This translation is intended for people who already know English and are learning Japanese. It is not intended to be used to learn English, because the sentences in English may use strange or awkward wording in order to illustrate the vocabulary and grammar of the original Japanese.
This game's text originally used little to no kanji. We have added kanji in case they would be of interest.
Game title
Japanese
リンクの冒険
Reading
リンクの ぼうけん
English
Link's Adventure
Name registration screen
Japanese
NAMAE TOUROKU
Kanji
名前登録
English
Name registration
Rauru
The Town Sign
Japanese
ラウルヘ ヨウコソ！
English
Welcome to Rauru!
Old Woman - at the entrance of town
Japanese
ソノ クリスタルヲ シンデンニ モドサレルノカ！ キタニアル トンネルヲヌケナサイ
Kanji
そのクリスタルを神殿に戻されるのか！ 北にあるトンネルを抜けなさい。
English
So you're planning to return that crystal to the temple, are you? Go through the tunnel to the north.
Man - inside a house
Japanese
ミッツノ チカラノ レベルガ ソロエバ シンノチカラト
ナルゾ！
Kanji
三つの力のレベルが揃えば、新の力となるぞ！
English
If you line up the three levels of power, they'll become a new power!
This refers to the fact that continuing after a game over or even a saved game, causes your attack, magic and life levels to drop to the lowest of the three levels. If you level them up evenly, you have less to lose. (This level up system is unique to the Japanese version.)
Old Woman
Japanese
ハンマーガアレバ ミチヲフサグ イワヲ コワセルンジャガ・・
Kanji
ハンマーがあれば道を塞ぐ岩を壊せるんじゃが・・
English
If you have the hammer you can break the rock blocking the road.
Woman - inviting you to see the town's Magician
Japanese
シンデンニユクマエニ アタシノ ウチニキテ ジイチャンニ アッテ
Kanji
神殿に行く前に、あたしのうちに来て、じいちゃんに会って。
English
Before going to the temple, come to my house and meet my grandfather.
Woman - inside her house before meeting the Magician
Japanese
マチヲ ミツケタラ ソノマチノ マジシャンニアッテ マホウヲ オソワルトイイワ！
Kanji
町を見つけたら、その町のマジシャンに会って魔法を教わるといいわ！
English
When you find the town, you should meet the town's magician and you will be taught magic.
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Shield"
Japanese
シンデンハ パラパサバクニ アル コノマホウデ ミヲマモルガヨイ
Kanji
神殿はパラパ砂漠にあるこの魔法で身を守るがよい。
English
The temple (Palace) is in the desert. It's good to protect yourself with this magic.
ie. Use this magic to protect yourself.
Woman
Japanese
パラパノ シンデンノ ミナミノ カイガンニ ハートノウツワガアル
Kanji
パラパの神殿の南の海岸にハートの器がある。
English
The shore south of Parapa has a heart container.
Man - inside a house
Japanese
パラパノ シンデンデ ローソクヲ トッタラ ニシノ トンネルカラ ツギノシンデンニユケ
Kanji
パラパの神殿で蝋燭を取ったら、西のトンネルから次の神殿に行け
English
When you get (lit. take) the candle from Parapa Palace (lit. temple), go to the next Palace via (lit. from) the western tunnel.
Town of Ruto
The Town Sign
Japanese
ルトノマチ
Kanji
ルトの町
English
Town of Ruto
Old Woman
Japanese
デスマウンテンノ メガネイワニ セイナル ハンマーガ アルソウジャ・・
Kanji
デスマウンテンの眼鏡岩に聖なるハンマーがあるそうじゃ・・・
English
I heard that the Sacred Hammer is in Spectacle Rock on Death Mountain
眼鏡 in everyday Japanese is "glasses", but the English versions of the Zelda games translate it 眼鏡岩 as Spectacle Rock (imagine a pair of spectacles and the connection is obvious).
「そう」 at the end of a plain-form sentence is a way to say that you heard something somewhere.
