Million Roses

  

Million Roses

Once upon a time, there was a Japanese man who adored a very famous Russian singer, Alla Pugacheva. He wrote a story titled “Million Roses” and wanted to send it to Alla Pugacheva. However, he had no idea how to do it. So, he posted his story on his blog, hoping it would eventually reach her.

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Million Roses

Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in an orphanage in Japan. He had moved there when he was five. His mother worked at a small ramen shop for minimum wage, but it wasn’t enough to raise him. So, she left him at an orphanage.

He didn’t know his father because his mother had never told him anything about him. On the day he moved into the orphanage, his mother bought him a cheap radio. That radio became his only companion as he began his life in the orphanage.

Ten years later, when he turned fifteen, he had to work during the day because the orphanage couldn’t afford to send the boys and girls to school. He attended night school and paid the tuition himself. He felt like he had no hope for the future.

He was a quiet boy and had no friends. He worked silently at a factory and ate lunch alone. Every day, he soldered the same parts onto printed-circuit boards for cheap radios. It was as if he had forgotten how to speak.

One day, he heard a beautiful song on the radio. He couldn’t understand the lyrics because it was a Russian song.

After the song, the DJ introduced it. The name of the song was “Million Roses” and the singer was Alla Pugacheva.

The boy loved the song and tuned his radio to the same station, “Radio Moscow,” every day. He was captivated by the singer. He tried to sing “Million Roses” in Russian by ear, even though he didn’t understand the words.

He was a silent boy, mute except when singing her song. He fell in love with the singer. He wished he could buy a million roses and send them to Alla Pugacheva’s garden. However, it was impossible for him as he worked for minimum wage and had to pay for his night school expenses.

Forty years later, he was still poor. He had no house of his own and no family. But he enjoyed singing “Million Roses” in Russian every day. He told himself, “I don’t need anything. I have this song.”

Ten years after that, he was in a facility for people with dementia. One day, the facility staff were talking, “Why does he sing that Russian song every day?” He didn’t speak. His voice could only be heard when he was singing.

百万本の薔薇

ある時、日本で孤児院で暮らす少年がいた。少年は5歳の時に、そこに預けられた。母親は、小さなラーメン屋で、最低賃金で働いていて、彼を養うのが困難で、それで息子を孤児院に預けたのであった。

母親は、父親については何も教えてくれず、彼は父親の顔すら知らなかった。施設入所の当日、母親は彼に安物のラジオを買い与えた。そして彼の孤児院での生活が始まった。

十年後、彼は十五歳になると、昼間働かなければならなかった。施設は彼らの学費を出す余裕が無かった。彼は、夜間高校に通い、学費も自分で賄った。彼は、将来の希望など無いと思っていた。

彼は物静かな少年で、何処にも友達が居なかった。工場で無言で働き、昼食は一人で食べた。彼は、毎日、工場で安物のラジオ向けのプリント基板に同じ部品を半田付けしていた。彼はまるで、声の出し方を忘れた人の様であった。

ある日、彼は、ラジオから流れる美しい歌声を聴いた。しかし、それはロシア語だった為、彼には歌詞が分からなかった。

歌の後で、ディージェーが、その歌を紹介した。歌のタイトルは「百万本の薔薇」、歌手はアーラ・プガチョワであった。

少年はその歌がたいそう気にいり、それで毎日、ラジオを同じ局「モスクワ放送」に合わせた。彼は、その歌手の虜になった。彼は、歌詞が分からないにも拘らず、「百万本の薔薇」を耳で聴いて、ロシア語で歌おうと試みた。

彼は、沈黙の男であった。彼女の歌を歌う時以外は、いつも静かであった。彼はその歌手に対して恋心を抱くようになった。彼は、もし出来る事ならば、百万本の薔薇を買って、アーラ・プガチョワの家の庭に贈りたいと願った。しかし、最低賃金で働き、夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼には、その様な事は不可能であった。

四十年後、彼は依然として貧しかった。彼には、持ち家は無く、家族もいなかった。しかし、彼は、「百万本の薔薇」を、ロシア語で、毎日歌って楽しんでいた。彼は自らにこう言った。「何も要らない。この歌があるから。」

十年後、彼は認知症の人々の施設に居た。ある日、施設の職員達が喋っていた。「あの人、なんで毎日、あのロシア語の歌を歌ってんの?」彼は、喋らなかった。彼の声は、歌う時しか人々が耳にする事は無かった。

WORDS AND PHRASES

Million Roses

百万本の薔薇

百（ひゃく）：a hundred

万（まん）：ten thousands

二万 (にまん) : twenty thousands

百万（ひゃくまん）：a million

百万本（ひゃくまんぼん）：a million (for counting long and narrow things such as pens, flowers, bottles, ropes, etc.)

百万枚（ひゃくまんまい）：a million (for counting thin things such as sheets, coins, dishes, etc.)

百万冊（ひゃくまんさつ）：a million (for counting books, note books, magazines, etc.)

百万匹 （ひゃくまんびき）：a million animals or insects

蛙 (かえる) : a frog

百万匹の蛙 ：a million frogs

薔薇（ばら）：a rose

Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in an orphanage in Japan.

ある時、日本で孤児院で暮らす少年がいた。

ある時（あるとき）：Once upon a time

日本（にほん）：Japan

孤児院（こじいん）：an orphanage 

暮らす（くらす）：to live your daily life (verb)

日本で暮らす：You live in Japan.

少年（しょうねん）：a boy

少女（しょうじょ）：a girl

日本で暮らす少年 : a boy who lives in Japan (noun clause)

孤児院で暮らす：You live in an orphanage.

孤児院で暮らす少女 : a girl who lives in an orphanage (noun clause)

少女がいる。：There is a girl. / A girl is here/there.

少女がいた。：There was a girl. / A Girl was here/there.

ある時、孤児院で暮らす少女がいた。: Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived in an orphanage.

日本で孤児院で暮らす少年がいる。: There is a boy who lives in an orphanage in Japan.

The boy had moved there when he was five. 

少年は5歳の時に、そこに預けられた。

5歳（ごさい）：five years old

時（とき）：the time, a time, when something happened

5歳の時に (ごさいのときに) ：at the age of five, when you were five

そこ：there, the place which has already been mentioned

預ける（あずける）：to leave a thing or a child in someone’s care (verb) /  to deposit money in a bank (verb)

そこに、預ける：You leave a thing or a child there. /  You deposit money there.

