作品Free Graded Reading
でんしゃで うとうとAsleep on the Train
by Yomimaru
JLPT BeginnerShort StoryQuiz ready
A relatable tale of nodding off on the train and ending up somewhere unexpected.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator dozes off on the train while reading an interesting book, wakes up at an unfamiliar station, and realizes they will be late.
Language difficultyBeginner · Level 4 · 8/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| でんしゃ | train |
|---|---|
| うとうと | dozing off, nodding off |
| きがつくと | when I came to, when I realized |
| あわてて | hurriedly, in a panic |
| とほほ | alas, boohoo, sad sigh |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ていた (V-te ita) N4Expresses a past progressive action (was doing something).でんしゃでほんをよんでいました。
- ～うちに N3Expresses that while one continuous action was taking place, an unplanned change or event occurred.よんでいるうちに、うとうと…。
- ～てしまう N4Indicates that an action completed fully, often with a sense of regret, mistake, or accident.ねてしまったのです。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Inemuri (Sleeping on Trains)Sleeping on commuter trains in Japan is incredibly common and widely accepted. It is often seen as a sign of diligence and hard work, though as the narrator experiences, it can occasionally lead to missing one's station!
- Tohoho (Japanese Internet & Comic Onomatopoeia)'Tohoho' is a classic comic-style expression of disappointment, embarrassment, or light self-pity. It's the equivalent of saying 'alas' or 'good grief' when something small goes wrong.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the narrator miss their station?
- They were too absorbed in talking to a friend.
- They fell asleep while reading a book.
- They got off to buy another book.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipIdentify particles: Since there are no kanji, use particles like で (at/by), を (object marker), and に (target) to group the words and break up the sentences.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseでんしゃ で ほん を よんでいました。とても おもしろい ほん でした。よんでいる うち に、 うとうと…。き が つく と、 しらない えき!ねてしまった の です。あわてて でんしゃ を おりました。ちこく です。とほほ。
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