A2-60 / CEFR A2 / EPISODE 60

Year-End Greeting

Expressing thanks for the year

SceneThe end of the year, at Frank's home.

On a snowy night, Frank and Tina raise their cups at a table with stacks of cards and a star map. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

It's the end of the year. Frank and Tina are at his place, looking back on everything.

年の瀬だ。フランクとティナは彼の家で、すべてを振り返っている。

Frank01

I want to thank everyone who helped me this year.

今年お世話になったみんなに感謝したいんだ。

Tina02

That's such a lovely thought.

なんて素敵な考えなの。

Frank03

I've grown so much since we met again on that street.

あの通りで再会してから、ずいぶん成長したよ。

Tina04

Same here. My family supported me from far away — really far.

私も同じ。家族が遠くから支えてくれたわ。本当に遠くからね。

Frank05

The star map still shows you the way home.

星図は今も、君に故郷への道を示してる。

Tina06

It does. But this year, home felt a little closer.

そうなの。でも今年は、故郷が少しだけ近く感じたわ。

Frank07

I'm writing thank-you cards. My boss. My neighbor. The bike mechanic.

感謝のカードを書いてるんだ。上司に。お隣さんに。自転車の整備士さんに。

Tina08

Of course you made a list.

もちろんリストを作ったのね。

Frank09

Your name isn't on this list.

君の名前は、このリストには書いていないんだ。

Tina10

What?!

何ですって？！

Frank11

Your cards are separate. One for every day since we met again. That's two hundred forty cards. I've finished forty.

君の分は別に用意してるんだ。再会してからの毎日に、1枚ずつ。全部で240枚。40枚までは書けた。

Narrator

Tina and Frank raise their cups.

ティナとフランクはカップを持ち上げる。

Tina12

...To next year. Same two friends, a little braver.

…来年に、乾杯。同じ二人で、少しだけ勇敢に。

Frank13

To next year. And the other two hundred cards.

来年に、乾杯。それと、残り200枚のカードにも。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“Same here.”

Same here. says that you share the other person's feelings or situation. Tina responds that she too has grown over the year.

“Of course you made a list.”

Of course you made a list. recognizes exactly the behavior expected of someone, with mild exasperation. See Of course you have. in A2-15.

“Your cards are separate.”

Separate means apart, kept on their own. Tina's name is not on the list, not because Frank forgot to thank her, but because he is preparing her cards separately from everyone else's. The next line, One for every day since we met again., means one card for each day since they met again, a thank-you for her support every day.

“...To next year.”

To ...! is said when making a toast, meaning "Here's to ...!" It is used as in To us! or To your health! After looking back on the year, the two raise their cups and toast the year ahead.

“And the other two hundred cards.”

The other two hundred cards means the remaining two hundred cards: 240 in total minus the 40 already finished. The punchline is Frank's thoroughness: he adds the huge pile of unfinished cards to their toast to the new year.

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