預けられる。：You/It will be left in someone’s care. / The money will be deposited in a bank.

預けられた。：It/He/She was left in someone’s care. / The money was deposited in a bank

少年は、そこに、預けられる。: The boy will be left there.

少年は、そこに、預けられた。: The boy was left there.

5歳の時に、そこに、預けられた。: You were left there when you were five.

３歳 (さんさい) : three years old

少女は３歳の時に、そこに預けられた。: The girl was left there when she was three. 

His mother worked at a small ramen shop for minimum wage, but that was not enough to raise him. So she then left him at an orphanage. 

母親は、小さなラーメン屋で、最低賃金で働いていて、彼を養うのが困難で、それで息子を孤児院に預けたのであった。

母（はは）：mother (You say '母' when you formally talk about your mother to someone.)

親（おや）：a parent

母親（ははおや）: mother, his/her mother (You say "母親" when you talk about someone's mother.)  

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

彼の母親：his mother (“彼の” is omitted in the sentences as it can be assumed from the context. We often omit some parts in our sentences in Japanese.)

小さな（ちいさな）：small (adjective with a following noun)

小さい（ちいさい）：small (adjective with or without a following noun)

ラーメン屋（らーめんや）：a ramen shop, a ramen restaurant (noun)

小さなラーメン屋：a small ramen shop, a small ramen restaurant (noun)

八百屋（やおや）：a vegetable store

本屋（ほんや）：a bookstore  (I personally feel that those shops are small businesses and owned by individuals. This is just a feeling but not a grammar rule. )

最低（さいてい）：minimum, the lowest, smallest, cheapest, shortest, coolest, worst, etc. (adjective)

賃金（ちんぎん）：a wage (noun)

最低賃金：a minimum wage

最低賃金で：for a minimum wage

働く（はたらく）：to work (verb)

働いた。(はたらいた) : You worked.

ラーメン屋で働く：You work at a ramen shop/restaurant.

最低賃金で働く：You work for a minimum wage.

働いている：You are working. (present progress) / You work regularly. (your current and recent activity) / You have a job. (your current status)

母親は、働いている。: Your mother is working. / You mother has a job. (current situation)

母親は、ラーメン屋で働いている。: Your mother works at a ramen shop. (current situation)

母親は、小さなラーメン屋で働いている。: Your mother works at a small ramen shop. (current situation)

母親は、最低賃金で働いている。: Your mother works for minimum wage. (current situation)

母親は、小さなラーメン屋で、最低賃金で働いている。: Your mother works at a small ramen shop for minimum wage. (current situation)

働いていた。：You were working. (past progress), You worked regularly. (your past activity), You had a job. (your past status)

母親は、小さなラーメン屋で、最低賃金で働いていた。: Your mother worked at a small ramen shop for minimum wage. (past situation)

働いていて、...：You are/were working and ... (progress), You work/worked and .... (activity), You have/had a job and ..... (your status)

養う（やしなう）：to raise a child or children (verb), to feed an animal (verb)

彼を養う : You raise him.

困難（こんなん）：a hardship(noun), hard(adjective)

彼を養うのが困難だ。: It is difficult for you to raise him.

母親は、彼を養うのが困難だ。: His mother has a difficulty for raising him. It is difficult for his mother to raise him.

困難だった。: It was difficult. You had a difficulty.

母親は、彼を養うのが困難だった。: His mother had a difficulty for raising him. It was difficult for his mother to raise him.

養うのが困難 : difficult for you to raise him/her

母親は、彼を養うのが困難で、....... : It is difficult for his mother to raise him, and .......

それで...：So, ... / Therefore, ...

母親は、彼を養うのが困難で、それで ....... : It is difficult for his mother to raise him, so .......

息子（むすこ）：a son

孤児院（こじいん）：an orphanage

預ける（あずける）：to leave a thing or a child in someone’s care (verb), to deposit money in a bank (verb)

息子を孤児院に預ける：You will leave your son in an orphanage.

息子を孤児院に預けた：You left your son in the orphanage. (action)

........のであった。: ........ and this was the situation which happened there. (This expression is often used when telling a story. You probably don't need to translate this part into English.)

息子を孤児院に預けたのであった。： You left your son in the orphanage. (And this was the situation which happened there.)

母親は、それで息子を孤児院に預けたのであった。: That's why the mother left her son at an orphanage.

Example:

娘（むすめ）：a daughter 

父親（ちちおや）：father

父親は娘を孤児院に預けたのであった。：The father left his daughter in the orphanage.

He did not know his father’s face because his mother had never told him anything about his father. 

母親は、父親については何も教えてくれず、彼は父親の顔すら知らなかった。

母親（ははおや）：mother

父親（ちちおや）：father

片親（かたおや）：one parent

父親について：about the father

何も（なにも）：anything (in a negative phrase)

教える（おしえる）：to teach, to let someone know something, to notify, to lecture (verb)

くれる：Someone gives you something. (So, you will probably thank him or her.)

教えてくれる：Someone teaches you something for you. Someone tells you about something. ( So, you will probably thank him or her.)

教えてくれない。：Someone doesn’t teach you something. Someone doesn't tell you about it. (So, you will probably be unhappy about it.)

何も教えてくれない。：Someone doesn’t teach you anything. / Someone doesn't tell you anything about it.

母親は、何も教えてくれなかった。: Your mother had never told you anything about it.

父親については教えてくれなかった。: Someone didn't tell you about your father.

父親については何も教えてくれなかった。: Someone had never told you anything about your father.

母親は、父親については何も教えてくれなかった。: Your mother never told you anything about your father.

教えてくれず、... ：Someone didn’t teach you and/so/then ...

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

顔（かお）：face

父親の顔（ちちおやのかお）：the father’s face

知らない。（しらない）：You don’t know it.

母親の顔を知らない。：You don’t know your mother’s face.

母親の顔すら知らない。：You don’t know even your mother’s face.

知らなかった。: You didn't know it.

彼は知らなかった。: He did not know about it.

父親の顔を知らなかった。: You did not know your father's face.

父親の顔すら知らなかった。: You did not know anything about your father even his face.

彼は父親の顔すら知らなかった。: He didn't know even his father's face.

On the day of moving to the facility, his mother bought him a cheap radio.

施設入所の当日、母親は彼に安物のラジオを買い与えた。

施設（しせつ）：a facility, an orphanage, an institution (noun)

入所（にゅうしょ）：entering to an institution, being sent to prison, etc. 

