作品Free Graded Reading
雨Rain
Ame
by 竹内 浩三 · Takeuchi Kozo
JLPT N3Short Story
Walking in the rain with no umbrella and no money.
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.
Language difficultyBeginner · 20/100
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.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseさいげんなくざんござんごと雨がふるまっくらな空からざんござんごとおしよせてくるぼくは傘もないしお金もない雨にまけまいとしてがちんがちんとあるいたお金をつかうことはにぎやかだからすきだものをたべることはにぎやかだからすきだぼくは にぎやかなことがすきださいげんなく ざんござんごと雨がふるぼくは 傘もないし お金もないきものはぬれてさぶいけれど誰もかまってくれないぼくは一人でがちんがちんとあるいたあるいた
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