The Tortoise and the Hare

aru tokoro ni in a certain place *a very common way to start a fairy tale in Japanese. Another clichd
opening line is a long time ago ]
usagi rabbit
to and

- kame - turtle

- imashita was, existed

- ni iimashita said to (the ni shows directionin this case, the rabbit said to the turtle)
anata wa - (as for) you

- sekai de in the world

 - ichi ban number one, the most *This is often used to mean most: ichiban suki Liked the most]
noroi slow, dense *a bit more rude than osoi the common word for slow+
ne arent you *ne is very versatile; observe how it is used in different situations+
sonnani - to such an extent; that much
noroin - The is used often to explain or ask for an explanation of things; somewhat casual
dai ? - Question ender; casual (use instead)

ni kotaemashita

- answered to (rabbit)

Nante koto wo iu no desu ka? - How could you say such a thing? (how rude!)
sorenara - if that is the case

watashi to - with me

kyousou

- race

shimashou - lets (race) *the form is an easy way to say Lets... For example,
tabemashou Lets eat; asobimashou Lets play.+

mukou - over there

koyama - small mountain, hill
fumoto - base (of hill) [not a very important
vocab word]
made - until, as far as (the hill)
dochira - who
saki - before, first
tsuku - arrive

oinuite

shoubu - challenge, fight

shimashou - lets (race)
yo-shi - Good! Ok!
yarimashou - lets do it

kyousou - race
hajimemashita -

started

- overtake [This is an example of two verbs stuck together to combine the meaning:

(follow, pursue) + (leave, omit)]

dondon - gradually, progressively
hashitte ikimashita - ran
~ nagara - while (running)
kokoro no naka de - in his heart; (he thought)
kou omoimashita - thought like this ( is used to mean like this)
... donnani isoidemo however fast [ is a useful construction. For example:

Donnani jouzu ni kakuretemo, mitsukeru yo.]

douse - after all, in the end, anyway yoru made until night kakaru take (time)
darou - think, suppose
kono hen - this area
chotto hito yasumi - take a little break
shite okou - decide to do (take a nap)

hiru ne

- nap

hajimemashita - started
gu-gu-gu sound of someone sleeping

sono aida - during that time

oinuite

- overtook

shimaimashita - [a show of regret]

me o samasu - wake up

 to - and this happened; A leads to B

go-ru - finish line; goal
made - until
ato - after
sukoshi - little
tokoro - place, position
ato sukoshi no tokoro - just a little farther
shimatta darn! - I messed up!

nesugi overslept [ is a useful ender meaning too much. A few examples: tabesugi
eat too much; iisugi say too much; benkyou shisugi study too much ()]

donnani isoidemo however fast

oitsukemasen couldnt overtake * oitsuku to overtake; oitsukeru can
overtake; oitsukemasen cant overtake+
saki ni ahead of *here it means ahead timewise. The turtle passed the goal first. A very useful phrase is
saki ni douzo Please go ahead (of me)]
go-ru goal, finish line

saki ni go-ru shita kame

the turtle who had already passed the finish line

ni mukatte faced; turn to face

kou iimashita said this [the implies like the following+
zuibun pretty much; fairly *You can use this with anything needing a pretty For example:
Its pretty hot, isnt it?+

osoi - slow
sakki - past; just then (normally this is but can be pronounced in speech)

jiman - pride; boasting

sakki no jiman previous boasting
doushita no? what happened to *A more polite and very useful version would be
doushimashita ka? What happened? Are you OK?]
nanimo...masen not at all

iikaesemasen - didnt reply *This is another doubled verb: iu (to say) + kaesu
(return)]

nani mo iikasemasen deshita

- didnt reply at all