Japanese listening diary · Day 188

Pink Crape Myrtles and the First Cicadas

ピンクの百日紅と蝉の声
July 13, 2026
About a minuteSlow, natural Japanese
Real JapaneseN5–N3 friendly
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Today’s story きょうの あらすじ

On this morning's walk, my new small pleasure is looking up at the crape myrtle in full bloom — that bright pink is truly beautiful this time of year. As I walked with my eyes on the sky, I caught the sound of cicadas somewhere; summer has arrived in earnest. I spend my days in air-conditioned rooms, so these short morning walks, a little exercise and plenty of water, are how I plan to get through the heat.

From the diary にっきから

Excerpt
No. 188Tokyo · morning
日本語 — Japanese
ひらがな — Hiragana
けさもいつもどおりあさのうぉーきんぐにいってきました。さいきんのたのしみは、きれいなぴんくいろのさるすべりのはなをみあげることです。このじきにまんかいになるさるすべりのはなはほんとうにきれいです。
· · · continues · · ·

Vocabulary ことば

サルスベリさるすべりcrape myrtle
見上げるみあげるto look up at
満開まんかいfull bloom
せみcicada
乗り切るのりきるto get through; to ride out

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