Old Woman - inside a house
Japanese
シンデンノ カギハ カナラズ ソノシンデンデ オツカイナサイ
Kanji
神殿の鍵は必ずその神殿でお使いなさい。
English
You must always use a temple's key within that same temple.
Error
Japanese
オレノナハ エラー ダ・・・
Kanji
俺の名はエラーだ。
English
My name is Error.
Later in the game, there's another character named Bug. Error and Bug, get it? (There's also a myth that the name was meant to be Errol, but Errol is written エロール.)
Error - after Link have spoken to a man in Mido
Japanese
ホントウニ ミドマデ イッタノカ！ オウノ ハカノミナミニ カミヘノ ヌケアナガアル
Kanji
本当にミドまで行ったのか！ 王の墓の南に神への抜け穴がある。
English
Have you really been all the way to Mido? South of the king's tomb there is a secret passage that leads to God.
神 means god, and refers to the temples (神殿) you visit in the game (translated as "Palace" in the English version). 抜け穴 means "secret passage", specifically a "hole" (穴) you can "pass through" (抜ける).
Woman
Japanese
タンタリサバクノ ゴーリアガ マチノ メガミゾウヲ ヌスンデシマッタワ
Kanji
タンタリ砂漠のゴーリアが町の女神像を盗んでしまったわ
English
Goria of Tantari Desert stole the town's goddess statue.
Woman - when bringing back the statue
Japanese
マア！メガミゾウダワ
オジイサンニ アッテ イッテ！
Kanji
まあ！ 女神像だわ。おじいさんに会って行って。
English
Oh! The goddess statue! Go see my grandfather!
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Jump"
Japanese
ジャンプアップノ マホウヲ オボエテ ユクガヨイ
Kanji
ジャンプアップの魔法を覚えてゆくがよい。
English
It is good if you learn the "Jump Up" magic.
～がよい is a way to say "You had better ~" or "I think you should ~"). The old man is teaching you the ability here.
Man
Japanese
オシロノ ミナミノ ドウクツニ マジックノ ウツワガ アルゾ
Kanji
お城の南の洞窟にマジックの器があるぞ。
English
There is a magic container in the cave to the south of the castle.
Woman - at the end of town
Japanese
ローソクガナケレバ マチカラ ミナミハ トテモキケンヨ！
Kanji
蝋燭がなければ、町から南はとても危険よ！
English
If you don't have a candle, the (area to the) south of town is extremely dangerous!
Water Town of Saria
The Town Sign
Japanese
ミズノマチ サリア
Kanji
水の町 サリア
English
Water town of Saria
Man - at the entrance of town
Japanese
マチニ ガノンノイチミガ マギレコンドル
Kanji
町にガノンの一見が紛れ込んどる。
English
The eyes of Ganon are everywhere in this town.
紛れ込む means that something foreign/alien has penetrated into the crowd. ～どる is a colloquial form of ～でいる.
Woman
Japanese
Kanji
鏡を無くしたわ。しくしく。
English
I lost (my) mirror. Sob
しくしく is a sound word for weeping or whimpering.
Woman - when you have found her mirror
Japanese
Kanji
まあ！ 私の鏡。うちまで付いてきて。
English
Oh! My mirror! Follow me into my house.
うち is another word for "my house".
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Life"
Japanese
ライフ フッカツノ マホウヲ サズケヨウ
Kanji
ライフ復活の魔法を授けよう。
English
I will bestow upon you the magic to recover you Life.
Woman
Japanese
ミドロヌマノシンデンニ セイナルテブクロガ アルハズヨ！
Kanji
ミドロの沼の神殿に聖なる手袋があるはずよ。
English
The Sacred Glove should be in Midoro Swamp.
あるはず means "should be there" or "supposed to be there".
Tomb
Japanese
ユウシャ ロト ココニネムル
Kanji
勇者ロト ここに眠る
English
The hero Roto rests here.
