どろぼう猫The Thief Cat

About this story

A mischievous cat and a dog engage in a witty exchange about manners and thievery.

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Source

This 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): 「夢野久作全集7」三一書房
1970（昭和45）年1月31日第1版第1刷発行
1992（平成4）年2月29日第1版第12刷発行

Typed in by 川山隆. Proofread by 土屋隆.

Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji, and replaced classical grammar with its modern form.

The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 3 parts.

What you'll learn

A spotted cat is loved for its flattery but secretly steals food, blaming the maid. The dog catches the cat in the act and kills it, revealing the truth and earning praise.

Key vocabulary

斑猫ぶちねこ	spotted cat, calico cat
縁側えんがわ	veranda, porch, wooden corridor
泥棒猫どろぼうねこ	thieving cat
おべっか	flattery, sycophancy
畳たたみ	tatami mat
猫ねこイラズ	cat repellent, poison for cats

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～ている N5Auxiliary verb indicating ongoing action or state.

  猫ねこは畳たたみの表ひょうを爪つめで力ちから一いちパイバリバリと掻かきむしっています。

• ～てしまう N4Indicates completion of an action, often with a sense of regret or finality.

  犬いぬは泥足どろあしの儘床ゆかの上うえに飛とび上のぼって、「アレッ、助たすけて」と言いう猫ねこを啣えるなり一いち振ふり二に振ふりするうちに、猫ねこはニャーとも言いわずに死しんでしまいました。

• ～さえ～ば N3A conditional structure meaning 'if only (something) happens, then everything else is fine'.

  お前まえなんぞは家いえの外そとまわりをみはって泥棒どろぼうの用心ようじんさえしておればいいんだ。

• ～しか～ない N2A negative expression meaning 'only' or 'nothing but'.

  この猫ねこは鼠ねずみを一いち匹ひきも捕とらぬくせに泥棒どろぼう猫ねこで、近所きんじょから嫌きらわれていましたが、「ニャーニャーゴロゴロ」とおべっかを使つかうのが上手じょうずなので、この家いえの人ひとに可愛かわいがられていました。

Cultural notes

• 猫イラズ (Nekoirazu) - Cat RepellentNekoirazu was a traditional chemical mixture used to repel or poison cats that stole food. It reflects historical methods of pest control in Japanese households.
• Tatami and Domestic HierarchyIn traditional Japanese homes, dogs were typically not allowed onto tatami mats, as they were considered dirty. This contrasts with cats, which could freely walk on tatami. The story uses this to highlight the dog's frustration.

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