と + do + although”
With Kanji: "みんなより いっぱい 魚を 食べさせようと するけれど、"
Note: けど、けれど、and けれども all mean the same thing: “although,” but each has a different level of formality. The former being more casual and the latter being more formal.

わたし　べつに　くろくなんか　なりたく　ないの。
わたし　べつに　くろく　なんか　なりたく　ない　の。
I don't particularly want to become black.
Literally: “I + (not) particularly + black + things like + want to become + not + の “
With Kanji: "私 べつに 黒くなんか なりたく ないの。"

「こむぎこを　からだに　ふりかければ　しろく　なれるわよ」
って、しろねこちゃん。
「こむぎこ　を　からだ　に　ふりかければ　しろく　なれる　わよ」
って、しろ　ねこちゃん。
“If you cover your body with flour, you can become white,” says White Cat.
Literally: “flour + を + body + に + if you cover + white + can become + わよ + って + white + cat”
With Kanji: "「小麦粉を 体に ふりかければ 白く なれるわよ」って、白ネコちゃん。"

でも、こなが　はなに　はいって、くしゃみが　でちゃうわ。
でも、こな　が　はな　に　はいって、くしゃみ　が　でちゃう　わ。
The powder gets into my nose and I sneeze.
Literally: “but + powder + nose + に + enter + sneeze + が + come out + わ”
With Kanji: "でも、粉が 鼻に 入って、くしゃみが 出ちゃうわ。"
Note: ちゃう is the shortened form of しまう meaning “an unintended action.” Most of the time it is used negatively to denote regret about something like 忘れちゃった（わすれちゃった）”I (regretfully) forgot.”

わたし　べつに　しろくなんか　なりたく　ないの。
わたし　べつに　しろく　なんか　なりたく　ない　の。
I don't particularly want to become white.
Literally: “I + (not) particularly + white + things like + want to become + not + の “
With Kanji: "私 べつに 白くなんか なりたく ないの。"

「どろの　なかで　あそべば　くろく　なれるよ」
って、くろねこちゃん。
「どろ　の　なか　で　あそべば　くろく　なれる　よ」
って、くろ　ねこちゃん。
“If you play in the mud, you can become black,” says Black Cat.
Literally: “mud + の +in + で + if you play + black + can become + よ + って + black + cat”
With Kanji: "「どろの 中で 遊べば 黒く なれるよ」って、黒ネコちゃん。"

でも、からだじゅう　べとべとに　なっちゃうわ。
でも、からだ　じゅう　べとべと　に　なっちゃう　わ。
But I become sticky all over.
Literally: “but + body + throughout + sticky + に + become + わ”
With Kanji: "でも、体じゅう べとべとに なっちゃうわ。"
Note: Adding 中（じゅう） to a noun gives it a feeling of “all over.” For example 世界中（せかいじゅう）”all over the world.”

わたし　べつに　くろくなんか　なりたく　ないの。
わたし　べつに　くろく　なんか　なりたく　ない　の。
I don't particularly want to become black.
Literally: “I + (not) particularly + black + things like + want to become + not + の “
With Kanji: "私 べつに 黒くなんか なりたく ないの。"

「ぺんきで　もようを　かいたらいいよ」
と、とらねこちゃん　と　ぶちねこちゃん。
「ぺんき　で　もよう　を　かいたら　いい　よ」
と、とら　ねこちゃん　と　ぶち　ねこちゃん。
“If you draw a pattern with paint, it would be good,” say Striped Cat and Spotted Cat.
Literally: “paint + で + pattern + を + if you draw + good + よ + と + striped + cat + and + spotted + cat”
With Kanji: "「ペンキで 模様を 描いたらいいよ。」と、トラネコちゃん と ぶちネコちゃん。"
Note: ～たら is another conditional, much like ～ば that means “if.”

でも、かわいたあとで　ばりばりに　なっちゃうわ。
でも、かわいた　あとで　ばりばり　に　なっちゃう　わ。
But after it dries, I get crunchy.
Literally: “but + dried + after + crunchy + に + become + わ”
With Kanji: "でも、乾いた 後で ばりばり に なっちゃう わ。"

わたし　べつに、しましまにも　ぶちもようにも　なりたく　ないの。
わたし　べつに、しましま　にも　ぶち　もよう　にも　なりたく　ない　の。
I don't particularly want to become striped or spotted.
Literally: “I + (not) particularly + striped + にも + spotted + pattern + にも + want to become + not + の“
With Kanji: "私 べつに、しましまにも ぶち模様にも なりたく ないの。"

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I know that was a lot of grammar and hopefully some new words for you. But it is so good to delve into native materials and see what you can pick up.

Tune back in tomorrow to see how this book ends!

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