What JLPT level is こぞうさんのおきょう?

こぞうさんのおきょう is suitable for JLPT N4 level readers (estimated JLPT N4).

How long does こぞうさんのおきょう take to read?

こぞうさんのおきょう takes about 6 minutes (around 292 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

こぞうさんの　おきょうThe Young Monk and the Rabbit

Q: What JLPT level is こぞうさんの おきょう?

こぞうさんの おきょう is suitable for JLPT N4 level readers (estimated JLPT N4).

Q: How long does こぞうさんの おきょう take to read?

こぞうさんの おきょう takes about 6 minutes (around 292 words) to read at a learner's pace.

Kozō-san no Okyō

by 新美南吉 · Niimi Nankichi

JLPT N4Short StoryQuiz ready

A young monk forgets his sutra and instead sings about blooming peonies.

About this story

A young monk forgets his sutra after playing with a rabbit, who teaches him a substitute verse. To everyone's surprise, he recites it at the temple and receives a treat.

Read a sample in Japanese

やまでらのおしょうさんがびょうきになりましたので、かわりにこぞうさんがだんかへおきょうをよみにいきました。おきょうをわすれないように、こぞうさんはみちみちよんでいきました。「キミョ、ムリョ、ジュノ、ライ……」すると、なたねばたけのなかにうさぎがいて、「こぼうず、あおぼうず」とよびました。「なんだい」「あそんでおいきよ」そこで、こぞうさんはうさぎとあそびました。しばらくすると、「やっ、しまった。おきょうをわすれちゃった」とこぞうさんがさけびました。するとうさぎは、「そんならおきょうのかわりに、『むこうのほそみち、ぼたんがさいた』とおうたいよ」とおしえました。こぞうさんはだんかへいきました。そして、うさぎのおしえてくれたように、ほとけさまのまえで、「むこうのほそみち、ぼたんがさいた、さいた、さいた、ぼたんがさいた」

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Source

This 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): 「ごんぎつね　新美南吉童話作品集1」てのり文庫、大日本図書
1988（昭和63）年7月8日第1刷発行

Typed in by めいこ. Proofread by 鈴木厚司、もりみつじゅんじ.

Yomimaru has edited this text for modern readers. Its Aozora Bunko card has the text as the volunteers entered it.

The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 2 parts.

What you'll learn

A young monk goes to a parishioner's house to chant sutras because the head priest is ill. On the way, a rabbit distracts him and teaches him a silly song instead. He chants the song at the temple, amusing everyone, and receives a bun for his trouble.

Language difficultyBeginner · 20/100

Key vocabulary

おしょうさん	priest; head monk
こぞうさん	young monk; apprentice monk
おきょう	sutra; Buddhist scripture
うさぎ	rabbit
おまんじゅう	steamed bun (with filling)

Grammar points you'll meet

～ので (reason/cause) N4Indicates reason; 'because' or 'so'.
やまでらのおしょうさんがびょうきになりましたので、かわりにこぞうさんがだんかへおきょうをよみにいきました。
～に (purpose) N5Used after masu-stem to indicate purpose of going/coming.
こぞうさんがだんかへおきょうをよみにいきました。
～と (quotative) N5Indicates quotation or thought.
「こぼうず、あおぼうず」とよびました。
～てしまう (completion/regret) N4Indicates completing an action unintentionally or with regret.
おきょうをわすれちゃった
～てくれる (doing for me/us) N4Someone does an action for the benefit of the speaker.
うさぎのおしえてくれたように

Cultural notes

おきょう (Sutra Chanting)In Buddhism, sutras are chanted during ceremonies. Monks often travel to parishioners' homes for funeral or memorial services. Here, young monk substitutes for the head priest.
おまんじゅう (Steamed Bun)A traditional Japanese confection often given as a gift or offering. In this story, the parishioner gives manjuu as compensation for the monk's service.
だんか (Parishioner)A family or household that supports a Buddhist temple and receives services from its monks. The term reflects the lay community's relationship with the temple.