Four Pages

네 쪽

Ana, 24, answers an advert and comes alone to Hollin Bridge, a small market town in the north of England: night baker wanted, no experience needed, room upstairs.

C110 min

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How it begins

EnglishKorean

JESS. I AM NO GOOD WITH WORDS SO I HAVE WRITTEN THEM DOWN. IF I TRY TO SAY THEM I WILL STOP HALFWAY AND MAKE A CUP OF TEA. YOU KNOW I WILL. SO READ THIS AND THEN I WILL ANSWER ANYTHING YOU ASK. THAT IS A PROMISE AND I HAVE NOT KEPT MANY.

제스. 내가 말주변이 없어서 글로 적었다. 말로 하려 들면 중간에 멈추고 차나 한잔 끓여 마실 게 뻔하니까. 너도 내가 그럴 거라는 걸 알 테지. 그러니 이걸 읽어다오. 그러고 나면 네가 묻는 건 뭐든 답하마. 이건 약속이고, 난 살면서 약속을 별로 지키지 못했지.

That was how it began. Jess had read those first lines in the corridor with a kind of weary irritation, the way she read his shopping lists, hearing his voice in every capital letter. Grandad, writing a letter. Grandad, who signed birthday cards with a single W and thought a phone call longer than two minutes was showing off. She had nearly laughed.

그것이 시작이었다. 제스는 복도에서 일종의 지친 짜증을 느끼며 그 첫 줄들을 읽어 내려갔는데, 마치 그의 쇼핑 목록을 읽을 때처럼 대문자 하나하나에서 그의 목소리가 들려오는 듯했다. 할아버지가 편지를 쓰다니. 생일 카드에 달랑 W 자 하나만 서명하고, 2분이 넘어가는 통화는 허세라고 생각하던 할아버지가 말이다. 그녀는 거의 웃음을 터뜨릴 뻔했다.

AFTER YOUR GRANDMOTHER DIED I STARTED TO DRINK. NOT IN THE PUB. AT HOME AT NIGHT AT THE TABLE BEFORE THE BREAD. I KEPT THE BOTTLES BEHIND THE FLOUR. YOUR FATHER KNEW. I KNEW HE KNEW. WE NEVER SAID ONE WORD ABOUT IT. THAT IS HOW WE WERE.

네 할머니가 세상을 떠난 뒤로 나는 술을 마시기 시작했다. 펍에서 마신 건 아니다. 밤에 집에서, 빵을 굽기 전에 식탁에서 마셨지. 밀가루 뒤에 병들을 숨겨 두었단다. 네 아버지도 알고 있었지. 그 녀석이 안다는 걸 나도 알았다. 우리는 그 일에 대해 한마디도 입 밖으로 내지 않았다. 우리는 늘 그런 식이었지.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

Four Pages · English (original)C1 Advanced · 2,021 words · ~10 min
Vier Seiten · GermanC1 Advanced · 1,947 words · ~10 min
Τέσσερις σελίδες · GreekC1 Advanced · 1,937 words · ~10 min
Cuatro páginas · SpanishC1 Advanced · 2,011 words · ~10 min
Quatre pages · FrenchC1 Advanced · 2,213 words · ~10 min
चार पन्ने · HindiC1 Advanced · 2,277 words · ~15 min
Empat Halaman · IndonesianC1 Advanced · 1,742 words · ~10 min
Quattro pagine · ItalianC1 Advanced · 1,940 words · ~10 min
四枚の紙 · JapaneseC1 Advanced
네 쪽 · KoreanC1 Advanced · 1,521 words · ~10 min
Vier pagina’s · DutchC1 Advanced · 2,035 words · ~10 min
Cztery strony · PolishC1 Advanced · 1,649 words · ~10 min
Quatro Páginas · PortugueseC1 Advanced · 1,973 words · ~10 min
Patru pagini · RomanianC1 Advanced · 1,923 words · ~10 min
Dört Sayfa · TurkishC1 Advanced · 1,353 words · ~10 min
Bốn trang giấy · VietnameseC1 Advanced · 2,491 words · ~15 min
四页纸 · ChineseC1 Advanced

Questions

Which languages can I read Four Pages in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

What level is it?

The original English is C1 Advanced. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are C1 Advanced. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 2,021 words: around 5–15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Is it free?

Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.

Four Pages

How it begins

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