施設入所：moving to a facility, orphanage, etc. (noun)

当日（とうじつ）：the day which an event takes/took place, the day when you are going to do it, the day when you did it

施設入所の当日：the day of moving to the facility (noun clause)

母親（ははおや）：mother / his mother (in this context)

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

安物（やすもの）：a cheap thing(s)

ラジオ：a radio, a radio broadcasting 

安物のラジオ：a cheap radio

買う（かう）：to buy, to purchase (verb)

与える（あたえる）：to give someone something (verb)

買った。(かった) : You bought it.

与えた。(あたえた) : You gave someone something.

買い与える (かいあたえる)：to buy your child something, such as a toy, game, candy, etc. (verb)

買い与えた。: You bought someone something.

母親は買い与えた。: Your mother bought you something.

彼に買い与えた。: You bought him something.

母親は彼に買い与えた。: His mother bought him something.

母親はラジオを買い与えた。: Your mother bought you a radio.

彼に安物のラジオを買い与えた。: You bought him a cheap radio.

母親は彼にラジオを買い与えた。: His mother bought him a radio.

母親は彼に安物のラジオを買い与えた。: His mother bought him a cheap radio.

He began his life in the orphanage.

そして彼の孤児院での生活が始まった。

そして .....：So/Then/And, .....

彼 (かれ) : he/his/him

孤児（こじ）：an orphan (noun)

孤児院（こじいん）：an orphanage (noun)

生活（せいかつ）：your life (noun)

彼の生活：his life

孤児院での生活：your life in an orphanage (noun clause)

彼の孤児院での生活：his life in an orphanage (noun clause)

始める（はじめる）：to begin something (verb), to start something (verb) / You begin/start it.

始まる：It begins. / It starts. / It will begin. / It will start.

始まった : It began.

そして始まった : Then it began.

あなた：You / Your 

日本（にほん）：Japan

今（いま）：now, today (adverb), the present time (noun)

あなたの日本での生活が、今始まる！：Your life in Japan begins/starts now!

Ten years later, as he reached fifteen years old, he had to work during the daytime because the facility could not afford school expenses for boys and girls. 

十年後、彼は十五歳になると、昼間働かなければならなかった。施設は彼らの学費を出す余裕が無かった。

十年（じゅうねん）：ten years

十年前（じゅうねんまえ）：ten years ago

十年後（じゅうねんご）：ten years later

彼ら（かれら）：they / their / them

十年間（じゅうねんかん）：for ten years

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

十五歳（じゅうごさい）：fifteen years old

なる：to become (verb) / to reach a certain age (verb)

十五歳になる：to reach fifteen years old (verb) / You will reach fifteen years old.

十五歳になった。: You reached fifteen years old. / You are now fifteen years old. / You have just reached fifteen years old.

彼は十五歳になった。: He reached fifteen years old.

彼は十五歳になると : as he reached fifteen years old

昼間（ひるま）：the daytime, between sunrise and sunset (There is no exact definition about what time “昼間” begins and ends.)

働く（はたらく）：to work (verb)

働かない。: You don't work.

働かなければ : if you don't work

ならない：It is not acceptable.

働かなければならない：You have to work.

働かなければならなかった。: You had to work.

昼間働かなければならなかった。: You had to work during the daytime.

十年後、彼は、昼間働かなければならなかった。: Ten years later, he had to work during the day time.

彼は十五歳になると、昼間働かなければならなかった。: As he reached fifteen years old, he had to work during the day time.

十年後、彼は十五歳になると、昼間働かなければならなかった。: Ten years later, as he reached fifteen years old, he had to work during the day time.

施設（しせつ）：a facility

学費（がくひ）：school expenses

出す（だす）：to take out (verb) / to provide (verb) / to pay (verb) / to serve something to drink for your guest (verb)

学費を出す：to pay school expenses (verb)

余裕（よゆう）：a margin (time, space, money)

学費を出す余裕 : enough money to pay school expenses (noun clause)

無い（ない）：It is not here/there. / You don’t have it.

余裕が有る：You have enough resources for it. / You can afford it.

余裕が無い：You don't have enough resources for it. / You can not afford it.

余裕が無かった。: You didn't have enough resources for it. / You could not afford it.

施設は余裕が無かった。: The facility could not afford it.

学費を出す余裕が無かった。: You could not afford school expenses.

施設は彼らの学費を出す余裕が無かった。: The facility could not afford school expenses for them.

He attended night school and paid the tuition himself.

彼は、夜間高校に通い、学費も自分で賄った。

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

夜間（やかん）：in the night time

高校（こうこう）：a High School

夜間高校 : a high school at which you can take classes in evenings

通う（かよう）：to regularly go to a same place such as your school, office, factory, etc. (verb) / to regularly attend a same class (verb), to regularly visit your doctor (verb)

通った。(かよった) : You regularly attended.

彼は通った。: He regularly attended.

高校に通った。: You went to high school.

彼は高校に通った。: He went to high school.

彼は夜間高校に通い、...... : He went to nigh school and ...........

学費（がくひ）：school fee / education cost / tuition

自分（じぶん）：oneself, myself/yourself/himself/herself (depends on the context)

賄う（まかなう）：to pay for your food and cloth (verb) / to cover expenses (verb)

自分で賄う : to pay expenses yourself (verb) / You pay expenses yourself. (if "自分" refers to yourself )

賄った。(まかなった) : You paid the expenses.

学費を賄う : to pay tuition (verb) / to pay school expenses (verb)

彼は自分で賄った。: He paid the expenses himself.

彼は学費を自分で賄った。: He paid the tuition himself.

彼は学費も自分で賄った。: He also paid the tuition himself.

He thought that he had no hope for the future. 

彼は、将来の希望など無いと思っていた。

彼 (かれ) : he/his/him

将来（しょうらい）：the future

希望（きぼう）：a hope

将来の希望：a hope for the future

希望など : something such as hopes (used with a negative feeling)

無い（ない）：It is not here/there. You don’t have it.

希望が無い : You don't have a hope. / There is no hope.

希望など無い：You don’t have something such as hopes.

思う（おもう）：to think, to guess, to believe (verb)

思っている。(おもっている)：You think that it is true.

思っていた。(おもっていた)：You thought that it was true.

無いと思っている。：You think that you don’t have it.

無いと思っていた。：You thought that you didn’t have it. 

彼は無いと思っている。: He thinks that he doesn't have it. / He thinks that it is not here/there.

