(3) The One Inch Master [Japanese: Fairy Tale]

My translation of the Japanese Fairy Tale: The One Inch Master

Thank you Maaya-chan for your help!

General Notes:

1. See below for my sentence-by-sentence work and some grammar notes
2. The demon seems to speak in Kansai dialect, so I assume that's a less prestigious dialect (compare to J.R.R. Tolkien's cockney trolls in The Hobbit)

Long long ago, an old man and an old woman who had no children made a wish to the gods, and a boy the size of a pinkie finger was born. "Let us name him "One Inch Master." Since the couple let him eat a lot, One Inch Master grew healthily. "Grandpa! Grandma! I want to try and see the city!" One Inch Master made a needle into a sword, wore it on his waist, rode in a bowl, and went up the river. One Inch Master, who arrived at the city, first went to the mansion of a great minister. His body was small, but the great minister was fond of sprightly One Inch Master and decided to give him a job. One day, since the princess was going to visit the shrine, it was decided that One Inch Master would be her companion. The companion was peacefully at ease, and it was when he was about to go home that… [a demon enters]. "Wow, a delicious looking girl!" The demon suddenly swooped down on the princess. One Inch Master leapt into the middle of the demon's mouth and pricked the center of the demon's stomach his sword. "Owwwwww! I can't stand this!“ The demon spat out the One Inch Master and ran away. [The demon's magic-mallet falls from the air] "Oh! A mallet is falling!" In a mad rush, the demon forgot his wish-granting magic-mallet. "Princess, make me taller please!“ When the princess beat the mallet, One Inch Master grew taller, and he became a splendid youth. The great minister heard this story, and he was very happy. "Take the princess as your wife." One Inch Master invited the old man and the old woman. He married the princess and they lived happily ever after. 

1. 昔々　子供が　いない　おじいさんと　おばあさんが　神様に　お願いをすると　小指くらいの　男の子が　生まれました。
1. Long long ago, when an old man and an old woman who had no children made a wish to the gods, a boy the size of a pinky finger was born.
2. "名前は　一寸法師にしましょう。”
1. Let us name him "One Inch Master."
3. 二人が　たくさん　ご飯を　食べさせたので　一寸法師は　とても　元気に育ちました。
1. As the couple let him eat a lot, One Inch Master grew healthily.
1. 育ちました：そだちました
4. "じい様　ばあ様　おいら　都を　見てみたい。”
1. "Grandpa! Grandma! I want to try and see the city!"
