Chapter 1 of The Fisher-Boy Urashima is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Fisher-Boy Urashima is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº. 8. GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line. Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish. But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
Chapter 1 of The Fisher-Boy Urashima is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/12 · 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.
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading “But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?”
someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
United States film maker who was the first to use flashbacks and fade-outs (1875-1948)
From this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
a string of more than 3,000 islands to the east of Asia extending 1,300 miles between the Sea of Japan and the western Pacific Ocean
From this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading “JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº.”
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading “JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº.”
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.
a story about fairies; told to amuse children
In this reading “JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº.”
In this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
move out of or depart from
In this reading “Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.”
In this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
continue to live and avoid dying
In this reading “GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 8.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
in the past
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
United States film maker who was the first to use flashbacks and fade-outs (1875-1948)
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
a string of more than 3,000 islands to the east of Asia extending 1,300 miles between the Sea of Japan and the western Pacific Ocean
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
a boy or man
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading JAPANESE FAIRY TALES, Nº.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
in or at that place or location
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Well, one day he went out in his boat to fish.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
in the company of; together with
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But instead of catching any fish, what do you think he caught?
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading GRIFFITH FARRAN & CO., LONDON & SYDNEY, N.S.W. Long, long ago there lived on the coast of the sea of Japan a young fisherman named Urashima, a kindly lad and clever with his rod and line.
Chapter 1 of The Fisher-Boy Urashima by Basil Hall [Translator] Chamberlain holds 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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 1 holds 63 sentences of The Fisher-Boy Urashima, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Fisher-Boy Urashima by Basil Hall [Translator] Chamberlain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 13 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 1 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 The Fisher-Boy Urashima by Basil Hall [Translator] Chamberlain on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 63 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30024 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #30024, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 13 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Fisher-Boy Urashima section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Fisher-Boy Urashima 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 The Fisher-Boy Urashima, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