彼は無いと思っていた。: He thought that he didn't have it. / He thought that it was not here/there.

彼は希望など無いと思っている。: He thinks that there is no hope.

彼は希望など無いと思っていた。: He thought that there was no hope.

彼は将来の希望など無いと思っている。: He thinks that he has no hope for the future.

He was a quiet boy and had no friends anywhere.

彼は物静かな少年で、何処にも友達が居なかった。

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

物静か（ものしずか）：quiet, calm

少年（しょうねん）：a boy

彼は物静かな少年だ。: He is a quiet boy.

彼は物静かな少年だった。: He was a quiet boy.

彼は物静かな少年で、... : He is/was a quiet boy and ...

何処?（どこ?）：where?

何処にも：anywhere (used with a negative expression)

何処でも / 何処にでも : anywhere / everywhere (used with a positive expression)

友達（ともだち）：a friend

居る（いる）：You are here/there.

居ない（いない）：You are not here/there.

友達が居る。: You have a friend.

友達が居ない。: You don't have a friend.

何処にも友達が居ない。: You have no friend anywhere.

何処にでも友達が居る。: You have friends everywhere.

彼は友達が居る、: He has a friend.

彼は友達が居ない。: He has no friend.

彼は何処にでも友達が居る。: He has friends everywhere.

彼は何処にも友達が居ない。: He has no friends anywhere at all.

He worked in silence at a factory and had lunch alone.

工場で無言で働き、昼食は一人で食べた。

工場（こうじょう）：a factory

無言（むごん）：no word / a situation that you don't say anything

無言で：without speaking / silently (adverb)

働く（はたらく）：to work (verb)

工場で働く : to work at a factory (verb)

無言で働く : to work in silence (verb)

働いた。(はたらいた) : You worked.

工場で働いた。: You worked at a factory.

無言で働いた。: You worked in silence.

働き、...（はたらき、...）：You worked and ...

無言で働き、..... : You worked in silence and ......

昼食（ちゅうしょく）：lunch

一人（ひとり）：one person

二人（ふたり）：two people

食べる（たべる）：to eat, to have a meal (verb)

一人で食べる：to have a meal alone (verb)

食べた。: You ate. / You had a meal.

工場で働き、.... : You worked at a factory and .......

昼食を食べた。: You had lunch.

昼食は食べた。: You had already had lunch.

一人で食べた。: You had a meal alone.

昼食は一人で食べた。: He already had lunch alone.

工場で働き、昼食は一人で食べた。: You worked at a factory and had lunch alone.

彼は工場で働き、昼食は一人で食べた。: He worked at a factory and had lunch alone. (In the story, "彼は" was omitted.)

He soldered the same parts onto printed-circuit boards for cheap radios at the factory every day.

彼は、毎日、工場で安物のラジオ向けのプリント基板に同じ部品を半田付けしていた。

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

毎日（まいにち）：every day (noun, adverb)

工場（こうじょう）：a factory

工場で : at a factory

安物（やすもの）：a cheap thing

安物の : cheap (adjective)

ラジオ：a radio, radios (noun), radio broadcasting (noun)

安物のラジオ : a cheap radio

向ける（むける）：to turn your face toward a certain direction (verb) / to send something somewhere (verb)

ラジオ向けの : for radios

安物のラジオ向けの : for cheap radios

基板（きばん）：a circuit board

プリント基板：a printed-circuit board

ラジオ向けのプリント基板 : a printed-circuit board for a cheap radio (noun clause)

同じ（おなじ）：same

部品（ぶひん）：parts, components

同じ部品 : the same part(s)

半田付け（はんだづけ）：solder (noun)

半田付けする：to solder (verb)

半田付けした。: You soldered it.

彼は、プリント基板に半田付けした。: He soldered it onto the printed-circuit board.

彼は、部品を半田付けした。: He soldered a part.

している : You are doing it. (present progress) / You do it regularly, usually, often or sometimes. (current and recent activity)

していた。: You were doing it. (past progress) / You did it regularly, usually, often or sometimes. (past activity)

彼は部品を半田付けしている。: He is soldering a part. / He solders parts regularly, usually, often or sometimes.

彼は、毎日、部品を半田付けしている。: He solders parts every day. (current and recent activity)

彼は、毎日、半田付けしていた。He soldered every day. (past regular activity, habit, job, hobby, etc.)

彼は、毎日、工場で、半田付けしている。: He solders at the factory every day. (current job)

彼は、毎日、工場で、半田付けしていた。: He soldered at the factory every day. (past job)

He looked like someone who had forgotten how to speak.

彼はまるで、声の出し方を忘れた人の様であった。

まるで : as if you are doing / as if it is / just like

声（こえ）：the voice

出す（だす）：to take something out of the container (verb) / to send something out (verb)

声を出す : to voice out (verb) / to speak (verb)

出し方（だしかた）：how to take something out /  how to send something out

声の出し方：how to speak

忘れる（わすれる）：to forget (verb)

人（ひと）：a person

忘れた。: You forgot it.

声の出し方を忘れた。: You forgot how to speak.

声の出し方を忘れた人：a person who forgot how to speak (noun clause)

まるで声の出し方を忘れた人：just like a person who forgot how to speak

様 (よう) : a situation / a condition

忘れた。: You forgot it.

声の出し方を忘れた人の様だ。(/様である。）: You look like a person who forgot how to speak.

声の出し方を忘れた人の様だった。(様であった。) : You looked like a person who forgot how to speak.

One day, he heard a beautiful song on the radio.

ある日、彼は、ラジオから流れる美しい歌声を聴いた。

ある日、...（あるひ）：One day, ...

彼（かれ）：he / his / him

ラジオ：a radio set, a radio broadcasting, a radio program (noun)

流れる（ながれる）：to float, to be broadcast on the TV or radio (verb)

ラジオから流れる : You hear it on the radio.

美しい（うつくしい）：beautiful

歌声（うたごえ）：a singing voice, a song

美しい歌声 : a beautiful song

ラジオから流れる美しい歌声 : a beautiful voice which you hear on the radio (noun clause)

聴く（きく）：to hear or listen to something beautiful or pleasant (music, song, poem, bird, etc.)

聞く（きく）：to hear or listen to it when someone is speaking or talking (verb)

聴いた。(きいた) : You heard a voice or a sound which was beautiful or pleasant.

ある日、彼は、聴いた。: One day, he heard it.

