Japanese 30-Day Reading Challenge (Adaptable to other languages)
Hey! So I really like to do challenges for some reason lol And I feel like there is a lack of challenges focused on reading or on beginner levels so I came up with this idea!
The challenge consists of reading 30 short stories in the course of 30 days (alternatively, one book with multiple chapters so you read one chapter each day). The challenge requires you to know at least the kanas. You can find very easy books with Tadoku, pretty much all of them have furigana! For more complex readings, you can use Satori Reader. If you have any other sources, please share them!
Afterwards:
Summarize the story/chapter in your own words, bonus points if you do it in Japanese!
Identify at least one grammar point that you saw in the reading.
Make a vocabulary list out of words from the chapter (try to include Kanji!!)
Bonus: Record yourself reading the story!
Share your progress using the tag #oris30dayreadingchallenge ! I’m personally gonna start this tomorrow because I’m too tired from work to start today, but I’m excited to see what you do!
It’s hot. The crow was thirsty. There is a water jug. The crow doesn’t drink the water (I don’t know how to say can’t ;;). The crow carries stones. Then, puts the stones inside the water jug. The crow drank the water!
Grammar Point
1. を
を is a particle used to express that the noun that comes before it is the Direct Object of the verb that comes after it.
Example from the reading: カラスは石をはこびます。(The crow carries the stones.)
2. の
の is a particle used to express that the noun that comes before it has a relationship with the noun that comes after. This relationship can be of possession, origin, material, content.
Example from the reading: 水さしの中に石を入れました。(It puts the stones in the inside of the water jug.)
Vocabulary
1. 今日 [きょう] Noun. Today, this day.
2. あつい Adjective. Hot, warm, sultry, heated.
3. カラス Noun. Crow, raven.
4. のどがかわきます Verb. To be thirsty.
5. 水さし [みず・さし] Noun. Pitcher, water jug, waterting can.
7. 飲みます [の・みます] Verb. To drink, to gulp, to swallow, to take (medicine).
8. がんばります Verb. To persevere, to persist, to keep at it, to hang on, to hold out, to do one’s best.
9. そうだ Interjection. That is so, that is right, it looks to me, that’s my impression.
10. 石 [いし] Noun. Stone.
11. はこびます Verb. To carry, to transport, to move, to convey.
12. たくさん Adverb. A lot, lots, plenty, many, a large number, much, a great deal, a good deal.
13. そして Conjunction. And, and then, thus, and now, and finally.
14. 中 [なか] Preposition? In, inside, middle, center.
15. 入れます [いれます] Verb. To put in, to let in, to take in, to bring in, to insert, to install (e.g. software), to set (a jewel, etc.), to ink in (e.g. a tattoo).
16. もっと Adverb. (Some) more, even more, longer, further.
Taku and his dog went from Tokyo to Miyajima. In Miyajima they went to the top of the mountain by foot. At the top of the mountain there were deer. The deer approached Taku. It was scary! But it was (also) fun!
Grammar Point
1. から～まで
You can use から～まで to express “from~to” with places and time expressions to indicate distance or a time period. They don’t have to be used together all the time. By themselves, から can also mean “since” and まで can express “until”.
Example from the reading: 東京から広島まで4時間です。(It’s 4 hours from Tokyo to Hiroshima.)
2. ～ましょう
This conjugation can be attached to a verb to suggest doing something with enthusiasm. It could be interpreted as “Let’s (verb)!”.
Example from the reading: これに乗りましょう！(Let’s get on that! [as in, ride something])
Vocabulary List
1. 行きます [い・きます］Verb. To go, to move (in a direction or towards a specific location), to head (towards), to be transported (towards), to reach.
2. 犬 [いぬ] Noun. Dog.
3. きっぷ Noun. Ticket.
4. 買います [か・います] Verb. To buy, to purchase.
5. 駅 [えき] Noun. Station.
6. 新幹線 [しん・かん・せん] Noun. Bullet train.
7. 乗ります [の・ります] Verb. To get on (train, plane, bus, ship, etc.), to get in, to board, to take, to embark.
