作品Free Graded Reading
蛙の鳴声The Frogs' Croak
Kaeru no Nakigoe
by 寺田 寅彦 · Terada Torahiko
JLPT N2ArticleQuiz ready
A charming memory of a teacher joyfully imitating frog calls after a concert.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator recalls a spring day in the Sendagi era when he and his teacher attended a concert, walked through Ueno forest imitating frog sounds, dined at a restaurant, and later reflected on how the teacher changed over time.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 45/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 忘却 (ぼうきゃく) | forget |
|---|---|
| 管弦楽 (かんげんがく) | orchestral music |
| 滑稽味 (こっけいみ) | humor |
| 真似 (まね) | imitation |
| 晩年 (ばんねん) | later years |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Expresses completion or regret. Here: 'forgot (completely)'.何年頃であったか忘れてしまったが
- ～ながら N4While doing something.先生はあるきながら、その蛙の声を真似して
- ～ておられる (honorific) N3Honorific form of ～ている, showing respect to the subject.笑っておられた
- ～か何か N4Something or other.小鳥のロースか何か食って
- ～てみる N3Try doing something.考えてみると
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 千駄木時代 (Sendagi Era)Sendagi is a district in Tokyo. 'Sensei' likely refers to Natsume Sōseki, who lived in Sendagi from 1903 to 1906. This period is known as his 'Sendagi jidai' when he wrote many works.
- 上野の森 (Ueno Forest)Ueno Park in Tokyo is famous for its museums, zoo, and cherry blossoms. The 'forest' likely refers to the wooded area of the park.
- 宝亭 (Hōtei)A Western-style restaurant in Kanda, Tokyo, associated with intellectuals of the Meiji and Taisho eras. It was a favorite of Natsume Sōseki.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat sound did the narrator and his teacher imitate after the concert?
- Birds singing
- Frog croaking
- Orchestra music
- Wind sounds
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to honorific verbs like ～ておられた to understand respect towards the teacher.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese何年頃であったか忘れてしまったが、先生の千駄木時代に、晩春のある日、一緒に音楽学校の演奏会に行った帰りに、上野の森をブラブラあるいて帰った。その日の曲目の内に管弦楽で蛙の鳴声を真似するのがあった、それはよほど滑稽味を帯びたものであった。先生はあるきながら、その蛙の声を真似して一人で面白がってはさもくすぐったいように笑っておられた。それから神田の宝亭で、先生の好きな青豆のスープと小鳥のロースか何か食ってそして一、二杯の酒に顔を赤くして、例の蛙の鳴声の真似をして笑っていた。考えてみると、あの時分の先生と晩年の先生とは何だかだいぶちがった人のような気がするのである。（大正七年十二月『渋柿』）
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