歌声を聴いた。: You heard a song.

ある日、彼は、歌声を聴いた。: One day, he heard a song.

ラジオから流れる歌声を聴いた。: You heard a song on the radio.

ある日、彼は、ラジオから流れる美しい歌声を聴いた。: One day, he heard a beautiful song on the radio.

He could not understand the lyrics because it was a Russian song. 

しかし、それはロシア語だった為、彼には歌詞が分からなかった。

しかし、...：However, ...

それ：it

ロシア語（ろしあご）：Russian (language)

それはロシア語だった。：It was Russian.

為（ため）：a reason or purpose which you have just mentioned ('為' is not used by itself. It is used to describe a reason or purpose.)

それはロシア語だった為：because it was spoken by Russian / because it was a Russian song

歌詞（かし）: lyrics

分かる（わかる）: You understand it. You get what someone speaks.

分からない : You don’t understand it. You don't get what someone speaks.

歌詞が分からない。: You don't understand the lyrics.

彼には分からない。: He does not understand.

彼には分からなかった。: He did not understand.

しかし、それはロシア語だった。: However, it was spoken/written/sang in Russian.

彼には歌詞が分からなかった。: He could not understand the lyrics.

しかし、彼には歌詞が分からなかった。: However, he could not understand the lyrics.

しかし、それはロシア語だった為、彼には歌詞が分からなかった。: However, he could not understand the lyrics because it was spoken/written/sang Russian. 

After the song, the DJ introduced the song.

歌の後で、ディージェーが、その歌を紹介した。

歌（うた）: a song

後（あと / のち）: after, later

歌の後で (うたのあとで) : after the song

ディージェー： a D.J. (Disk Jockey)

その歌：the song which has already been mentioned

紹介（しょうかい）：an introduction

紹介する：to introduce someone or something (verb)

紹介した。: You introduced it.

その歌を紹介した。：You introduced that song.

ディージェーが、その歌を紹介した。: The D.J. introduced the song.

The name of the song was “Million Roses” and the singer was Alla Pugacheva. 

歌のタイトルは「百万本の薔薇」、歌手はアーラ・プガチョワであった。

歌のタイトル : the title of the song

百万本（ひゃくまんぼん）：a million (flowers, trees, towels, ropes, pens, movies, sticks, umbrellas, etc.)

薔薇（ばら）：a rose / roses

歌のタイトルは「百万本の薔薇」であった。: The title of the song was "Million Roses."

その歌を、「百万本の薔薇」と紹介した。: You introduced the song's title "Million Roses."

歌手（かしゅ）：a singer

アーラ・プガチョワ：Alla Pugacheva 

......である。: It is ..... , He or she is .....

.......であった。: It was.... , He or she was......

アーラ・プガチョワであった。: She was Alla Pugacheva.

歌手はアーラ・プガチョワであった。: The singer was Alla Pugacheva.

The boy loved the song very much and tuned in his radio to the same station “Radio Moscow” every day.

少年はその歌がたいそう気にいり、それで毎日、ラジオを同じ局「モスクワ放送」に合わせた。

少年（しょうねん）：the boy

歌（うた）：a song

その歌：the song which has already been mentioned

たいそう：very / so / highly

気 (き) : a mind / a heart

気に入る (きにいる)：You like it.

気に入った。(きにいった) : You liked it.

その歌が気に入った。: You liked that song.

少年はたいそう気に入った。: The boy loved it very much.

少年はその歌が気に入った。: The boy liked that song.

少年はその歌が気に入り、..... : The boy liked that song and ......

それで ：so/then/and

それで毎日、..... : So, every day, ..............

毎日（まいにち）：every day

ラジオ：a radio / a radio broadcasting / a radio program

同じ（おなじ）：same

局（きょく）：a radio station, a TV station, etc.

同じ局 : the same station

モスクワ：Moscow

放送（ほうそう）：a TV/radio broadcasting, a TV/radio program

モスクワ放送 : Radio Moscow

同じ局「モスクワ放送」: the same station "Radio Moscow"

合わせる（あわせる）：to merge / to combine / to put two things together / to match / to adjust / to set the dial / to tune in the radio / to arrange a meeting / to fit  (verb)

ラジオをモスクワ放送に合わせる : You tune your radio to "Radio Moscow".

少年は、ラジオをモスクワ放送に合わせた。 : The boy tuned his radio to "Radio Moscow."

それで毎日、彼はラジオを同じ局に合わせた。: So, he tuned in his radio to the same station every day.

少年は、毎日、ラジオを同じ局「モスクワ放送」に合わせた。: The boy tuned in his radio to the same station "Radio Moscow" every day.

He was enthralled by the singer.

彼は、その歌手の虜になった。

彼（かれ）：he/his/him

歌手（かしゅ）：a singer

その歌手 : that singer / the singer which has already been mentioned

虜（とりこ）：a prisoner / a captive / a slave / someone who is enthralled by someone or something (idiomatic expression)

虜になる：to be taken prisoner (verb) / to be a slave (verb) / to be enthralled (verb)

彼は、虜になった。: He was enthralled by someone.

その歌手の虜になった。 : You were enthralled by the singer. / You loved the singer very much. Your heart was occupied by the singer.

彼は、ビートルズの虜になった。: He was enthralled by The Beatles.

He tried to sing “Million Roses” in Russian by ear even though he could not understand the words. 

彼は、歌詞が分からないにも拘らず、「百万本の薔薇」を耳で聴いて、ロシア語で歌おうと試みた。

彼 (かれ) : he/his/him

歌詞（かし）：lyrics 

分かる（わかる）：You understand it.

分からない。: You don't understand it.

歌詞が分からない。: You do not understand the lyrics.

彼は、歌詞が分からない。: He does not understand the lyrics.

拘らず（かかわらず）：though / regardless of it

にも拘らず：even though

分からないにも拘らず : even though you don't understand it

百万本（ひゃくまんぼん）：a million things which are narrow and/or long

薔薇（ばら）：a rose / roses

耳（みみ）：an ear, ears

耳で : by ears (but not by eyes / without reading it)

聞く（きく）：to hear or listen it when someone is telling something and get an information (verb)

聴く（きく）：to listen to the music, song, opera, etc. and enjoy it (verb)

聴いた。: You listened to it.

