📖 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
winter has already begun.
After school, Sumire has brought Sakura
to Shibuya to shop for clothes.
But when the seasons are changing,
choosing what to wear can be a little tricky.
学校帰りに、すみれに連れられて
渋谷へ洋服を買いに来たさくら。
でも、季節の変わり目は、
洋服選びもちょっと悩ましいようです。
Gakkou gaeri ni, Sumire ni tsurerarete
Shibuya e youfuku o kai ni kita Sakura.
Demo, kisetsu no kawarime wa,
youfuku erabi mo chotto nayamashii you desu.
I’m just not good with crowds. 💦
the same Seven brand all the time
gets a little boring, right?
ワンパターンだと、つまらないでしょー。
wan pataan da to, tsumaranai deshoo.
But, you know…
It’s already Ritto,
the beginning of winter on the calendar.
So I’m wondering
what kind of clothes I should buy. 🤔
でもさぁ……
暦の上では立冬でしょー。
どんな服がいいのかな？って🤔
Demo saa…
Koyomi no ue de wa Rittou deshoo.
Donna fuku ga ii no kana? tte. 🤔
even though it’s already past Ritto.
暖かいからね。
atatakai kara ne.
When it’s this warm,
you end up choosing autumn clothes, right?
これだけ暖かいと、
秋服を選んじゃうじゃない？
Kore dake atatakai to,
akifuku o eranjau janai?
and you can’t wear what you just bought.
買ったのに着なくなる。
katta noni kinakunar u.
But winter clothes…
They’re still too warm to wear. 💦
かといって、冬服だと……
まだ暑いしね💦
Ka to itte, fuyufuku da to…
Mada atsui shi ne. 💦
something you can wear in layers?
重ね着できる服にしたら？
kasanegi dekiru fuku ni shitara?
Then I can still wear it
when it gets cold! 😊
それなら寒くなっても着られるね！😊
Sore nara samuku natte mo kirareru ne! 😊
Just changing your jacket
can give you a different look, too.
上着を変えるだけでも、
雰囲気が変わるしね。
Uwagi o kaeru dake demo,
fun’iki ga kawaru shi ne.
that jacket too? 🤔
Maybe I’ll just stick
with my usual clothes! 🤣
いつもの服でいいかなぁ🤣
Itsumo no fuku de ii kanaa. 🤣
Then why did we come
all the way to Shibuya!? 🤣🐾
何のために渋谷まで来たのよー！🤣🐾
Nan no tame ni Shibuya made kita no yoo! 🤣🐾
💭 Story Note
### 📅 Rittō — The Beginning of Winter
In Japan, the traditional calendar marks the beginning
of winter with a day called Rittō (立冬).
Rittō usually falls around November 7 or 8.
But this doesn’t mean the weather suddenly becomes cold.
The traditional calendar and the weather we actually
feel don’t always match.
### 🍁 “Koyomi no Ue de wa” — According to the Calendar
Japanese people sometimes say:
「暦の上では、もう冬。」
Koyomi no ue de wa, mou fuyu.
“According to the calendar, it’s already winter.”
This expression is often heard in seasonal conversations,
weather forecasts, and news reports.
It describes the season according to the traditional
calendar, even when the weather feels different.
### 🧥 Choosing Clothes Between Seasons
Autumn and winter clothing can overlap in Japan,
especially when the weather is still warm in November.
People may choose light autumn clothes on a warm day,
only to find that the temperature drops soon afterward.
That’s why layering clothes is a useful way
to prepare for changing temperatures.
And sometimes, choosing what to wear can be
just as difficult as deciding what to buy!
📚 Vocabulary
EN: according to the calendar
JP: 暦の上では
ROMAJI: koyomi no ue de wa
EN: not good with / uncomfortable with
JP: 苦手
ROMAJI: nigate
EN: layering clothes / wearing layers
JP: 重ね着
ROMAJI: kasanegi
EN: atmosphere / impression / overall look
JP: 雰囲気
ROMAJI: fun’iki
🌱 Language Tip — 苦手 (nigate)
In Japanese, 苦手 (nigate) is often used when
something feels difficult or uncomfortable for you.
It doesn’t always mean you hate that thing.
For example, Sakura says:
「嫌いというか、苦手。」
Kirai to iu ka, nigate.
“It’s not that I hate it. I’m just not comfortable with it.”
This is a gentle way to explain how you feel.
You can use 苦手 when talking about things like
crowded places, certain foods, or activities
you don’t feel confident doing.
For example:
「人混みは苦手です。」
Hitogomi wa nigate desu.
“I’m not comfortable in crowds.”
「数学は苦手です。」
Suugaku wa nigate desu.
“I’m not good at math.”
The meaning changes slightly depending on
what you’re talking about.
With crowds, 苦手 often describes discomfort.
With school subjects or skills, it often means
you’re not very good at something.
So remember:
苦手 doesn’t always mean 嫌い (kirai).
You can feel uncomfortable with something
without actually disliking it.
🔰 Mix Words and Feel Their Meaning｜ことばを混ぜて、感覚をつかもう
「苦手 (nigate)」is a gentle way to say
you’re not good with something,
or you feel uncomfortable with it.
For example…
I’m 苦手 with crowds.
I’m a little 苦手 with small children.
Horror movies? I’m 苦手! 💦
You don’t have to hate something
to feel 苦手 about it.
Sometimes, it’s simply something
you don’t feel comfortable with.
That’s the feeling behind 苦手.
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