作品Free Graded Reading
いちょうの実The Ginkgo Nut
Ichō no Mi
by 宮沢 賢治 · Miyazawa Kenji
Ginkgo nuts awaken one morning to begin their journey into the world.
About this story
About this storyGinkgo nuts awaken at dawn and prepare to leave their tree on a journey.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis 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): 「注文の多い料理店――宮沢賢治童話集 1」青い鳥文庫、講談社
1985（昭和60）年1月24日第1刷発行
2004（平成16）年6月7日第52刷
Typed in by 劉斗. Proofread by 小林繁雄.
Yomimaru replaced some archaic words with modern ones.
The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 4 parts.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnAt dawn, a mother ginkgo tree and her children (the nuts) prepare for their departure on a journey. The nuts express fears and dreams while the mother grieves silently. They finally fly away with the wind.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| いちょう | ginkgo tree |
|---|---|
| おっかさん | mom (dialectal) |
| ききょう | bellflower |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regrettable action.
おっかさんはそれをあんまり悲しんでおうぎ形の黄金の髪の毛をきのうまでにみんな落としてしまいました。
- ～かもしれない N4Suggests possibility ('might', 'maybe').
ぼくなんか落ちるとちゅうで目がまわらないだろうか。
- ～てあげる N4Do something for someone.
ぼく、国を半分わけてあげるよ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Ginkgo Tree in Japanese CultureGinkgo trees are common in Japan and often symbolize longevity and hope. In this story, the mother tree represents nurturing and sacrifice.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the main event described in this passage?
- The ginkgo nuts preparing to leave their mother tree.
- A monster attacking a princess.
- The mother tree blooming in spring.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to onomatopoeia like サラサラ and ざわざわ, which enhance the atmosphere.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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