Read the story once for its setting, then follow the fan from its owner to the performance and back.
The idea
借りました means borrowed: Hana is the person Misaki borrowed from, marked by に. 終わったら links the return to the completion of the dance.
Examples
- 美咲さんは学校の発表会で踊ることになりました。Misaki was going to dance at the school performance.
- 踊りに使う扇子がなかったので、友達の花さんに借りました。She had no folding fan for the dance, so she borrowed one from her friend Hana.
- 花さんは「終わったら、返してね」と言いました。Hana said, “Please return it when you’re done.”
- 発表会の前に、美咲さんは扇子を開いて練習しました。Before the performance, Misaki opened the fan and practised.
- 踊りが終わると、客たちは大きな拍手をしました。When the dance ended, the audience applauded loudly.
- 美咲さんは花さんにお礼を言って、扇子を返しました。Misaki thanked Hana and returned the fan.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not confuse 借りる, to borrow, with 貸す, to lend. The person marked by に here is the lender.
Try it yourself
美咲さんは誰に扇子を借りましたか。(花さん/先生)
Show answer or example answer
花さん / はなさん
花さん: Misaki borrowed the fan from Hana, her friend.
美咲さんは発表会の前に何をしましたか。(練習/返す)
Show answer or example answer
練習 / れんしゅう
練習: she opened the fan and practised before the performance.
踊りの後、扇子をどうしましたか。(返しました/買いました)
Show answer or example answer
返しました / かえしました
返しました: after the dance she thanked Hana and returned the fan.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
美咲さんは誰に扇子を借りましたか。(花さん/先生)
花さん / はなさん
美咲さんは発表会の前に何をしましたか。(練習/返す)
練習 / れんしゅう
踊りの後、扇子をどうしましたか。(返しました/買いました)
返しました / かえしました
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Retell why Misaki needed the fan, what she did before dancing and how she kept her promise.

