Japanese Reading Practice: Hikoichi and the Young Lord (彦一さんと若殿), with Furigana and Audio

• むかしonce upon a time; long agoN4Repeated for emphasis, indicating the beginning of a folk tale
• あるa certainN4Used as an indefinite marker ('a certain')
• ところplaceN5Used with に to indicate location
• にin; location markerN5Location marker indicating where someone lived
• 彦一ひこいちHikoichiName of the main character
• 賢かしこいclever; wiseN3Describes the character's intelligence
• 若者わかものyoung manN3Describes the main character
• 住すんでいましたwas livingN4past progressive: ていました describes an ongoing state in the past

Once upon a time, in a certain place, there lived a very clever young man named Hikoichi.

• たいへんvery; extremelyN4Used to emphasize the degree of the adjective 賢かしこくて (smart).
• 賢かしこくてclever and…N3the くて form of 賢かしこい, linking it to what comes next
• どんなany kind ofN5Used to describe the type of problem, implying any kind of problem.
• 難むずかしいdifficultN4Describes the noun 問題もんだい (problem) as difficult.
• 問題もんだいproblemN4Refers to the problems that are being solved.
• でもevenN5Used to emphasize that any kind of problem can be solved.
• 解といてsolves completelyN3て-form + しまう: 解といてしまう, he solves them completely, with ease
• のでbecause; soN4Indicates a reason or cause for the following result.
• すっかりcompletely; quiteN3
• 有名ゆうめいfamousN3Used with になる to indicate becoming famous
• になりbecameN4に + なる marks a change of state: he became famous
• とうとうfinally; eventuallyN2Indicates the culmination of events leading to the rumor reaching the lord.
• そのthatN5Refers to the specific rumor mentioned.
• うわさrumorN3the subject: the rumor is what reached the lord's ears
• が(subject marker)N5Marks うわさ (rumor) as the subject of the verb 入はいりました.
• 殿様とのさまthe feudal lordN2Honorific term for a feudal lord, marked with お
• の's; possessiveN4Indicates possession, linking お殿様とのさま (lord) and 耳みみ (ears).
• 耳みみearsN5Used idiomatically to mean 'reach one's ears'
• にto; intoN5Indicates the direction towards which the rumor reached.
• 入はいりましたreached; enteredN5Describes the action of the rumor reaching the lord's ears. Part of the idiom 耳みみに入はいる, meaning that news or a rumor reaches someone’s ears.

Hikoichi was extremely clever and could solve any difficult problem, so he became quite famous. Eventually, word of his talent even reached the ears of the feudal lord.

• お殿様とのさまthe feudal lordN2Honorific お prefix added to 殿様とのさま to show respect for the lord's status
• 彦一ひこいちHikoichiName of the character in the story
• ほんとうにtruly; reallyN3written in kana here; the kanji spelling is 本当ほんとうに
• 賢かしこいcleverN3Used to describe Hikoichi's alleged intelligence
• かどうかwhether or notN4This embeds a yes/no question: whether Hikoichi really is that clever.
• 試ためしてみようlet's try testingN4てみる (try doing) + the volitional よう: let's try testing him
• お城しろthe castleN4Honorific お prefix added to show respect for the lord's castle
• 呼よぶto summon; to callN4
• ことにするdecided to doN4ことにしました: he made up his mind to do it

The lord decided to summon Hikoichi to the castle, thinking, "Let's test whether Hikoichi is truly as clever as they say."

• 彦一ひこいちさんHikoichiThis is the name of a character, often used in Japanese folktales.
• お城しろにto the castleN4The particle に indicates the direction or destination of movement.
• 行いってwent and…N5The て-form is used here to connect actions in a sequence.
• かしこまってsat respectfully and…the て-form of かしこまる, to sit formally and respectfully before a superior
• 待まっているとwhile waitingN4ている (was waiting) + と (when): as he was waiting, the lord came in
• お殿様とのさまがthe lordN2Refers to a feudal lord, often used in historical contexts.
• やってきましたcame; arrivedN3The past form indicates that the action of coming has been completed.

When Hikoichi went to the castle and was waiting respectfully, the lord arrived.

• おおoh; ahAn exclamation expressing recognition or acknowledgment
• お前まえyouN2Informal second-person pronoun, here used by someone of higher status
• 評判ひょうばんfamous; well-knownN3Used with の to modify 彦一ひこいち, describing him as the one who is talked about
• 彦一ひこいちHikoichiA person's name
• どれwell thenN5This is an interjection that means "well" or "c'mon"
• 面おもてface; headread おもて here: the formal old word for face
• あげなさいraiseN4command to raise his head
• うーむhmm
• 確たしかにcertainly; surelyN3
• 賢かしこそうlooks cleverN3い-adjective stem + そう: looks clever. The second 面つら in this line is read つら and sounds rougher, like mug

"Oh, so you are the famous Hikoichi? Well then, raise your head. Hmm, you certainly look clever."

• お殿様とのさまthe feudal lordN2Refers to a feudal lord, often used with the honorific prefix お to show respect.
• は(topic marker)N5Marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that お殿様とのさま is the topic being discussed.
• うれしそうにhappily; looking pleasedN3そう shows how he looked; に makes it describe how he spoke
• 言いいましたsaidN5The past polite form of 言いう, indicating the action of saying something in the past.

The lord said this with a pleased look.

