Since the last post was popular, I decided to do another one of these, short and easy Japaneses story again. The audio on the Youtube makes it easier to understand by learning the correct pronunciation at the same time. I have also provided the transliteration and English translation below for your reference. Enjoy the story, and listen to it over and over to master the story!

走る名人　ー Hashiru Meijin – A Running Expert

Original Story in Hiragana

むかしむかし、あるところに、たいへん　あしのはやいおとこがいました。

あんまりあしがはやいので、みんなから『はしるめいじん』とよばれています。

あるとき、『はしるめいじん』がどろぼう　をおいかけていますと、

むこうからともだちがやってきました。

「なんだ、なんだ。そんなにあわててどうした？」

と、ともだちがきくと、この『はしるめいじん』は、

「じつは、どろぼうをおいかけているんだ」

「なに！　そのどろぼうは、どこだ、どこだ？」

「ほれ、うしろからはしってくる」

なんと『はしるめいじん』はあまりにもあしがはやすぎて、おいかけていたどろぼうをおいぬいてしまったのでした。

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

Transliteration

Mukashi mukashi arutokoroni, taihen ashino hayai otokoga imashita.

Anmari ashi ga hayainode, minnakara “hashiru meijin” to yobarete imasu.

Arutoki, “hashiru meijin” ga dorobou o oikaketeimasuto,

Mukoukara tomodachi ga yatte kimashita.

“Nanda,nanda sonnani awattete doushita?”

To, tomodachi ga kikuto, kono “hashiru meijin” wa,

“Jitsuwa dorobou o oikakete irunda.”

“Nani! Sono dorobou wa dokoda, dokoda?”

“Hore ushirokara hashittekuru.”

Nanto “hashiru meijin” wa amarinimo ashiga hayasugite, oikaketeita dorobou o oinuite shimattanodeshita.

 

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English Translation

Once upon a time, there was a man who could run very fast.

He ran so fast that everyone called him “a Running Expert.”

One day, while the running expert was chasing a thief,

his friend approached him,

“What, what? why are you in such a hurry?”

Asked by his friend, this “Running Expert” said,

“Actually, I am chasing a thief!.”

“What? Where? Where is the thief?”

“Look, he is running behind me.”

This “Running Expert” was so fast that he had passed the thief long ago.

THE END~~~~~~~~~~~~~