がちょうの　たんじょうびGoose's Birthday

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What you'll learn

Animals on a farm are invited to a goose's birthday party, but worry about the weasel's loud farting habit. The weasel agrees not to fart, but ends up fainting from holding it in. The guinea pig doctor says the only cure is to let the weasel fart freely.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～という N4Indicates hearsay or explanation. Here it means 'saying that...' or 'the fact that...'.
  きょうは　がちょうさんの　たんじょうびと　いうので、みんなは　がちょうの　ところへ　ごちそうに　まねかれて　いきました。
• ～てしまう N4Expresses completion of an action, often with a nuance of regret or finality.
  いたちが　とつぜん　ひっくりかえって、きぜつして　しまったのです。
• ～しかない N2Means 'have no choice but to' or 'the only way is to'.
  これを　なおすには、いたちさんに　おもいきり　おならを　させるより　しかたは　ありません。
• ～てくる N4Indicates that an action is done and the subject comes back, or that a change is approaching.
  うさぎが　いたちの　ところへ　つかいに　やって　いきました。

Cultural notes

• Animal Folktales in JapanThis story is similar to traditional Japanese folktales where animals have human traits and teach a lesson. The weasel (いたち) often appears in folklore as a trickster or mischievous creature. The moral here is about the dangers of suppressing natural urges.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storychildrenembarrassmentfriendshiphumorousしか〜ないshika nai〜てくるte kuru〜てしまうte shimau〜という〜to iu