作品Free Graded Reading
雨Rain
Ame
by 竹内 浩三 · Takeuchi Kōzō
Walking in the rain with no umbrella and no money.
About this story
About this storyA lonely man walks in the rain without an umbrella or money, finding solace in simple joys.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis text comes from Aozora Bunko (青空文庫), the volunteer-run library of Japanese writing that is out of copyright. See this work on Aozora Bunko
Base edition (底本): 「竹内浩三全作品集 日本が見えない 全1巻」藤原書店
2001（平成13）年11月30日初版第1刷発行
2002（平成14）年8月30日初版第5刷発行
Typed in by 坂本真一. Proofread by 雪森.
Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator walks alone in endless, heavy rain with no umbrella or money, feeling cold and ignored, but continues walking with determination.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| さいげんなく | endlessly, without limit |
|---|---|
| がちんがちん | with a clattering sound (onomatopoeia for walking) |
| まっくら | pitch dark |
| おしよせてくる | to come pressing in |
| まけまい | determined not to lose (negative volitional + として) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～し N4Lists reasons or actions; often implies 'not only...but also'傘もないし お金もない
- ～から (reason) N5Indicates reason or causeにぎやかだからすきだ
- ～てくる (motion towards speaker) N4Indicates an action moving towards the speaker or a change beginningおしよせてくる
- ～ない (negative) N5Negation of verbs and adjectives傘もない
- ～まい (negative volitional) N2Expresses determination not to do something; archaic/literary雨にまけまいとして
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Rain and Solitude in Japanese PoetryRain is a common motif in Japanese poetry (e.g., haiku) to evoke melancholy, loneliness, and introspection. This poem continues that tradition with stark imagery of a solitary figure walking without shelter.
- Onomatopoeia in JapaneseJapanese uses rich onomatopoeia for sensory experiences. 'ざんござんごと' mimics the sound of heavy rain, and 'がちんがちん' evokes the sound of firm footsteps. Such words add vividness and emotion.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the narrator lack at the beginning of the poem?
- An umbrella and money
- Only an umbrella
- Only money
- Neither an umbrella nor money
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipFocus on onomatopoeic words to visualize the scene and connect emotionally.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar同級More at N3
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