Read the six sentences as one short story. First find who, where and what happens; then check your understanding.

The idea

Choose a story you can mostly follow without stopping. Read once for the plot, using pictures and context; mark a few recurring or essential unknown words. Check those after the first pass, then reread and retell the events. If you cannot follow even the main events, try an easier level.

Examples

  • 朝あさ、美香みかさんは図書館としょかんへ行いきました。In the morning, Mika went to the library.
  • 入口いりぐちで、小ちいさい犬いぬを見みました。At the entrance, she saw a small dog.
  • 犬いぬは青あおいかばんの近ちかくにいました。The dog was near a blue bag.
  • 美香さんはかばんを開あけませんでした。Mika did not open the bag.
  • 中なかから電話でんわの音おとが聞きこえました。She heard a phone ringing from inside.
  • やがて、男おとこの人ひとがかばんを取とりに来きました。Eventually, a man came to collect the bag.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

A level label is a starting point, not a guarantee of fit. Looking up every word on the first pass can interrupt the story; do check a word when it changes your understanding.

Try it yourself

  1. 犬いぬはどこにいましたか。（かばんの近ちかく／図書館としょかんの中なか）

    Show answer or example answer

    かばんの近く

    かばんの近く: The dog was near the blue bag; the entrance is where Mika saw it.

  2. 美香さんはかばんを開あけましたか。（はい／いいえ）

    Show answer or example answer

    いいえ

    いいえ: 開けませんでした is the negative past: Mika did not open the bag.

  3. 男おとこの人ひとは何なにを取とりに来きましたか。（かばん／犬いぬ）

    Show answer or example answer

    かばん

    かばん: The man came to collect the bag; the story does not say he came for the dog.

Use it today

Read the story once without a dictionary. Summarise it, check one useful word, then reread and answer the questions.