1. 都：みやこ
5. 一寸法師は　針を刀にして　腰に　挿し　お椀に　乗って　川を　上って行きました。
1. The one inch master made a sword out of a needle, wore it on his waist, rode in a bowl, and went up the river.
1. 針：はり　　刀：かたな　　　腰：こし　　挿し：さし　
6. 都に　着いた　一寸法師は　はじめに　大臣の　屋敷に　行きました。
1. One Inch Master, who arrived at the city, first of all went to the mansion of a great minister.
1. 屋敷：やしき
7. 大臣は　体は　小さいけれど　元気な　一寸法師を　大層　気に入り　自分の　家で　働かせることにしました。
1. His body was small, but the great minister was fond of the spritely One Inch Master and decided to let him work (for him).
1. grammar point: Verbことにする = decide to Verb 
8. ある日　お姫様が　お参りを　するので　一寸法師が　お供を　することになりました。
1. One day, for the princess was going to visit (the shrine), it was decided that the One Inch Master would be her companion.
1. お姫様：おひめさま　お参り：おまいり
2. お供：おとも
3. grammar point: にすること= it was decided that
9. お参りが　無事に　済んで　帰ろうとしたこときです。
1. The companion felt peacefully at ease and it was when he was about to go home that...
1. Note: the character 済んで: すんで　is a character variant of Chinese 經/经
10. [a demon enters: this is illustrated in the picture and not written]
11. "美味そうな　娘じゃあ。"
1. "It's a yummy looking girl"
12. 鬼が　突然　お姫様に　襲いかかりました。
1. The demon suddenly swooped down on the princess.
1. 襲いかかる：おそいかかる 
13. 一寸法師は　鬼の　口の　中に　飛び込み　刀で　鬼の　お腹の　中を　ちくり　ちくり。
1.  The one inch master leapt into the center of the demon's mouth and pricked the middle of the demon's stomach his sword.
14. "いてててて　こりゃ　かなわん。”
1. Owwwwww! I can't stand this!
1. いてててて　is 痛い
2. こりゃ is slang for こら
3. かなわん is slang and means the same thing as たまらない
15. 鬼は　一寸法師を　吐き出し　逃げて行きました。
1. The demon spat out the One Inch Master and ran away.
16. "おや　小槌が　おちているわ。"
1. (The demon's magic mallet falls from the air) "Oh! A mallet is falling!"
17. 大慌ての　鬼が　願いが　叶う　うちでの　小槌を　忘れて行ったのです。
1. 　For, in a mad rush, the demon forgot his wish-granting magic mallet. 
1. 大慌て：おおあわて
2. 叶う：かなう
3. 小槌：こづち
18. "お姫様　私の　背を　高くしてください”
1. "Princess, make me taller please!"
19. お姫様が　小槌を　打つと　一寸法師の　背が　高くなり　立派な　若者に　なりました。
1. When the princess hit the mallet, the One Inch Master grew taller, and he became a splendid youth.
1. 打つ：うつ
20. この　話を　聞いて　だいじんは　大喜び。
1. The great minister heard this story, and he was very happy.
1. 大喜び：おおよろこび
21. "姫を　嫁に　もらっておくれ。”
1. 　"Take the princess as your wife" (he said).
1. 嫁：よめ
22. 一寸法師は　おじいさんと　おばあさんを　呼び　お姫様と　結婚して　幸せに　くらしました。
1. One Inch Master invited the old man and the old woman. He married the princess and they lived happily ever after. 

