作品Free Graded Reading
（洋）金の勘定を仕ずに来たCame Without Counting the Money
Kin no Kanjo o Sezu ni Kita
by 三遊亭 円朝 · Sanyutei Encho
JLPT N2Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A forgetful writer's hilarious money-counting mishap.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator describes Lessing as careless and forgetful, leading him to suspect his servants of stealing his money. He devises a plan to catch the thief by leaving coins on his desk and then going to a friend's house. However, when the friend asks how much he left, Lessing realizes he forgot to count it.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 55/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 名高い (なだかい) | famous, renowned |
|---|
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～から N5Indicates reason or cause; 'because'.其上法外に忘れツぽいから、無闇に金子や何かゞ失くなる。
- ～に相違ない N2Expresses strong certainty; 'must be', 'no doubt'.是は何でも下婢か下男が窃取るに相違ない。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- German Author LessingGotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German writer, philosopher, and dramatist of the Enlightenment. This anecdote humorously portrays his forgetfulness, a common cultural trope about absent-minded intellectuals.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionHow is Lessing described in the beginning?
- Careless and forgetful
- Generous and kind
- Angry and violent
- Lazy and sleepy
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the historical kana usage (e.g., '云ふ' for 'いう', '失くなる' for 'なくなる').
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseドイツの名高い作者レッシングという人は、至って粗忽しい方で、その上法外に忘れっぽいから、無闇に金子や何かが失くなる、「これは何でも下婢か下男が盗み取るに相違ない、一番計略をもって試してやろう。というので、レッシング先生ある時、机の上へ金銀をバラバラ散らかしたまま、すうっと友達の家へやって参り、レ「この頃無闇に金子が失くなってしょうがないから、これこれこういうことにしてきた、これで誰が取るというのがちゃんと解るね。友「へえ、それは旨いことを考えたが、全体いくら置いて来たんだ。レ「あ、金の勘定をせずに来た……それでは何にもなりません。
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