作品Free Graded Reading
段梯子の恐怖The Terror of the Staircase
Danhashigo no Kyoufu
by 小酒井 不木 · Kosakai Fuboku
JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready
A detective story with a twist: was the staircase accident intentional?
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator's friend F picks up a magazine titled 'Detective Hobby' and comments on an article about 'The Terror of the Staircase'. He then tells a tragic story about a female teacher whose younger sister died after a staircase accident during an arranged marriage meeting, and the subsequent suicide of the teacher. F reveals he was the young man in the story, and now has a phobia of stairs and arranged meetings.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 60/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 段梯子 (だんばしご) | staircase; step ladder |
|---|---|
| 白羽の矢 (しらはのや) | being chosen (for a role or marriage) |
| 丹毒症 (たんどくしょう) | erysipelas (skin infection) |
| 縊死 (いし) | death by hanging |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～かと思うと N3As soon as; just when one thinks...段々を二つ三つ降りたかと思うと、足をふみ辷らせたと見え、
- ～ばかりか N2not only... but also...爾来十年、僕は、段梯子に恐怖を感ずるばかりか、見あいそのものにも一種の恐怖を感ずるようになったよ。
- ～てしまう N4to do something completely; to finish doing; sometimes indicates regret「ハハハハハ」私は思わず笑った。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 見あい (Arranged Marriage Meeting)In traditional Japan, marriages were often arranged by families or matchmakers. The '見あい' was a formal meeting where the potential couple and their families would see each other for the first time, often leading to marriage. This story highlights the social pressures and potential tragedies surrounding such customs.
- 白羽の矢 (Being Chosen)Literally 'white-feathered arrow', this idiom originates from ancient times when a white arrow was used as a sign of being chosen for a sacrifice or important role. Here it means the young man was selected as the ideal candidate for marriage.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionThe sister died from falling down the stairs.
- True
- False
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to dialogue markers and shifts between narration and conversation to follow the story structure.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese「探偵趣味」第四号の配達された日、私を訪ねた友人Ｆは、室にはいるなり、「もう来たかね？」といって、机の上にあった雑誌を、いきなり取り上げて、ページを繰り始めた。彼はことし三十七歳の独身の弁護士である。「その十四ページを見なさい、編集当番のＮさんが、段梯子の恐怖ということを書いているから……」「え？」と彼は雑誌をまるめ、びっくりしたような顔をして私を見つめた。「何だい、馬鹿に真面目な顔になったじゃないか、……僕もかねて段梯子の恐怖を取り扱った小説を書いてみたいと思っていたのだが、みしり、みしり、と降りて来る深夜の足音などは、聊か材料が古いから、もっと、現実的な恐怖はないものかと思っているんだ。……おや、君どうした？ 何をそんなにぼんやりしているんだ？」こう言われてＦははっと我に返ったらしかった。「いや、実は、段梯子の恐怖と聞いて一寸思い当ったことがあるのだ。
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