Please blur/hide any major events in the current week’s pages (however early they occur), like so:
(that’s [spoiler]text here[/spoiler]).
If you have a question about grammar, vocab, the story, cultural things or literally anything else related to the book — ask! There is really no need to be hesitant. If it’s something you are wondering about, chances are someone else will be thankful you asked first, lots of people enjoy answering questions, you learn something new, and the thread gets more lively. It’s a win-win on all fronts!
Don’t forget to put on your club-supplied cat ears for a more immersive experience while reading. You will find them under your seat.
In the Last week I uploaded Screenshots to chatGPT and told it to make a vocabulary list from them, but they aren’t very good. Some words of the Text are missing and others weren’t in the text.
But when I typed in a single Sentence, when I read 十分で読めるこわい話, the explanation of the Grammar and the translation were great.
Maybe it works best (at least the unpaid Version) If you give as few information as possible.
The First two pages have a lot of words that I didn’t understand. I will Post them later.
I tried it again with ChatGPT. This time I gave some information about the Screenshot and used the Option that ChatGPT should think longer.
I recognized a lot of mistakes when you Made the vocabulary list from Screenshot 1. What do you need for a better result? Is the resolution of the Screenshot too Low? Are the Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana too small? Are there other Problems? Your list Had words that weren’t in the screenshot and other words that were in The Screenshot were Not in The list you created. The Text in the Screenshot is Japanese and is read From the right upper Corner to the left lower Corner. All Kanjis have Furigana. Please try again to make a Complete vocabulary list from Screenshot 1. This list should include how the Word was written in the Text, the Furigana and a Translation into english. After that make a list of the Expressions that appear in the Text with an english Translation. After that make a list of the Grammar Points that appear in the Screenshot together with an explanation and an example Sentence.
vocabulary list Page 1
Japanese (in text)
Furigana
English
放課後
ほうかご
after school
ため息をつきながら
ためいきをつきながら
while sighing
わたし
わたし
I / me
学校
がっこう
school
廊下
ろうか
corridor
歩く
あるく
to walk
南原有理
なんばら ゆうり
Nanbara Yūri (name)
理由
りゆう
reason
ズバリ
―
(literally) “right on the mark”
算数
さんすう
arithmetic / math
テスト
―
test
百点満点中
ひゃくてんまんてんちゅう
out of 100 points
たった
―
only; merely
三十点
さんじゅってん
thirty points
しか
―
(with neg.) only
取れなかった
とれなかった
couldn’t score / get
お母さん
おかあさん
mother
また
―
again
怒る
おこる
to get angry
だろう
―
probably; I suppose
な
―
sentence‐ending particle
場合
ばあい
case; situation
かけ算
かけざん
multiplication
どころか
―
far from; let alone
たし算
たしざん
addition
だって
―
even; but after all
間違える
まちがえる
to make a mistake
文章問題
ぶんしょうもんだい
word problem
特に
とくに
especially
苦手
にがて
not good at; weak at
つまり
―
in other words; that is to say
国語
こくご
Japanese (language)
でも
―
but; however
って
―
(colloq. topic marker)
変
へん
strange
多くない
おおくない
not many; aren’t many
今回
こんかい
this time
問題
もんだい
question; problem
なんて
―
such as; things like
まず
―
first; to begin with
て
―
(colloquial “is that…?”)
なに
―
what
巨人
きょじん
giant
頭
あたま
head
着ける
つける
to put on; to wear
この間
このあいだ
the other day
怒られた
おこられた
was scolded
ばかり
―
just; nothing but
Expressions Page 1
Expression
English gloss
放課後。
After school.
ため息をつきながら
while sighing…
ズバリ算数のテスト
(lit.) “It’s exactly a math test.”
百点満点中、たった三十点しか…
“Out of 100 points, I scored only 30…”
どうしてかけ算ができないの！
“Why can’t I do multiplication?!”
文章問題なんかとくに苦手で
“I’m especially bad at word problems.”
算数の文章問題って変なの多くない？
“Aren’t math word problems strange?”
70mのリボンから…切り取りました
“We cut from a 70m ribbon…”
残りは何mですか？
“How many meters are left?”
巨人が頭に着けるの？
“Do giants wear it on their heads?”
この間も怒られたばかり。
“I was just scolded the other day, too.”
Grammar Points Page 1
Grammar
Explanation & Form
Example from text
～ながら
simultaneous actions; Verb stem ＋ ながら＋…
ため息をつきながら歩く “walk while sighing”
しか＋Neg
only… (with negative verb)
三十点しか取れなかった “got only 30 points”
ばかり
just did… / only… (indicates “just now” or excess)
怒られたばかり “was just scolded”
～どころか
far from…; on the contrary
かけ算どころか… “far from multiplication…”
だって
even; but after all; (gives emphasis, often as “but”)
だって国語だってできない “even Japanese I can’t do”
って
colloquial topic marker; quoting or emphasis
文書問題って変なの多くない？ “Word problems are weird, right?”
