ひとつの火One Fire

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What you'll learn

The narrator recalls an evening from their childhood when they lit a paper lantern for a cowherd. They then imagine the flame being passed from person to person across mountains and villages, eventually helping to search for a lost child.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～たことがありません (experience) N5Used to express that one has never experienced something.
  わたしはまだマッチをすったことがありませんでした。
• ～かもしれない (possibility) N4Expresses possibility ('might', 'maybe').
  あのうしかいは、べつの村にゆくもうひとりの旅人にゆきあうかもしれない。
• ～てしまう (completion) N4Expresses that an action is completed, often with a nuance of finality or regret.
  うしかいは、火のともったちょうちんを牛のよこはらのところにつるして、いってしまいました。
• ～てやる (benefactive for someone) N4Expresses doing something for someone, often from a superior or in casual speech.
  わたしはその火をろうそくにうつしてやりました。

Cultural notes

• ちょうちん (Paper Lanterns)Paper lanterns (ちょうちん) are traditional Japanese light sources used in festivals and daily life. They are often made of paper and bamboo, and lit with candles inside. In the story, the cowherd attaches the lantern to his cow's side, illustrating their portability.
• 狐にばかされる (Fox Trickery)In Japanese folklore, foxes (狐) are known as tricksters that can deceive humans. The phrase '狐にばかされる' means to be tricked by a fox, often involving getting lost or misled. In the story, the villagers are searching for a child who was fooled by a fox, highlighting a common folk belief.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storychildrencuriosityhuman connectionnostalgicheartwarming〜かもしれないmight / maybe〜てしまうended up (regret)〜てやるdo for (blunt benefactive)