• そんなにthat much; soN4Used to emphasize the degree or extent of something, often in a comparative context.
• かしこいwise; cleverN3
• の(nominalizer)N4turns the phrase before なら into a noun: if it is the case that you are that clever
• ならif; if that is the caseN4
• 若殿わかとのyoung lordA respectful term used to refer to a young lord or master, often in historical or formal contexts.
• 遊あそび相手あいてplaymate; play companionN3Refers to someone who plays with another, often used for children.
• を(object marker)N5Marks '遊あそび相手あいて' as the direct object of the verb 'してほしい'.
• してほしいwant you to doN4The phrase 'してほしい' expresses a desire for someone else to perform an action.
• もの(with てほしい) expresses a strong wishN5Used here to emphasize a wish or desire, often seen in older or more formal speech.
• じゃis; be
• 若わかyoung masterA respectful term for a young master, often used in historical contexts.
• 入はいってcome inN5the て-form of 入はいる, here with おいで: come in
• おいでcome herea gentle command used toward a child or someone junior: come (here)

"If you are that clever, I want you to be the young lord's playmate. Young master, come in!"

• お殿様とのさまthe feudal lordN2Refers to a feudal lord, often used in historical contexts or to show respect.
• 呼よぶcalledN4In this sentence, it indicates the action of the lord calling or summoning people.
• とwhen; as soon asN4Used to indicate a conditional or temporal relationship, meaning 'when' in this context.
• 一人ひとりone personN5The first in a sequence of counting people.
• 二人ふたりtwo peopleN5The second in a sequence of counting people.
• 三人さんにんthree peopleN5The third in a sequence of counting people.
• 四人よにんfour peopleN5The fourth in a sequence of counting people.
• 五人ごにんfive peopleN5The fifth in a sequence of counting people.

When the lord called, in they came: one, two, three, four, five…

• なんとsurprisingly; to his surpriseN2Used to express surprise or emphasis, often in exclamatory sentences.
• 五人ごにんfive peopleN5A counter for people. In this sentence, it specifies the number of children.
• ものas many asUsed for emphasis, indicating surprise or unexpectedness about the number of children.
• 子供こどもchildrenN5Refers to the children entering the room.
• が(subject marker)N5Marks 'children' as the subject of the verb 'enter'.
• 入はいってくるcame inN4A compound verb indicating the action of entering towards the speaker's location.
• ではありませんかisn't it?; expressive surpriseN3A rhetorical question used to express surprise or seek agreement. ではありませんか adds surprise: “wouldn’t you know it / to his surprise.”

To his surprise, no fewer than five children came in!

• どのwhichN5Used to specify 'which child' in the sentence, indicating a selection from a group.
• 子こchildN5Refers to children in general, as part of the phrase 'どの子こも' meaning 'every child'.
• もall; everyN5Used to emphasize inclusivity, meaning 'every child' in this context.
• 同おなじようなsimilar; alikeN4Describes the similarity in age and facial features among the children.
• 年頃としごろage; age rangeN3Refers to the general age range or stage of life of the children.
• でand; て-form of the copulaN5the て-form of です, linking two descriptions: similar ages, and similar faces
• 顔かおつきfacial features; looksN3Refers to the appearance or facial features of the children.
• ですwere; areN5Serves as the polite copula, indicating the state of being similar.

All the children were of a similar age and had similar facial features.

• しかもmoreover; furthermoreN2This conjunction is used to add information, often emphasizing that the added information is surprising or unexpected.
• 同おなじsameN4Functions as an adjective here, modifying 着物きもの to indicate that the kimono is the same one.
• 着物きものkimonoN5Refers to the traditional Japanese garment being worn.
• を(object marker)N5Marks 着物きもの as the direct object of the verb 着きています.
• 着きていますwere wearingN5The ています form indicates a continuous or habitual action, meaning 'is wearing' in this context.

Moreover, they were wearing the same kimono.

• 毎日まいにちevery dayN5Adverbial noun indicating frequency of occurrence
• お城しろat the castleN4Polite form with honorific prefix お
• お殿様とのさまthe feudal lordN2Honorific term for a feudal lord with お prefix
• 仕つかえているservingN3ている form indicating ongoing state of serving
• 家来けらいretainers; vassalsN2Historical term for servants of a feudal lord
• でもevenN5
• 見分みわけがつきませんcould not tell apartN3見分みわけがつく is to be able to tell apart; in the negative, they could not

Even the retainers who served the lord at the castle every day could not tell them apart.

• どうじゃhow about it?Archaic/formal interrogative expression used by elderly or authority figures to ask for opinion or judgment
• 彦一ひこいちHikoichiPersonal name being directly addressed in the sentence
• どのwhichN5Used to ask which one among multiple options
• 子こchildN5Object being referred to in the question
• 本物ほんものreal; genuineN3Used to describe the authentic or real version among alternatives
• 若わかyoung mastershort for 若殿わかとの, the lord's young son
• わかるcan tell; can recognizeN5used twice: can you tell (わかるか), and if you cannot (わからなければ)

"Well, Hikoichi? Can you tell which child is the real young master? If you cannot, you may simply say so."

• お殿様とのさまthe feudal lordN2Refers to a feudal lord, often used in historical contexts.
• は(topic marker)N5Marks 'お殿様とのさま' as the topic of the sentence.
• にやりとwith a sly grinN2Describes the manner of the smile, indicating a sly or knowing grin.
• 笑わらってsmiled and…N5The て-form of 笑わらう, used here to connect actions smoothly.
• 彦一ひこいちHikoichiour hero
• の's; possessiveN4Indicates possession, linking '彦一ひこいち' and '顔かお'.
• 顔かおfaceN5Refers to the face of '彦一ひこいち'.
• を(object marker)N5Marks '顔かお' as the direct object of the verb '見みました'.
• 見みましたlooked atN5The past polite form of 見みる, indicating the action of looking at something.

The lord smiled slyly and looked at Hikoichi's face.