A reference to Dragon Quest. Roto was named Erdrick in the original Dragon Warrior translation. It seems that putting characters from competing series in graves was a common gag in games, as, for example, Final Fantasy 1 has "Here lies Erdrick" in its English version and "Here lies Link" in its Japanese version.
Link - when finding the lost mirror inside a house
Japanese
テーブルノシタデ カガミヲ ミツケタゾ
Kanji
テーブルの下で鏡を見つけたぞ。
English
I found a mirror under the table.
Sleeping "Bot"
Japanese
グーグー・・・
English
Zzzz...
The "Bots" (ボト, Boto) are common enemies in the game, but in this case one of them is sleeping inside a house.
Sleeping "Bot" - if Link wakes it up
Japanese
ウルサイナ！ ココノ シュジンハ カワノ キタノ モリニ イッテイルヨ
Kanji
うるさいな！ ここの主人は川の北の森に行っているよ。
English
How annoying! The master/husband of this place went to the forest north of the river.
うるさいな！ is an exclamation used to convey annoyance at someone badgering you. (By repeatedly trying to speak with it, the "Bot" finally wakes up and gives you this clue about Bug's whereabouts.)
River Man / Guard
Japanese
マチノヒト イガイ カワヲ ワタセナイナ
Kanji
町の人以外、川を渡せないな。
English
People who are not from this town cannot cross the river.
That is, only people from this town may cross.
River Man / Guard - after you have spoken to Bug
Japanese
バグノ シリアイカ！ ソレナラ ハシヲ カケテヤロウ
Kanji
バグの知り合いか！それなら橋をかけてやろう。
English
A friend of Bug's are you? In that case, I'll bridge the river for you.
Bug's House
Japanese
オレノナハ バグ ダ
ワタシバノ オトコニ コノテガミヲ ミセロ
Kanji
俺の名はバグだ。渡し場の男にこの手紙を見せろ。
English
My name is Bug. Show this letter to the man at the (river) crossing.
Port Town of Mido
The Town Sign
Japanese
ミナトマチ ミド
Kanji
港町 ミド
English
Port town of Mido
Man - inside a house
Japanese
ルトニスム エラーガ シンデンノコトヲ シッテイルハズダ！
Kanji
ルトに住むエラーが神殿のことを知っているはずだ！
English
Error, who lives in Ruto, should know about the temple(s).
Woman
Japanese
コノマチノキョウカイ シンプモ イナイノニ イツモ カネガナルワ
Kanji
この町の教会、神父もいないのに、いつも鐘が鳴るわ。
English
The bell always rings even though there is no Father/priest in the church.
Church Door
Japanese
Kanji
ドアは開かない。やけに静かだな。
English
The door won't open. It sure is quiet.
Swordsman - teaches Link the ability: "Down Thrust"
Japanese
ジャンプ シタトキ キーヲ シタニ イレナサイ
Kanji
ジャンプした時、キーを下に入れなさい。
English
When you jump, press Down.
キーを入れる is literally "input a keypress"
Old Woman
Japanese
モルゲヌマノドウクツニ ヤマイヲナオス セイナルミズガ アル
Kanji
モルゲ沼の洞窟に病を治す聖なる水がある。
English
There is Sacred Water that can cure sickness in a cave in Moruge Swamp.
Man
Japanese
イカダハ ミナミニアル コジマノ シンデンニ アルゾ
Kanji
筏は南にある小島の神殿にあるぞ。
English
There is a raft in the temple on the small island to the south.
Old Woman
Japanese
Kanji
娘が病で死にそうじゃ。おいおい。
English
My daughter is sick and dying. Sob Sob
病で死にそう: Looks like she will die from the sickness. おいおい is a sound word for heavy sobbing.
Old Woman - when Link have obtained "Sacred Water"
Japanese
コレハ！セイナルミズ
コレデ ムスメノ イノチハ スクワレタ
ウチヘキテクダサイ
Kanji
これは！ 聖なる水。これで娘の命は救われた。うちへ来て下さい。
English
What's this! Sacred water! With this, my daughter's life has been saved. Please come into my home.
