Chapter 2 of A Japanese Blossom is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of A Japanese Blossom is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know. I expected better of my son.” He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand. Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve. She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:
Chapter 2 of A Japanese Blossom is here in full — 432 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
of metal e.g.
From this reading “He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.”
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading ““So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.”
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading ““So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.”
the quality of being loyal
From this reading ““So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.”
the emperor of Japan; when regarded as a religious leader the emperor is called tenno
From this reading ““So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.”
a mild rebuke or criticism
From this reading “She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:”
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading “Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.”
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading “Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:”
In this reading “He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading I expected better of my son.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
of metal e.g.
From this reading He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
any strong feeling
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
divisible by two
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading I expected better of my son.”
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I expected better of my son.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He let the crumpled letter fall from his hand.
the quality of being loyal
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
the emperor of Japan; when regarded as a religious leader the emperor is called tenno
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I expected better of my son.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
a mild rebuke or criticism
From this reading She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
a male human offspring
From this reading I expected better of my son.”
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Stooping, the grandmother picked it up, to place it tenderly in her sleeve.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “So,” he finally spoke, “it was not honorable loyalty to the Mikado which inspired him, but a mean emotion—hatred of one he does not even know.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She spoke with a touch of reproach in her voice:
Chapter 2 of A Japanese Blossom by Onoto Watanna holds 432 sentences, grouped into 87 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 2 holds 432 sentences of A Japanese Blossom, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of A Japanese Blossom by Onoto Watanna exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 432 sentences, grouped into 87 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading A Japanese Blossom by Onoto Watanna on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2617 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #64924 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #64924, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 218 minutes of reading across 524 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through A Japanese Blossom section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of A Japanese Blossom to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in A Japanese Blossom, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
