Learn Japanese from the News
Lessons on this site use content from the NHK WORLD JAPAN program "Learn Japanese from the News." Use the news to learn Japanese and take conversations to a new level.
Learn Japanese from the News
Lessons on this site use content from the NHK WORLD JAPAN program "Learn Japanese from the News." Use the news to learn Japanese and take conversations to a new level.
四国地方で盛んに行われている巡礼の旅、「遍路」の体験イベントに外国人が参加したというニュースです。このニュースを通して、日本で親しまれている「お参り」に関連した表現を学びましょう。
しこくちほうで さかんに おこなわれている じゅんれいのたび 「へんろ」の たいけんいべんとに がいこくじんが さんかした というにゅーすです。このにゅーすをとおして にほんで したしまれている 「おまいり」に かんれんした ひょうげんを まなびましょう。
Shikoku-chihoo de sakan ni okonawareteiru junree no tabi, 「Henro」 no taiken-ibento ni gaikokujin ga sanka-shita to iu nyuusu desu. Kono nyuusu o tooshite, Nihon de shitashimareteiru 「omairi」 ni kanren-shita hyoogen o manabimashoo.
Today’s news story is about a group of international residents and others that participated in an event to experience the “Henro,” a historical pilgrimage route in the Shikoku region that remains popular today. Follow along to learn expressions related to visiting shrines and temples.
四国のお寺を歩いて回る「遍路」では、弘法大師(こうぼうだいし)というお坊さんと関係がある88のお寺にお参りします。
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In the “Henro,” a pilgrimage of temples in Shikoku, participants visit 88 temples associated with a Buddhist monk named Kobo Daishi.
Explanation
「弘法大師(Kooboodaishi)」 is a legendary figure from the 8th and 9th century. Born in Shikoku, he traveled to China to study Buddhism and later founded his own sect after returning to Japan. He’s also remembered as a man of many talents, well-versed in everything from the arts to civil engineering. Historically, 「遍路(Henro)」 was undertaken by Buddhist pilgrims. But today it’s common for people of all walks of life to visit some or all of the sacred sites along the pilgrimage route.
The phrase 「お寺にお参りする(otera ni omairi-suru)」 means “go to pray at a Buddhist temple.” 「お参り(omairi)」 comes from the word 「参る(mairu)」, which is the humble form of the verb 「行く(iku)」, or “to go.” Here in Japan, it’s customary to pay your respects at a temple or shrine during the New Year’s holiday. This is also 「お参り」, but we usually refer to this custom as 「初詣(hatsumoode)」, “the first temple or shrine visit of the year.”
香川県高松市の屋島で11月12日、外国人が遍路を経験してみるイベントがありました。
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In the Yashima area of Takamatsu, Kagawa Pref., an event was held on Nov. 12 where international residents got to experience the pilgrimage.
アメリカ人やタイ人など10人ぐらいが集まって、遍路のときの白い服を着て、屋島の山の上にあるお寺まで歩きました。
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About 10 people gathered, including Americans and Thais. Dressed in white pilgrimage outfits, they trekked to a temple at the top of a mountain in Yashima.
途中で「加持水(かじすい)」という場所に行きました。
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Along the way, they visited a place called Kajisui.
弘法大師がつえをつくと水が出てきたと言われていて、外国人たちは熱心に説明を聞いていました。
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It is said when Kobo Daishi brought down his walking stick, water flowed forth. The participants listened intently to the explanation.
Explanation
「杖(tsue)」 means “cane” or “walking stick.” Here, it refers to what is essentially a “pilgrim’s staff.” We often use the word 「杖」 with the verb 「つく(tsuku)」. 「つく」 can also mean “to poke” “to prod” or “to thrust.” 「熱心(nesshin)」 refers to doing something “eagerly” or “enthusiastically.” Along those lines we also use the word 「一生懸命(isshookenmee)」.
そして、お寺に着いたあと、声を出してお経を読みました。
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And after arriving at the temple, they recited the sutra aloud.