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Fairy"
Japanese
コノジュモンデ ヨウセイノ チカラヲ カリルガヨイ
Kanji
この呪文で妖精の力を借りるがよい。
English
With this spell, you can borrow the power of a Fairy.
妖精 is a term that often gets translated as Elf, Fairy or Fey.
Nabōru
The Town Sign
Japanese
ナボールヘ ヨウコソ
English
Welcome to Nabōru!
Man - inside a house
Japanese
セイナルブーツガ アレバ ウミノアサセヲ アルケルンダガナ
Kanji
聖なるブーツがあれば、海の浅瀬を歩けるんだがな。
English
If you have the Sacred Boots, you can walk on the shoals of the sea.
Fountain
Japanese
ミズヲ クンデユコウ
Kanji
水を汲んでゆこう。
English
Take some water!
汲む means "to draw" water, like from a well.
Woman
Japanese
ノドガ カワイタワ
Kanji
喉が渇いたわ。
English
I'm thirsty.
Woman - when Link have taken water from the fountain
Japanese
Kanji
水を持ってるのね。うちにおいでなさい。
English
You have water, don't you? Come inside my house.
おいで is a colloquial way to say "come here".
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Fire"
Japanese
ツルギヨリ ホノウノ デル マホウジャ
Kanji
剣より炎の出る魔法じゃ。
English
(This is) magic to shoot fire from your sword.
There is a typo here. 炎 is ほのお, not ほのう.
Man
Japanese
シンデンニユクノカ？ ナカデハ オソレズニ アナニ トビオリロ！
Kanji
神殿に行くのか？ 中では恐れずに穴に飛び降りろ！
English
Are you going to the temple? Once inside, jump into the hole without fear!
Old Woman
Japanese
マモノガ カワニ スミツイテ タビビトヲ タベテシマウ・・
Kanji
魔物が川に住み着いて旅人を食べてしまう・・・
English
Monsters have come to live in the river and they eat travellers.
Bat - inside a house
Japanese
・・・・
Kanji
・・・・
English
....
The same as with the sleeping "Bot" in Saria, the bat is a common enemy in the game, but this one is friendly.
If you're trying to speak with it a few times, the bat suddenly talks.
Japanese
シツコイネ！ ウミノウエデ ハートヲ ミタヨ！キーキー
Kanji
しつこいね！ 海の上でハートを見たよ！ きーきー
English
You sure are persistent! I saw a heart on the surface of the sea. Squeak squeak.
Woman - at the end of town
Japanese
ダルニアノマジシャンニ アウマデ メイロジマノ シンデンニ ハイラナイコトネ
Kanji
ダルニアのマジシャンに会うまで迷路島の神殿に入らないことね。
English
You can't enter the temple on Maze Island until you meet the magician in Darunia.
Mountain Town of Darunia
The Town Sign
Japanese
ヤマノマチ ダルニア
Kanji
山の町 ダルニア
English
Mountain town of Darunia
Written on the wall - inside the first house
Japanese
ナボールノ ズット ヒガシニ カミガスムト カベニカイテアル
Kanji
「ナボールのずっと東に神が住む」と壁に書いてある
English
"God lives far to the east of Nabooru," is written on the wall.
Here again, 神 is reference to 神殿 (temple)
Woman
Japanese
マモノハ オトヲ キラウワヨ
Kanji
魔物は音を嫌うわよ。
English
Monsters hate sound.
Man
Japanese
シンデンニハ ニセノ カベガ アルゾ！
Kanji
神殿には偽の壁があるぞ！
English
There is a false wall in the temple.
The Door on the Swordsman's house
Japanese
？？ ドアノムコウデ ヒトノ ケハイガスル
Kanji
？？ ドアの向こうで人の気配がする。
English
?? It seems like there is somebody on the other side of the door.
気配 means "traces" or "signs (of something being there)"
Swordsman - teaches Link the ability: "Up Thrust"
Japanese
ジャンプシタトキ キーヲ ウエニ イレテミロ！
Kanji
ジャンプした時、キーを上に入れてみろ！
English
Try pressing up when you jump!
