作品Free Graded Reading
調帯The Buzzing Belt
Chōtai
by 野村 吉哉 · Nomura Yoshiya
JLPT N2Short Story
A terrifying vision of a buzzing belt that attacks relentlessly
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator describes a spinning band that constantly appears and attacks them, breaking their limbs and spinning even in darkness. This torment occurs day and night.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 35/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 調帯 (ちょうたい) | belt, band |
|---|---|
| うなり | groan, whir |
| まどろみかけた | dozed off |
| へし折り (へしおり) | snap off, break |
| 幻影 (げんえい) | illusion, phantom |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- 〜ながら N4Means 'while doing (an action)'. Connects two simultaneous actions.ぶんぶんすばらしくうなりながら
- 〜ている N5Indicates ongoing action or state.回転している調帯の幻影
- 〜てくる N4Indicates an action that comes toward the speaker or begins.私の目の前にいつでもいつでもあらわれてくる調帯
- 〜られる (passive) N4Passive voice: subject is acted upon.私は調帯にせめられている
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Shinkō Bungaku MovementThis text is from the 1929 collection 'Shinkō Bungaku Zenshū', part of the New Rising Literature movement in Japan. This movement emphasized modernist and avant-garde styles, often exploring psychological and sensory experiences.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the band do to the narrator?
- Talks to him
- Attacks him
- Sings to him
- Dances around him
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to repeated phrases like 'いつでもいつでも' to understand the relentless nature of the attack.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseぶんぶんすばらしくうなりながら私の目の前にいつでもいつでもあらわれてくる調帯うとうととまどろみかけた頭のなかにすぐぶんぶんとひびきながら私の身体のところどころをへし折りはねとばしすばらしい勢いで回転している調帯の幻影いつでもいつでも夜でも昼でも私は調帯にせめられているまっくらがりのなかでぶんぶんうなりながら回転している調帯！手を折られ足を折られた私のめのまえへ疲れきったあたまのなかからひょっくりひょっくりあらわれてくる（発表誌不詳 一九二九年一月平凡社刊『新興文学全集』10を底本）
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