Zelda II: The Adventure of Link/ja-en

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！

Reading

ラウルへ ようこそ！

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、真の力となるぞ！

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

デスマウンテンのメガネ岩に、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 ~").

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

町にガノンの一味が紛れ込んどる。

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

カガミヲ　ナクシタワ

シクシク

Kanji

鏡を失くしたわ。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

マア！ワタシノカガミ

ウチマデ　ツイテキテ

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 your 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 or Loto 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.
• This Dragon Quest reference was not included in the NES 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、神殿の事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

ドアハ　ヒラカナイ

ヤケニ　シズカダナ

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

ムスメガ　ヤマイデ　シニソウジャ

オイオイ

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

Reading

ナボールへ ようこそ

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

ミズヲ　モッテルノネ

ウチニ　オイデナサイ

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

・・・・

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！　キーキー

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

ユウシャヨアリガトウ

ウチヘ　オイデナサイ

Kanji

勇者よありがとう。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.

• 逃げる is "to run away"

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?

• かい is a variant of か.

Old Woman - when you have 7 "Magic Containers"

Japanese

イイモノヲ　アゲヨウ

ツイテオイデ

Kanji

いいものをあげよう。ついておいで。

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！　あたしの特製の薬だよ。

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れ。

English

Please save Hyrule.