おりこうハンスClever Hans

Read a sample in Japanese

What you'll learn

Hans repeatedly visits Gretel, who gives him various gifts (needle, knife, goat, bacon, calf, and finally herself). Each time, Hans mishandles the gift based on his mother's literal advice, leading to loss or disaster. In the end, Gretel escapes after Hans ties her to the manger.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～てくる N4Indicates an action that is done and continues toward the speaker, or an action that has continued up to the present.
  なにかいいものもってきてくれて。
• ～てやる N4Expresses the speaker's intention to do something for someone (usually someone of lower status or close).
  うまくやるんだよ、ハンス。
• ～てくれる N4Indicates that someone does an action for the speaker or someone close to the speaker.
  グレーテルがおまえになにをくれたの。
• ～んだ (のだ) N4Adds explanatory or emphatic nuance to a statement or question.
  うまくやるんだよ。
• ～さ (dialect sentence-ending particle) unknownA dialectal particle used in casual speech to add emphasis or indicate direction. Equivalent to standard ～よ or ～ぞ.
  グレーテルんとこさ。

Cultural notes

• あばよA very casual and somewhat old-fashioned way to say 'goodbye' in Japanese. Used between close friends or family members, similar to 'see ya' or 'so long'.
• おっかあA dialectal or childish way to say 'mother' (お母さん). It gives the mother a warm, familiar feel.
• Repetitive Folk Tale StructureThis story uses a classic repetitive structure common in oral folk tales, where the same pattern is repeated with slight variations. This helps with memorization and emphasizes the protagonist's foolishness.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storychildrenfoolishnessmiscommunicationhumorousheartwarmingaozora bunko〜んですn desu〜てくれるte kureru〜てくるte kuru〜てやるte yaru