参加した男性は「坂もあって歩くのは大変でしたが、遍路の服を着ると気持ちが変わって、おもしろかったです」と話していました。
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A man who participated said, “The hills made it a tough hike, but when I put on the pilgrimage outfit it changed my mindset. It was fun.”
temple or shrine visit
お参り
おまいり
omairi
bring down one’s walking stick
杖をつく
つえをつく
tsue o tsuku
intently / enthusiastically
熱心に
ねっしんに
nesshin ni
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日
Japanese
E
English
ロン(Long)
最近日本の会社で働き始めた。ソフィアの後輩。
アン、一恵と同じマンションの住人。
ソフィア(Sophia)
ロンと同じ会社で働く先輩。子育てをしながら、日本で5年間働いている。
田中健司
ロンの上司。中学生と、小学生の2人の子どもがいる。
アン(An)
夫が日本で働くことになり、一緒に日本で暮らしている。小学生の娘がいる。
鈴木一恵
ロン、アンと同じマンションの住人。現在は一人暮らし。
教材作成/国際交流基金日本語国際センター
Today’s news story is about the “Henro” pilgrimage, and our dialogue for today is similarly about Japanese culture. Long was invited by his friend to participate in a bonsai class. Now he is at work, telling Sophia about the experience during a break. Follow along to learn how to converse cohesively about what you did and your impressions of cross-cultural experiences. Some key terms in this dialogue include 「誘う(invite)」「乗り気(keen on)」「体験教室(trial class)」「水やり(water)」「方法(how to)」「経験(experience)」「価値(worth)」.
ソフィア:ロンさん、盆栽教室に行ってみたんだって?どうだった?
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Long, I heard you went to a bonsai class. How was it?
ロン:はい、先週、友だちに誘われて体験教室に行ってみました。盆栽って、難しそうなイメージがあったので、あまり乗り気じゃなかったんです。でも、やってみたら、思ったより簡単で、とても楽しかったです。
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Yes, my friend invited me, so I went to a trial class last week. I wasn’t keen to go because my image of bonsai was that it’s difficult. But after actually doing it, it was easier than I thought, and I had lots of fun.
Explanation
By using the expression「思ったより~」, you can convey that your impression of something was different from what you had anticipated. Here, Long says about bonsai that he was 「乗り気じゃなかった」, which means 「あまりそうしたくなかった(didn’t really want to do something)」. So, Long is saying that his impression of bonsai before experiencing it was that it was difficult, but it turned out to be easier than he had thought.
ソフィア:そうだったんだ。体験教室ってどんなことをするの?
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I see. What do you do in a trial class?
ロン:えっと、体験教室は2時間ぐらいだったんですが、まず、盆栽の歴史について先生が説明してくれて。そのあと、先生に教えてもらいながら、小さい盆栽を自分で作ってみました。
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Well, the class was for two hours, and the teacher first explained the history of bonsai. Then we made our own small bonsai with the teacher’s help.
ソフィア:へぇ、自分で作れるのはいいね。でも、盆栽って、水やりが大変そう。
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Wow, it’s nice that you get to make your own. But watering a bonsai tree seems difficult.
ロン:あ、水やりの方法も教えてもらいましたよ。水やりしてると、心が落ち着くんですよ。とてもいい経験になったと思います。ソフィアさんも、体験教室に行ってみたらどうですか。行く価値があると思いますよ。
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Oh, they taught us how to water it, too. Watering the bosai is really calming. It was a really good experience for me. Why don’t you go to a trial class, too, Sophia? I think it’s worth going.
Explanation
Long is recommending that Sophia go to a trial class too because he thought the bosai experice was really nice. By using the phrase 「V+価値がある」, you can express that it’s something worth doing. The verb is in the dictionary form (conjugation form of verbs that ends with KOTOGADEKIRU). Some often-used phrases are 「行く価値がある (worth going)」 and 「お金を払う価値がある(worth paying)」.
ソフィア:いいね。私も行ってみようかな。
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That’s nice. Maybe I'll go.
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