(2) German Grammar Chapter XXIX by Eric V Greenfield [German: Grammar Exercise]

Book:
German Grammar by Eric V. Greenfield (Barnes and Noble, 1967).

Lesson XXIX: Comparison of Adjectives

1. Gestern hat Professor Schmidt uns eine Rede über die Erdkunde gehalten. Er hat die größten Länder Europas mit den Vereinigten Staaten verglichen. Seine Rede hat der ganzen Klasse sehr gefallen, denn er hat uns gezeigt, daß wir fast gar nichts von der Erde, worauf wir leben, wissen. 
1. Yesterday, Professor Schmidt made a speech to us about geography. He compared Europe's biggest countries with the United States. His speech very much pleased the entire class because he showed us that we know almost nothing at all about the earth on which we live.
1. über die Erdkunde: über + accusative expresses motion (über + dative expresses fixed locality), so the accusative must be used since the professor in this example is figuratively "going over" the topic
2. größten is the superlative of groß declined in the strong, plural, accusative form
3. ganzen is the strong, masculine, accusative declension of ganz 
2. Er sagte: "Wieviele von Ihnen haben die Erdkunde nur ein Jahr studiert? Fast jedermann in der Klasse. Wieviele von Ihnen haben die Erdkunde zwei Jahre studiert? Nur einige. Wer hat die Erdkunde drei Jahre studiert? Niemand. Es tut mir leid, daß man die Erdkunde nur zwei Jahre in den meisten amerikanischen Schulen studieren darf. In den meisten Schulen in England, Frankreich und Deutschland müssen die Schüler die Erdkunde sechs oder sieben Jahre studieren."
1. He said: "How many of you have studied geography (for) only one year? Almost everyone in the class. How many of you have studied geography (for) two years? Only a few. Who has studied geography (for) three years? Nobody. I am sorry that one may study geography only (for) two years in the most American schools. In most schools in England, France, and Germany, the students must study geography (for) six or seven years. 
1. von + dative: of you (Ihnen: 2nd plural dative personal pronoun)
2. meisten: irregular superlative of viel; strong, plural, dative declension
3. Als er mit seiner Rede fortfuhr, stellte er uns allerlei Fragen über Amerika und Europa, wie, zum Beispiel: "Welches ist das größte Land in Europa? Welches ist das reichste Land der Welt? Ist das größte Land in Europa größer als die Vereinigten Staaten? Hat Deutschland einen größeren Flächeninhalt als der Staat Texas? Ist Deutschland ebenso groß wie der Staat Texas? Wer kann Europa und die Vereinigten Staaten dem Flächeninhalt nach vergleichen? Wie heißt der höchste Berg Europas? Welche Städte der Welt sind größer als Chicago?" usw. Seine Fragen waren ganz einfach, aber doch konnten wir keine Antworten darauf geben.
1. As he continued with his speech, he asked us all kinds of questions about America and Europe, like, for example, "Which is the biggest country in Europe? Which is the richest country in the world? Is the biggest country in Europe bigger than the United States? Does Germany have a greater area than the state of Texas? Is Germany just big as the state of Texas? Who can compare Europe and the United States according to area? What is Europe's tallest mountain called? Which cities of the world are bigger than Chicago?" etc. His questions were all easy, but nevertheless we could not give any answers on it. 
1. größte: superlative of groß declined in strong, singular, neuter, nominative form
2. X(dative) + nach = according to X; dem Flächeninhalt nach = according to area
3. höchste: superlative of hoch in strong, singular, masculine, nominative.
4. größer: comparative of groß
4. Es tut uns sehr leid, daß wir nur so wenig von unserer kleinen Erde wußten. Wir haben aber etwas Gutes aus der Rede unseres Professors bekommen. Jetzt wissen wir dies: man muß nicht nur Französisch studieren, sondern auch Frankreich; man muß nicht nur Deutsch studieren, sondern auch Deutschland. Je mehr man von Frankreich weiß, je interessanter wird die französische Sprache. Je mehr man von deutschen Bergen, Flüssen, Städten, Ländern usw. weiß, je interessanter findet man die deutsche Sprache. Unser Professor hat ganz recht, wenn er sagt, daß die Erdkunde und die Sprachen Hand in Hand gehen.
   In der nächsten Stunde wird Doktor Schmidt mit seiner Rede über die Erdkunde fortfahren.
1. We were very sorry that we knew only so little of our little earth. We got, however, something good from the speech of our professor. Now we know this: one must not only study French, but also France. One must not only study german, but also Germany. The more one knows of France, the more interesting the French language becomes. The more one knows of German mountains, rivers, cities, and country side, etc. the more interesting one finds the German language. Our professor is completely right when he says that geography and languages go hand in hand. In the next hour, Doctor Schmidt will continue with his speech about geography. 
1. von unserer... Erde: von + dative = of ....
2. unserer kleinen Erde: kleinen is the strong, singular, feminine, dative declension of klein
3. As for etwas Gutes, here is a link explaining how the grammar work (http://german.stackexchange.com/questions/9734/why-does-neu-become-neues-after-etwas) . Essentially, the adjective "gut" is nominalized (turned into a noun). This phrase is thus akin to "something of good."
4. wenn is one of three ways to say "when." Als is used for a single definite past action. Wann is used for a direct or indirect question. Wenn is used in all other cases. This last sentence is present tense and must use wenn.

(1) German Grammar Chapter XXVIII [German: Grammar Exercise]

I doubt anyone will read this, but the feeling that I am accountable to an "audience," even imaginary, might facilitate my regular completion of these grammar exercises. Perhaps, some German learners surfing the interwebs might consult my translations should they happen to have the same book.

Book:
German Grammar by Eric V. Greenfield (Barnes and Noble, 1967).

Lesson XXVIII: Uses of the Infinitive

Format of my Translation
#: german
    #: english
         #: morphology notes based on grammar explanations from book