聴いて (きいて) : You listened to it and ...... / by listening 

ロシア人（ろしあじん）：a Russian (person) / Russian (nationality)

ロシア語（ろしあご）：Russian (language)

歌う（うたう）：to sing (verb)

ロシア語で歌う : to sing a song in Russian, to sing a Russian song (verb)

歌った。(うたった) : You sang.

試みる（こころみる）：to try to do something (verb)

「百万本の薔薇」 : "Million Roses" (the title of the song)

耳で聴いた。: You listened to it by ears. (without reading it)

「百万本の薔薇」を耳で聴いた。: You listened to it by ears. (without reading it.)

耳で聴いて、: by ears (without reading it)

耳で聴いて、歌う : You sing a song by ears.

耳で聴いて、歌った。: You sang it by ears.

「百万本の薔薇」を歌う : to sing "Million Roses" (verb)

「百万本の薔薇」を歌った。: You sang "Million Roses."

ロシア語で歌った。: You sang it in Russian.

歌おう！: Let's sing! / I will sing!

歌おうと試みる：to try to sing (verb)

歌おうと試みた。: You tried to sing it.

彼は、試みた。: He tried it.

彼は、「百万本の薔薇」を歌おうと試みた。: He tried to sing "Million Roses."

彼は、ロシア語で歌おうと試みた。: He tried to sing it in Russian.

彼は、歌詞が分からないにも拘らず、...... : Even though he could not understand the lyrics .......

彼は、「百万本の薔薇」を耳で聴いて、ロシア語で歌おうと試みた。: He tried to sing "Million Roses" by ears.

He was a silent man.

彼は、沈黙の男であった。

彼（かれ）：he/his/him

沈黙（ちんもく）：silence (noun)

男（おとこ）：a man

彼は男である。：He is a man.

沈黙の男：a man of silence / a silent man (noun)

彼は沈黙の男である。：He is a man of silence.

彼は沈黙の男であった。：He was a man of silence.

He was mute except when singing her song. 

彼女の歌を歌う時以外は、いつも静かであった。

彼女（かのじょ）：she/ her

歌（うた）：a song

歌う（うたう）：to sing (verb)

時（とき）：a time / a curtain situation / a curtain condition 

歌を歌う時：when you sing a song

彼女の歌を歌う時 : when you sing her song

以外（いがい）：except such a thing / except such a situation / except such a condition

歌う時以外 : except when singing songs (condition)

彼女の歌を歌う時以外は : except when singing her song

静か (しずか) : quiet / silent (adjective without a following noun)

静かな : quiet, silent (adjective with a following noun)

静かに : quietly, silently (adverb)

いつも : always

静かである。: You are quiet. / You hear little or no sound here/there.

静かであった。: You were quiet. You heard little or no sound here/there.

彼は、静かであった。: He was quiet.

歌う時以外は静かであった。: You were mute except when singing songs.

彼は、いつも静かであった。: He was always mute.

彼は、彼女の歌を歌う時以外は、いつも静かであった。: He was mute except when singing her song.

He fell in love with the singer.

彼はその歌手に対して恋心を抱くようになった。

彼 (かれ) : he/his/him

歌手（かしゅ）：a singer

その歌手 ：the singer who has already been mentioned

対して（たいして）：against / to / toward / with / concerning it / for (depends on the context)

その歌手に対して : to the singer / against the singer / (prep.)+ the singer (depends on the context)

恋心（こいごころ）：the feeling of love (noun)

抱く（いだく）：to hold something in your arm (verb) / to have some feeling or emotion in your heart (verb)

恋心を抱く：to fall in love with someone (verb)

ようになる : You will see a such a situation/condition. / You will begin doing such an activity.

恋心を抱くようになる : You will fall in love with someone.

恋心を抱くようになった。: You fell in love with someone.

彼は恋心を抱くようになった。: He fell in love with someone.

その歌手は彼に対して恋心を抱くようになった。: The singer fell in love with him.

He wished that he would be able to buy a million roses and send them to the garden of Alla Pugacheva’s house. 

彼は、もし出来る事ならば、百万本の薔薇を買って、アーラ・プガチョワの家の庭に贈りたいと願った。

彼（かれ）：he/his/him

出来る（できる）：It’s possible to do it.

事（こと）：an event / an issue / a matter / the fact / a situation

出来る事：something which you can do

もし出来るなら：if you can do it

百万本（ひゃくまんぼん）：a million things which are long and/or narrow

薔薇（ばら）：a million roses

百万本の薔薇：a million roses

買う（かう）：to buy (verb)

買いたい。 (かいたい) : You want to buy it.

買って、.... (かって) : You buy it and ........ / You bought it and ...........

百万本の薔薇を買って、..... : You buy a million roses and ..... / You bought a million roses and ........

アーラ・プガチョワ：Alla Pugacheva

家（いえ）：a house

庭 (にわ) : a garden

アーラ・プガチョワの家 : Alla Pugacheva's house

家の庭 : the garden of a house

アーラ・プガチョワの家の庭 : the garden of Alla Pugacheva's house

届ける（とどける）：to deliver something to someone’s house (verb)

買って、届ける：You buy something and send it to someone.

贈る（おくる）：to give someone a gift (verb) / to award a prize to someone (verb) / to send someone a present (verb)

贈りたい：You want to send a person a gift.

願う（ねがう）：to wish (verb)

願った。(ねがった) : You wished.

彼は願った。: He wished.

と願った。: You wished it.

贈りたいと願った。: You wished that you would send a gift to someone.

彼は、百万本の薔薇を買いたいと願った。: He wished that he would buy a million roses.

彼は、アーラ・プガチョワに贈りたいと願った。: He wished that he would send a gift to Alla Pugacheva's.

彼は、アーラ・プガチョワの家に贈りたいと願った。: He wished that he would send a gift to Alla Pugacheva's house.

彼は、アーラ・プガチョワの家の庭に贈りたいと願った。: He wished that he would send a gift to the garden of Alla Pugacheva's house.

彼は、百万本の薔薇を、アーラ・プガチョワに贈りたいと願った。: He wished that he would send a million roses to Alla Pugacheva.

彼は、もし出来る事ならば、と願った。: He wished that he would be able to do it.

彼は、もし出来る事ならば、百万本の薔薇を、アーラ・プガチョワに贈りたいと願った。: He wished that he would be able to send a million roses to Alla Pugacheva.

彼は、百万本の薔薇を買って、アーラ・プガチョワの家の庭に贈りたいと願った。: He wished that he would buy a million roses and send them to the garden of Alla Pugacheva's house.

