📖 Study Guide
Learn Japanese through stories.
These stories include Japanese culture,
daily life, travel experiences,
and conversations between people.
1. Read the English text.
2. Read the Japanese text.
3. Use Romaji if needed.
4. Review the vocabulary.
🌸 Story
I wish autumn would come soon.
早く秋にならないかなー。
Hayaku aki ni naranai kanaー.
it was still hot the other day too 😊
まだ暑いって言ってたもんね😊
mada atsui tte itteta mon ne 😊
I want it to cool down soon.
早く涼しくなってほしいー。
Hayaku suzushiku natte hoshiiー.
the weather will gradually become more comfortable.
少しずつ過ごしやすくなるもんね。
sukoshi zutsu sugoshiyasuku naru mon ne.
so many delicious foods, right? 😊
おいしいものいっぱいあるでしょ😊
oishii mono ippai aru desho 😊
Sweet potatoes 🍠
And then…
さつまいもでしょー🍠
それから……
Satsumaimo deshoー 🍠
Sore kara……
Sumire,
the reason you’re waiting for autumn is…
すみれ、
秋を待ってる理由って……
Sumire,
aki o matteru riyū tte……
You’re a foodie too, Sumire! 🤣
すみれも食いしん坊じゃん🤣
Sumire mo kuishinbō jan 🤣
💭 Story Note
In Japan, the lingering summer heat after the traditional beginning of autumn is called 「残暑」 (zansho). Although the calendar says autumn has begun, August can remain intensely hot.
Another familiar Japanese expression is 「食欲の秋」 (shokuyoku no aki), literally “autumn of appetite.” Autumn is associated with many seasonal foods, including chestnuts, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, new rice, and fish such as Pacific saury. The cooler weather is also said to bring back the appetite that may have faded during the summer heat.
📚 Vocabulary
Here are five words from the story connected with lingering summer heat and the delicious foods of autumn.
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| autumn | 秋 | aki |
| hot | 暑い | atsui |
| chestnut | 栗 | kuri |
| sweet potato | さつまいも | satsumaimo |
| appetite | 食欲 | shokuyoku |
「食欲」 (shokuyoku) means “appetite.” It combines 「食」, relating to food or eating, and 「欲」, meaning desire.
The expression 「食欲の秋」 (shokuyoku no aki) is commonly used in Japan to describe autumn as a season when people enjoy eating and look forward to seasonal foods. A natural way to introduce it in English is “autumn, the season of hearty appetites.”
For example:
「秋になると食欲が増します。」
“My appetite increases in autumn.”
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