作品Free Graded Reading
経験派The Empiricist
Keikenha
by 織田 作之助 · Oda Sakunosuke
JLPT N2Short StoryQuiz ready
A writer's ironic misadventure in search of realism.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA novelist, who is a poor writer, decides to write about pickpockets. To see a real pickpocket, he goes out but doesn't find any. On the way home, he realizes his wallet is missing and is happy, thinking he got pickpocketed. However, when he returns home, he finds the wallet on his desk—he had forgotten to bring it. He then changes the title of his story from 'Pickpocket' to 'The Careless Person' and begins writing about a careless person instead.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 45/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 掏摸 (すり) | pickpocket |
|---|---|
| 下手 (へた) | poor, unskilled |
| おもむろに | slowly, deliberately |
| うっかり | carelessly, inadvertently |
| すごすご | dispiritedly, dejectedly |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～たさに N2Means 'because of wanting to see/hear/do something'. Used with 見たさ、聞きたさ, etc. Here: 掏摸の顔を見たさに (because he wanted to see the face of a pickpocket).掏摸の顔を見たさに、町へ出た。
- ～はずだ N3Indicates expectation: 'it should be that...'. Here: 掏られたはずの財布 (the wallet that should have been stolen).掏られたはずの財布がちゃんと、のっている。
- ～（の）だ N4Explanatory or emphatic 'no da'. Adds reason or explanation. Here: 忘れていたのだ (it was that he had forgotten).持って出るのをうっかり忘れていたのだ。
- ～まえに N5Meaning 'before doing something'. Here: 悲しむまえに (before getting sad).彼は悲しむまえに喜んだ。
- ～ように N4Means 'like, as if'. Here: 飛ぶように家へ帰った (he returned home as if flying).彼は飛ぶように家へ帰った。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Mystery Writer TropeThe story plays on a common trope of writers researching their subjects. In Japan, there is a tradition of writers immersing themselves in real-life experiences to add authenticity.
- The 'Bumbling' AuthorThe protagonist is a '下手な小説家' (poor novelist). This self-deprecating character is common in Japanese literature, often used for humorous effect.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the novelist go out into town?
- To meet a friend
- To buy a wallet
- To see a real pickpocket
- To attend a writing class
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the use of ～たさに, which expresses a strong desire.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese彼は小説家だった。下手な小説家だった。その証拠に実感を尊重しすぎた。彼は掏摸の小説を構想した。が、どうも不安なので、掏摸の顔を見たさに、町へ出た。ところが、一人も掏摸らしい男に出会わなかった。すごすご帰りの電車に乗って、ふと気がつくと、財布がない。掏られていたのだ。彼は悲しむまえに喜んだ。「これで掏摸の小説が書ける」彼は飛ぶように家へ帰った。そして机の前に坐ると、掏られたはずの財布がちゃんと、のっている。持って出るのをうっかり忘れていたのだ。彼は原稿用紙の第一行に書かれている「掏摸の話」という題を消して、おもむろに、「あわて者」という題を書いた。そして、あわて者を主人公にした小説を書き出した。
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