Old Woman
Japanese
コドモガ メイロジマニ サラワレテシモウテノウ ・・・
Kanji
子供が迷路島に浚われてしもうてのう。
English
The(my?) child was dragged off to Maze Island.
しもうて is Kansai-ben for しまって. のう is Kansai-ben for な/ね.
Old Woman - after rescuing her child
Japanese
Kanji
勇者をありがとう。うちへおいでなさい。
English
Thank you hero! Come inside my house.
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Reflect"
Japanese
オマエノタテニ チカラヲ アタエル マホウダ！
Kanji
お前の盾に力を与える魔法だ。
English
This is magic to give strength to your shield.
Man - at the end of town
Japanese
コノマチニハ スゴウデノ ケンシガイルゾ
Kanji
この町には凄腕の剣士がいるぞ。
English
There is an incredibly skilled swordsman in this town.
Kasuto
The Town Sign
Japanese
カスト・・・ヘンダナ
マッタク ヒトノ ケハイガナイ！
Kanji
カスト・・・変だな。まったく人の気配がない！
English
Kasuto... is strange. There's no sign of people at all!
Magician - if you visit him without having all "Magic Containers"
Japanese
コノマチハ ハイキョ
マチノヒトハ ドウクツノ ヒガシノモリニ カクレスンデイル
Kanji
この町は廃墟。町の人は洞窟の東の森に隠れ住んでいる。
English
This town is in ruins. The people are living in hiding in a forest east of the cave.
- (The last container is in the secret town of Kasuto.)
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Thunder"
Japanese
サイキョウノマホウヲ サズケヨウ
Kanji
最強の魔法を授けよう。
English
I will grant you the strongest magic.
Written on the wall inside one of the houses
Japanese
マホウノ カギハ カストノ タカラト カイテアル
Kanji
魔法の鍵はカストの宝と書いてある。
English
It says "The Magic Key is Kasuto's treasure."
Secret Town of Kasuto
The Town Sign
Japanese
ヒミツノマチ カスト
Kanji
秘密の町 カスト
English
Secret town of Kasuto
Woman - at the entrance of town
Japanese
ミンナ カストカラ ニゲテキタノヨ
Kanji
みんなカストから逃げてきたのよ。
English
Everybody escaped here from Kasuto.
Old Woman - if you don't have 7 "Magic Containers"
Japanese
マジックノ ウツワハ ７コアルカイ？
Kanji
マジックの器は７個あるかい？
English
Do you have 7 Magic Containers?
Old Woman - when you have 7 "Magic Containers"
Japanese
Kanji
いいものをあげよう。付いておいで。
English
I'll give you something good. Follow me.
- 付いてくる means "to follow" or "come with (somebody)". おいで is a colloquial form of くる.
- (You get the final "Magic Container" in her basement.)
Old Woman - inside the house where you get the "Magic Container"
Japanese
マチノハズレニ ヒミツガアル
Kanji
町のはずれに秘密がある。
English
There's a secret on the outskirts of town.
- A hint on where the "Magical Key" is hidden.
Fireplace - path to the town's Magician
Japanese
オヤ！？ ダンロニ ハイレソウダ！
Kanji
おや！？ 暖炉に入れそうだ！
English
Eh!? It looks like you can go in the fireplace!
- In the 9th house from the left.
Magician - teaches Link the magic: "Spell"
Japanese
フシギナジュモンヲ オボエテイキナサイ
Kanji
不思議な呪文を覚えていきなさい
English
Learn this wondrous magic spell and then go.
- 覚える is often used instead of 習う when you learn by memorizing.
Man
Japanese
サバクノ ミツメイワデ カミヲヨビナサイ
Kanji
砂漠の三つ目岩で神を呼びなさい。
English
Call god at Three Eye Rock in the desert.
- You have to play the flute to reveal the temple.