However, it was impossible for him as he worked for minimum wage and had to pay for his night school expenses.

しかし、最低賃金で働き、夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼には、その様な事は不可能であった。

しかし、...：However, ...

最低賃金（さいていちんぎん）：minimum wage

働く（はたらく）：to work (verb)

最低賃金で働く：You work for minimum wage.

最低賃金で働き、...：to work for minimum wage and ...

夜間学校（やかんがっこう）：a night school

費用（ひよう）：expenses

夜間学校の費用 : night school expenses

払う（はらう）：to pay (verb) / You pay.

払わない (はらわない) : You don't pay.

しなくては : if you don't do it (condition) / You must do it.

払わなくては / 払わなければ : if you don't pay (condition) / You must pay.

ならない : It's not acceptable.

なければならない : You really need it. / It can not be missed. / It can not be omitted. / It can not be skipped. / You must have it.

しなければならない : You must do it.

払わなければならない：You must pay for it.

学校の費用を払わなければならない : You have to pay for your school expenses.

学校の費用も払わなければならない : You also have to pay for your school expenses. (You probably have to another expense or some other expenses as well.)

彼（かれ）：he/his/him

最低賃金で働く彼：he who works for minimum wage

払わなければならない彼：he who must pay for it (noun clause)

最低賃金で働き、夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼 : he who works for minimum wage and has to pay for his night school expenses (noun clause)

最低賃金で働く彼には：as he works for minimum wage

払わなければならない彼には : as he must pay for it

最低賃金で働き、夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼には : as he works for minimum wage and has to pay for his night school expenses

様 (よう / さま) : how something looks like / a situation / a condition

事 (こと) : an event / an issue / a situation

その様な事（そのようなこと）：such a thing / something like that 

可能（かのう）：possible

不可能（ふかのう）：impossible

不可能である。：It is impossible.

彼には、不可能である。：It is impossible for him.

最低賃金で働く彼には、不可能である。：It is impossible for him as he works for minimum wage. 

夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼には、不可能である。: It is impossible for him who also has to pay for his night school expenses.

最低賃金で働き、夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼には、不可能である。: It is impossible for him as he works for minimum wage and also has to pay for his night school expenses.

不可能であった。: It was impossible.

彼には、不可能であった。：It was impossible for him

最低賃金で働く彼には、不可能であった。：It was impossible for him as he worked for minimum wage. 

その様な事は不可能である：It is impossible to do such a thing.

しかし、その様な事は不可能であった。: However, it was impossible to do such a thing.

夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼には、不可能であった。: It was impossible for him who also had to pay for his night school expenses.

最低賃金で働き、夜間学校の費用も払わなければならない彼には、不可能であった。: It was impossible for him as he worked for minimum wage and also had to pay for his night school expenses.

Forty years later, he was still poor. 

四十年後、彼は依然として貧しかった。

四十年後（よんじゅうねんご）：forty years later

彼（かれ）：he/his/him

依然として（いぜんとして）：still, as it was before

貧しい（まずしい）：poor (adjective) / You are poor.

貧しかった。(まずしかった) : You were poor.

He had no house of his own, or a family.

彼には、持ち家は無く、家族もいなかった。

持つ (もつ) : to have (verb) / to hold something in your hand (verb) / to own (verb)

家 (いえ) : a house / home

持ち家（もちいえ）：your own house or condominium

無い（ない）：Such a thing is not here/there. / You don’t have it.

無く、.... (なく) : You don't have it so ............

家族（かぞく）：a family

依然として貧しい。: You are still poor.

彼は貧しかった。: He was poor.

四十年後、彼は貧しかった。: Forty years later, he was poor.

彼は依然として貧しかった。: Her was still poor.

四十年後、彼は依然として貧しかった。: Forty years later, he was still poor. 

彼には：at/with/to/on/for him (This part is not the subject of the sentence.)

いない：There is not a such person nor such people. 

彼には持ち家は無い。：He does not have his own house. (Literally, “At him, there is not his own house.” “彼には” is not the subject of the sentence.)

彼には持ち家は無かった。: He had no house of his own.

彼には持ち家は無く、.... : He does/did not have his own house so ......

彼には、家族はいない。：He does not have family. (Literally, “At him, there is no family.”)

彼には、家族もいない。：Neither does he have any family. (This expression emphasizes his negative situation.)

彼には家族はいなかった。: He had no family.

彼には家族もいなかった。: Neither did he have any family. (emphasizing negative situation)

彼には、持ち家はなく、家族もいない。: He has no house of his own, or family. (emphasizing negative situation, current situation)

彼には、持ち家はなく、家族もいなかった。: He had no house of his own, or family. (emphasizing negative situation, past situation)

But he enjoyed singing “Million Roses” in Russian every day. 

しかし、彼は、「百万本の薔薇」を、ロシア語で、毎日歌って楽しんでいた。

しかし：but / however

彼 (かれ) : he/his/him

百万本 (ひゃくまんぼん)：a million (when counting ropes, pens, flowers, sticks, etc.)

薔薇 (ばら)：a rose

「百万本の薔薇」：”Million Roses” 

ロシア語（ろしあご）：Russian (language)

毎日（まいにち）：every day (adverb)

歌う（うたう）：to sing (verb)

歌った。(うたった) : You sang. You have/had sung.

歌って (うたって) : You sang and ......

楽しむ（たのしむ）：to enjoy (verb)

楽しんだ。( たのしんだ) : You enjoyed it.

「百万本の薔薇」を歌う：You sing “Million Roses”.

ロシア語で歌う：You sing a song in Russian.

ロシア語で歌った。: You sang it in Russian.

毎日歌う：You sing every day.

毎日歌った。: You sang every day.

彼は毎日歌った。: He sang every day.

彼は毎日歌って、... : He sang every day and/then/so .....

歌い楽しむ / 歌って楽しむ：You sing a song and enjoy it.

楽しんでいる。：You are enjoying it now. (present progress), You enjoy it regularly, often or usually. (current and recent activity)

彼は楽しんでいる。：He is enjoying it now. (present progress) / He enjoys it regularly, often or usually. (current and recent activity)

毎日楽しんでいる。：You enjoy it everyday. (current and recent activity)

彼は楽しんでいた。：He was enjoying it. (past progress), He regularly or often enjoyed it. (past activity)

彼は毎日楽しんでいた。：He enjoyed it everyday. (past activity)

彼は、「百万本の薔薇」を、毎日歌った。: He sang "Million Roses" every day.

