三匹ノ　コグマサント　キシヤThree Little Bears and the Train

Read a sample in Japanese

What you'll learn

Three little bears board a train for the first time. Not knowing where to go, they sit on the roof and catch a cold from the strong wind.

Unable to stay on the roof, the bears crawl into the luggage rack inside the train, but the shaking makes them ache all over.

The bears then sit on the floor, but their clothes get dirty with mud.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• 〜ので N4Explains a reason or cause; 'because, so'.
  ドコヘノツテヨイノヤラ　ワカラナイノデ、ヤネニノリマシタ。
• 〜たら N4Conditional 'if/when' (after -ta form).
  シカタガナイノデ、ユカノウヘニスワリマシタラ、洋服ガドロダラケニナリマシタ。
• 〜させる（使役） N4Causative form: 'make/let someone do something'.
  ソコヘ車掌サンガキテ、三匹ヲ　コシカケニ　コシカケサセテクレマシタ。
• 〜てくれる N4Someone does something for me/us.
  ソコヘ車掌サンガキテ、三匹ヲ　コシカケニ　コシカケサセテクレマシタ。

Cultural notes

• Train Conductors in Early 20th Century JapanThe story likely takes place in the early 20th century when steam locomotives were common. Conductors wore uniforms and helped passengers find seats, a practice still seen today in Japanese trains.
• Use of Katakana in Children's LiteratureThis story uses katakana for all text, which is common in early Japanese children's books to simplify reading for young learners who have not yet learned hiragana or kanji.

Try a comprehension question

Topics & grammar

Short Storychildrenadventuretravelhumorousheartwarmingaozora bunkoのでbecause (soft)〜させるmake/let someone do (causative)〜たらif / when〜てくれるdo for me (favour)