Old Woman
Japanese
シンデンノ アナハ ソコナシニ クリカエスソウジャ クルクル
Kanji
神殿の穴は底無しに繰り返すそうじゃ。くるくる。
English
I heard that the hole in the temple is a bottomless pit that goes on forever.
- TODO — I don't know what クルクル means here. Usually this is the sound word for something rolling.
Woman
Japanese
マチニノコッタ チョウロウハ スゴイ マジシャンダッタワ！
Kanji
町に残った長老は凄いマジシャンだったわ！
English
The town elder that was left behind in the town was an incredible magician!
Written on the wall inside a empty house
Japanese
ミイヒノイニーウガ
ツワガ ガ トツア
メノシカンハノワル
トカイテ アルゾ！
Kanji
三つ目の岩の東の海岸にハートの器がある！ と書いてあるぞ！
English
"There is a Heart Container on the shore east of Three Eye Rock." is written here!
- This is a puzzle. You actually have to read it vertically, left to right.
Various Town Dialogue
Magicians and Swordsmen - if you talk to them again after they have teached you already
Japanese
モウオマエニ オシエルコトハナイ
キヲツケテイキナサイ
Kanji
もうお前に教えることはない。気をつけていきなさい。
English
I have nothing more to teach you. Take care of yourself.
Women - restore your life
Japanese
チョット ヨッテ イカナイ？
Kanji
ちょっと寄っていかない？
English
Stay here for a while before going?
Old Women - restore your magic
Japanese
ヤスンデ オユキ
Kanji
休んでお行き
English
Rest here and then go
- お行き is short for お行きなさい in the same way that おやすみ is short for おやすみなさい. It has a warm/kind feeling.
Various Town Dialogue - Western Hyrule
Women - when you restore your life
Japanese
・・・・・ ライフヲ カイフクシテアゲルワ
Kanji
ライフを回復してあげるわ。
English
I'll restore your life.
Old Women - when you restore your magic
Japanese
マジックヲカイフク シテアゲヨウ
マタ イツデモオイデ
Kanji
マジックを回復してあげよう。またいつでもおいで。
English
I will restore your magic. Come again anytime.
Men
Japanese
チョット イソグンデナ アバヨ
Kanji
ちょっと急ぐんでな。あばよ。
English
I'm in a bit of a hurry. See ya.
Women
Japanese
コンニチワ
English
Hello.
- The proper spelling is こんにちは rather than こんにちわ.
Old Women
Japanese
ハイハイ コンニチワ
English
Hi hi, hello.
Women
Japanese
シラナイワ ゴメンネ
Kanji
知らないわ。ごめんね。
English
I don't know, sorry.
Various Town Dialogue - Eastern Hyrule
Magicians - if you don't have enough "Magic Containers"
Japanese
イマノ オマエニハ オシエテヤレナイ！
Kanji
今のお前には教えてやれない！
English
I can't teach you anything now.
- 今のお前 literally means "You, as you are now". The implication is that you are lacking something, like power or experience, and thus are not ready to be taught.
- ("Fire" requires 5 (1), "Reflect" requires 6 (2), "Spell" requires 7 (3) and "Thunder" requires 8 (4) containers.)
Women - when you restore your life
Japanese
・・・・・アア！ イキカエッタ
Kanji
ああ！ 生き返った。
English
Oh! I've come back to life.
Old Women - when you restore your magic
Japanese
ドウダイ！ アタシノ トクセイノクスリダヨ
Kanji
どうだい！ あたしの特性の薬だよ。
English
What do you think? It's my special medicine.
Women
Japanese
マチヲ スクッテ！
Kanji
町を救って！
English
Save the town please!
Men
Japanese
オレハ ナニモ シランヨ
Kanji
俺は何も知らんよ。
English
I don't know anything.
Women
Japanese
チカラニ ナレナイワ
Kanji
力になれないわ。
English
I can't help you.
- 力になる means 助ける (たすける - to help someone)
Old Women
Japanese
ハイラルヲ オスクイクダサレ
Kanji
ハイラルをお救い下さい。
English
Please save Hyrule.