彼は、「百万本の薔薇」を、ロシア語で歌った。: He sang "Million Roses" in Russian.

しかし、彼は、毎日歌って楽しんでいた。: However, he enjoyed singing every day.

He said to himself, “I don’t need anything. I have this song.” 

「何も要らない。この歌があるから。」 彼は自らにこう言った。

何も（なにも）：anything (usually followed by a negative phrase)

要る（いる）：You need it.

要らない (いらない)：You don’t need it.

何も要らない。: You don't need anything. / I don't need anything. (in this context)

歌 (うた) : a song

この歌：this song

有る (ある) : It is here/there. You have it.

この歌が有る : You have this song. / I have this song. (in this context)

あるから：because you have it.  / Because I have it.  (in this context)

彼（かれ）：he/his/him

自ら（みずから）：oneself, myself/yourself/himself/herself (depends on the context)

言う（いう）：to say (verb)

自らに言う : You say it to yourself.

言った。(いった) : You said. / You told.

彼は言った。: He said. / He told.

自らに言った。: You said to yourself. 

彼はこう言った。: He said like this.

彼は自らに言った。: He said to himself.

私は自らに言った : I said to myself.

Ten years later, he was in a facility for people with dementia.

十年後、彼は認知症の人々の施設に居た。

十年後（じゅうねんご）：ten years later

彼 (かれ) : he/his/him

認知症（にんちしょう）：dementia

人々（ひとびと）：people

施設（しせつ）：a facility 

認知症の人々：people with dementia

認知症の人々の施設：a facility for people with dementia

居る（いる）：There is a person or people. 

施設に居る。：You are in a facility. You live in a facility. 

居た。(いた) : You were here/there.

彼は居た。: He was there/here. He lived here/there.

十年後、彼は居た。: Ten years later, he was here/there.

十年後、施設に居た。: Ten years later, you were/lived in a facility.

十年後、彼は施設に居た。: Ten years later, he was/lived in a facility.

The facility staff were talking one day, “Why does he sing that Russian song every day?”

ある日、施設の職員達が喋っていた。「あの人、なんで毎日、あのロシア語の歌を歌ってんの?」

ある日（あるひ）：one day

施設（しせつ）：a facility

職員 (しょくいん) : a worker of a school, facility, etc. (noun)

施設の職員 : a worker of a facility (noun)

職員達（しょくいんたち）：the staff of a school, facility, etc. (noun)

施設の職員達 : the facility staff

喋る（しゃべる）：to talk casually, to chat

喋っている（しゃべっている）：You are talking.

喋っていた（しゃべっていた）：You were talking.

職員たちが喋っている。: The staff are talking now.

職員たちが喋っていた。: The staff were talking.

ある日、職員達が喋っていた。: One day, the staff were talking.

人（ひと）：a person / human being

あの人 (あのひと)：that person

なんで?：Why?

毎日（まいにち）：every day 

なんで毎日？ : Why every day?

ロシア語（ろしあご）：Russian (language)

歌 (うた) : a song (noun)

ロシア語の歌 : a Russian song / Russian songs

あの歌：that song

あのロシア語の歌 : that Russian song

歌う（うたう）：to sing (verb)

歌っている（うたっている）：You are singing. (present progress) / You sing regularly, usually, often or sometimes. (current and recent activity such as your hobby, job, etc.) / You are a singer. (your occupation, job, etc. )

ロシア語の歌を歌う : You sing a Russian song.

歌っているの?：Are you singing? (present progress, casual expression), Do you sing? (often or usually, current and recent activity, your job or hobby)

歌ってんの?：Are you singing? (More casual expression )

毎日、歌ってんの？: Do you sing every day?

なんで歌ってんの？: Why are you singing?

なんで毎日歌ってんの？: Why do you sing every day?

あの人、毎日歌ってんの？: Does that person sing every day?

なんで、あの歌を歌ってんの? : Why do you sing that song?

あの人、なんで、あの歌を歌ってんの? : Why does he/she sing that song?

なんで毎日、あのロシア語の歌を歌ってんの? : Why do you sing that Russian song every day?

あの人、なんで、ロシア語の歌を歌ってんの? : Why does he/she sing the Russian song?

あの人、なんで毎日、歌を歌ってんの? : Why does he/she sing songs every day?

あの人、なんで、あのロシア語の歌を歌ってんの? : Why does he/she sing that Russian song?

あの人、なんで毎日、あのロシア語の歌を歌ってんの? : Why does he/she sing that Russian song every day?

He did not speak. 

彼は、喋らなかった。

彼 (かれ) : he/his/him

喋る（しゃべる）：to talk (verb) / to speak (verb) / You talk. / You speak.

喋らない。（しゃべらない）：You don’t talk. / You don't speak.

喋らなかった。：You didn’t talk. / You didn't speak.

彼は喋らない。: He doesn't speak. / He doesn't talk.

His voice could only be heard when singing.

彼の声は、歌う時しか人々が耳にする事は無かった。

声（こえ）：a voice

彼の声 : his voice

歌う時（うたうとき）：when singing

歌う時しか：except when singing (This expression is used with a negative phrase.)

人々（ひとびと）：people

耳にする（みみにする）：You hear it. 

耳にしない : You don't hear it.

人々が耳にする：People hear it.

事 (こと) : an event / an issue / the matter / a situation

耳にする事 : hearing it

人々が耳にする事 : a situation that people hear it (noun clause)

無い (ない) : It is not here/there. / You don't have it. / It does not happen.

事は無い。: It doesn't happen. / You don't see such a situation.

耳にする事は無い。: You don't hear it.

彼の声は、耳にする事は無い。: You don't hear his voice. / He never speaks.

人々が耳にする事は無い。: People don't hear it.

無かった。(なかった) :  It was not here/there.  / You didn't have it. / It has not happened.

事は無かった。（ことはなかった）：It never happened. / You have not seen such a situation.

歌う時しか耳にしない : You don't hear it except when someone is singing. / It can only be beard when singing. ("....しない" is a negative expression, and ".....しか" is used in a negative phrases in this way.)

彼の声は、歌う時しか耳にしない : You don't hear his voice except when he is singing. / His voice can only be heard when singing. 

彼の声は、歌う時しか人々が耳にする事は無い。: His voice can only be heard when singing. (current and recent situation)

彼の声は、歌う時しか人々が耳にする事は無かった。: His voice could only be heard when singing. (past situation)