1.  Bitte, schreiben Sie diese deutschen Sätze ab!
1. Please, copy these German sentences.
1. diese: accusative plural
2. Sätze: plural of der Satz
3. deutschen: accusative plural weak declension
2. Lesen Sie sie zuerst vor!
1. Read it out loud!
3. Sprich jedes Wort deutlich aus!
1. Sprich: irregular second singular imperative of strong-verb sprechen. Formed from 2nd singular imperative: spricht. 
4. Unser Lehrer ließ uns einige deutsche Wörter aussprechen. 
1. Our teacher made us pronounce a few sentences. 
1. ließ: 3rd person singular präeteritum of lassen
5. Man lernt sehr schnell durch das Vorlesen.
1. One learns very quickly through reading out loud.
6. Heinrich, fahre mit dem Vorlesen fort!
1. Heinrich, continue with reading out loud!
1. fahre... fort: 2nd singular imperative of fort-fahren
2. Vor-lesen: infinitive used as a neuter noun (verbal noun).
7. Er fuhr fort, viele Fehler zu machen.
1. He continued to make many errors.
1. viele Fehler: plural accusative of der Fehler
2. zu machen: complementary infinitive taken with zu
8. Mein Freund wünscht, einen blauen Anzug zu kaufen.
1. My friend wished to buy a blue suit.
1. blauen: singular masculine accusitive weak declension of blau
9. Er hatte schon ein paar dunkle Anzüge.
1. He already had a few dark suits.
10. Mehrere Studenten in dieser Klasse tragen helle Hüte.
1. Several students in this class wear bright hats.
1. in + dative = in
2. dieser Klasse: singular feminine dative 
3. helle: plural accusative strong declension
11. Ich will ein Paar Schuhe kaufen.
1. I want to buy a pair of shoes. 
12. Ohne Geld zu verdienen, kann man schöne Anzüge und gute Shuhe nicht tragen.
1. Without earning money, one cannot wear beautiful suits and good shoes.
1. ohne... zu verdienen: infinitive contruction (without studying)
2. schöne: plural accusative strong declension
3. gute: plural accusative strong declension
13. Ich hoffe, auch einen neuen Hut zu bekommen.
1. I also hope to receive a new hat. 
14. Statt Hüte und Anzüge und Kleider zu kaufen, müssen die Altern immer mehr Bücher, Hefte, Federn usw. kaufen. 
1. Instead of buying hats and suits and clothes, parents must always buy more books, notebooks, pens, etc.
1. "müssen" "+ kaufen" instead of "+ zukaufen" because müssen is one of 12 verbs that takes complementary infinitives without zu
2. statt + zu kaufen: infinitive construction (instead of buying)
15. Wir können sehr wenig lernen, ohne die Aufgaben zu studieren.
1. We can learn very little without studying the lessons.
1. ohne + zu studieren: infinitive construction (without studying)
16. Mehrere Männer in unserer Stadt wünschen das Gut meines Onkels zu kaufen.
1. Several men in our town wish to by my uncle's farm. 
1. meines Onkels: singular masculine genitive [(e)s attached to masc. and neut. genitive]
17. Jedermann muß arbeiten, um etwas Geld zu verdienen.
1. Everyone must work in order to earn some money.
1. um + zu verdienen: infinitive construction (in order to earn)
18. Haben Sie miene Schwester singen hören?
1. Have you heard my sister sing?
1. hören is the infinitive form of the past participle for hören used in place of gehört since it is accompanied by a complementary infinitive. (e.g. Ich habe ihn gehört vs. Ich habe ihn singen hören). This is one of 12 verbs that use the complementary infinitive in such a situation.
19. Wer hat sie singen lehren?
1. Who taught her to sing?
1. Same as #18. Lehren is used instead of gelernt since it is one of these 12 verbs. 
20. Sie singt sehr gern, nicht wahr?
1. She like singing, right?
21. Was für eine Stimme hat sie?
1. What kind of a voice does she have?
1. was für ein: what kind of a (p79)
22. Ihre Stimme gefällt mir sehr.
1. Her voice pleases me very much.
1. gefallen + dative (mir)
23. Wir müssen Deutsch besser aus-sprechen lernen.
1. We must learn to pronounce German better. 
1. lernen is one of the 12 verbs that takes an infinitive as past participle if there is a complementary infinitive (aus-sprechen in this case)
24. Der Lehrer sagt zuweilen: Stehen Sie auf! Fangen Sie an vorzulesen! Fahren Sie fort, diese Wörter abzuschreiben!
1. The teacher occasionally says, "Stand up! Start to read out loud! Continue to copy these words!"
1. zu is inserted between vor and lesen: "when the infinitive of a separable verb requires zu, it is put between the prefix and the verb" (107)
25. Zuweilen sagt er: Hören Sie auf, so viele Fehler zu machen! Schreiben Sie diese Wörter ab! Studieren Sie sie! Sprechen Sie jedes deutsche Wort aus! Lesen Sie jeden deutschen Sats vor! Sie kommen in die Schule um zu lernen, nicht wahr?
1. Occasionally, he says, "Stop making so many mistakes! Copy these words! Study them! Pronounce every german word! Read every german sentence aloud! You come to school in order to learn, right?"
1. in + acc. = to (moving to a place) [compare with above in + dat.]
2. um + zu lernen: infinitive construction
26. Er läßt uns schwer arbeiten.
1. He makes us work hard. 
27. Das Singen der jungen Kinder hat jedermann gefallen.
1. The singing of the young children pleased everyone.
1. Das Singen: verbal noun
2. jungen: strong adj. plural genitive declension