なんて
such as…; things like…; (expresses surprise or disdain)
なんて問題があった “there were such problems as…”
～ても
even if…; although…
(implied in “変なの多くない？” “aren’t they strange even…?”)
This is Just Page 1. I haven’t checked the result yet. I will do that later. What do you think about the quality?
vocabulary list Page 2
Kanji / Katakana
Furigana
English Translation
目に映る
めにうつる
to appear in one’s vision
授業
じゅぎょう
class, lesson
備品
びひん
equipment, supplies
置かれる
おかれる
to be placed
授業準備室
じゅぎょうじゅんびしつ
lesson preparation room
光景
こうけい
scene, sight
夢
ゆめ
dream
一瞬
いっしゅん
a moment, an instant
上着
うわぎ
jacket
計算鬼
けいさんき
“calculation demon” (fictional item)
リボン
—
ribbon
切り取りました
きりとりました
cut off
残り
のこり
remainder, what’s left
小声
こごえ
whisper, low voice
答える
こたえる
to answer
館長
かんちょう
director (of a museum)
博物館
はくぶつかん
museum
アイテム
—
item
本物
ほんもの
the real thing
気持ち
きもち
feeling
間違ってなかった
まちがってなかった
wasn’t mistaken
算数
さんすう
arithmetic
悩まなくてすむ
なやまなくてすむ
no need to worry
興奮
こうふん
excitement
握りしめる
にぎりしめる
to grip tightly
DVD
—
DVD
もどす
もどす
to return something
忘れる
わすれる
to forget
家
いえ
house
帰る
かえる
to return
Expressions Page 2
Expression (Kanji + Furigana)
English Meaning
夢だったのかな（ゆめだったのかな）
I wonder if it was a dream
やっぱり、ほんとうだった
As I thought, it was real
気持ちも、まちがってなかった（きもちも、まちがってなかった）
My feelings weren’t wrong
これさえあれば（これさえあれば）
As long as I have this
算数で悩まなくてすむ（さんすうでなやまなくてすむ）
I don’t have to struggle with math anymore
ギュッと握りしめた（ぎゅっとにぎりしめた）
Gripped tightly
気づいたのは（きづいたのは）
The moment I realized
Grammar Points Page 2
Grammar Point
Explanation
Example Sentence (with Furigana)
～のは
Nominalizing a verb with の + は to make it the subject
気づいたのは（きづいたのは）… = It was when I realized…
～たのかな
Expresses uncertainty or wonder about the past
夢だったのかな（ゆめだったのかな）= I wonder if it was a dream
～すむ
Used as ～なくてすむ to mean “no need to do something”
悩まなくてすむ（なやまなくてすむ）= I don’t have to worry
～さえ～ば
“As long as…” structure, often used with conditional
これさえあれば = As long as I have this
～てから
After doing something
家に帰ってから（いえにかえってから）= after returning home
～ていた / ～ている
Progressive or resultive form (ongoing action or state)
計算鬼が入っていた = The calculator demon was inside
I think ChatGPT used the wrong Screenshot for Page 2.
vocabulary list Page 2
In-text Writing
Furigana
English Translation
巨大な
きょだいな
Huge / gigantic
布
ぬの
Cloth
言い訳
いいわけ
Excuse
ダメ息
だめいき
Exasperated sigh (lit. “useless sigh”)
発明する
はつめいする
To invent
変な目にあう
へんなめにあう
To face weird looks / treatment
死んでる
しんでる
(Casual) is dead
長い廊下
ながいろうか
Long corridor
汚れた
よごれた
Dirty
古い
ふるい
Old
壁
かべ
Wall
授業
じゅぎょう
Class / lesson
準備室
じゅんびしつ
Preparation room
扉
とびら
Door
書かれる
かかれる
Is written
頼まれる
たのまれる
To be asked (to do something)
目的地
もくてきち
Destination
世界中の子どもたち
せかいじゅうのこどもたち
Children all over the world
吸収される
きゅうしゅうされる
To be absorbed / swallowed up
つきあたり
―
End (of a hallway, road, etc.)
Expressions Page 2
Japanese (with Furigana)
English Translation
このままじゃ おこづかいは 減るだろうし（へるだろうし）
At this rate, my allowance will probably decrease.
それはもう 巨大な布だよ！（きょだいな ぬの）
That’s already a gigantic piece of cloth!
まったく、だれが 最初に テストなんて 思いついたんだろう（さいしょに、おもいついた）
Seriously, who even came up with tests in the first place?
どれだけ わたし――いや、世界中の子どもたちが（せかいじゅうの こどもたち）
Just how many kids—no, children around the world—
授業準備室と 書かれた 扉（じゅぎょうじゅんびしつ と かかれた とびら）
A door labeled “Class Preparation Room”
Grammar Points Page 2
〜なんて
Meaning: Things like 〜; used for disbelief or strong emotion
Example: テストなんて思いついた
→ “Came up with something like a test…”
〜てほしい
Meaning: Want someone to do something
Example: あやまってほしい
→ “I want them to apologize”
〜だろうし / 〜だろうけど
Meaning: Probably… and / probably… but
Example: おこづかいは減るだろうし
→ “My allowance will probably decrease, and…”
〜ていると
Structure: When [I] was doing 〜, then…
Example: 考えていると、目的地についた
→ “While I was thinking, I reached my destination.”
〜におつかいを頼まれる
Meaning: Was asked to run an errand (by someone)
Example: 先生におつかいを頼まれていたんだ
→ “I had been asked by the teacher to run an errand”
I didn’t mean to but I read all 16-ish pages for the week.
I laughed when she was ranting about her math word problems. “Why is there 70m of ribbon? What is this, ribbon for giants?” Girl, same
Musings about what might happen in future. The items in the museum definitely feel like they’re of the “be careful what you wish for” variety. I wonder what the 館長 will be like…
I felt like I had lots of look ups, but it was really only about 3 per page.
From what I understood I think that she was given Back a Test and is now scared of her Mother because she Had a very Bad score. She is in the school corridor and the math Problem was about the length of a ribbon. She was asked to bring Back a DVD. When she entered the preparation room everything looked very luxurious.
Here are the words I still don’t understand.
Page 1
ズバリ さんすう の テスト。
ひゃくてんもんてんちゅう
よねんせい にもなって
Even becoming a fourth grader … ?
かけざん どころか、たしざん だって まちがえる
Not to speak of Multiplikation, I even confused it with addition?
ぶんしょうもんだい I think it’s Textaufgaben, but I don’t know the english Word. Word Problems?
なんか とくに
とくに especially
なんか
つまり こくご だって できない
In other words, I wasn’t even able to do japanese?
でもさ
へんなのおおくない
なんて もんだい が あった けど
てなに
What is that …?
きょじん が あたま に つける の?
Do Giants Put it on their head?
の = asking for conformation? Used when the speaker is surprised/curious.
Page 2
それ は もう きょだい な ぬの だよ!
This is already a giant cloth?
ただの いいわけ だけど さ。
Usual excuse however
ままじゃ
し
And whats more, (I think my Pocket Money will be decreased)
されちゃう
される passive form of する
“Something ends up being done to (me/someone)”, often with regret, surprise, or uncontrollability.
All in all it seems you do not look words up in a dictionary, but instead ask the bot.
ゆか は ふかふか の じゅうたん で 、meaning of this で depends on what comes after the comma.
たのまれていたんだ - たのまれていた is the passive continuous past tense of たのむ, ん=の
くれないか - 〜てくれる this is a grammar point you‘ll have to check
いいんだよね？- いいん might as well be いい+の
かかれた - is the passive past tense of かく- to write
やけに - probably slang for とても
めにあっている - 目に遭う is an expression, あっている is continuous form of あう
されちゃう - a contraction of されて しまう, as for the meaning I’ll leave it to you as something to look up as a grammar point
それ は もう きょだい な ぬの だよ! - I see this もう as an exclamation like Jesus, is that a giant cloth; きょだい な, 巨大(きょだい) is a な-adjective, something for you to check as a grammar point, as it seems.
The rest I‘ll leave for somebody else, or even better for someone who actually has the book.
I do both. But sometimes the dictionary I use doesn’t know Where one word ends and the other begins. Im trying to find Out how good ChatGPT is in regards of language learning.
Thank you for your explanations.
I started very early with reading books so I don’t know a lot of Grammar yet. And sometimes I don’t recognize Grammar Points that I’ve already learned. I Probably Just need more Repetition for that.
I’ve finished this week’s section already. I’m really enjoying it so far. Definitely seems to have a Ronald Dahl “be careful what you wish for “ vibe going on. I’m looking forward to discovering what the unforeseen consequences are.
Definitely having enough exposure to Japanese to be able to tell where words stop and start is one of the big challenges when you first start reading material meant for native speakers. A lot of folks use satori reader as a stepping stone for reading, you might find it useful if you haven’t checked it out yet! I’d also recommend checking out some reading materials closer to your grammar level so you don’t burn out while you’re working your way through this book. Good luck!
I looked at the stuff you were having problems with, and I think this video from Kaname Naito might be helpful as well.
The Tadoku - Free are also a good, free source of easier materials, and some have accompanying audio. The more difficult ones are on par with the easier of the children’s books.
That’s right. The only thing you’re missing is that when she opened the door to the room, she saw a long hallway continuing on- this hallway is what looked luxurious with the lights and carpet.
I wonder if it would help to try not to analyze and break down every unknown grammar pattern in this book. If you can understand the gist of the story, like what you’ve written above, that’s good enough to keep reading in my opinion. It might be less frustrating to accept 80% understanding and move on, instead of trying to understand 100% of every sentence.
I will try that. At the Moment I’m Reading, writing down the words I don’t know or am unsure about and Reading again with the vocabulary list I Made (not the one chatGPT Made). I haven’t really looked Up the Grammar Points yet. I also use the dictionary of the bookwalker App.
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