作品Free Graded Reading
九龍虫The Kowloon Bug
Kurōmushi
by 上村 松園 · Uemura Shōen
JLPT N2ArticleQuiz ready
A doctor gives you a box of bugs that multiply like crazy—do you eat them?
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator visits a dentist who, despite appearing frail, treats many patients without fatigue. The dentist reveals his secret: a small box swarming with Kuryu insects, a tonic insect that the narrator takes and breeds. After initial reluctance, the narrator tries them and feels less tired. The insects multiply rapidly on a diet of chestnuts, ginseng, and longan.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 45/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 九龍虫 (くりゅうちゅう) | Kuryu insect (a type of beetle used in Chinese medicine for vitality) |
|---|---|
| 蛹 (さなぎ) | pupa, chrysalis |
| お医者さん (おいしゃさん) | doctor (polite form) |
| うじゃうじゃ | swarming, crawling all over |
| ひりりっと | with a sharp, tingling sensation |
| 参る (まいる) | to be exhausted, to be beaten |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てみる N4Try doing something to see the result.二週間ほどしてから覗いてみたら九龍虫の蛹がいくつも出来ていた。
- ～てくれる N4Someone does something for me/us.九龍虫という虫で、なかなか精力のつく薬虫だとその医者は説明してくれた。
- ～そうだ (appearance/hearsay) N4Looks like (based on appearance) / I hear that (hearsay).そのお医者さんは見たところそれほど丈夫そうにもないのに、毎日のおびただしい患者を扱って少しも疲労を感じないと言う。
- ～のに (contrast) N3Although, despite (used to express contrast).そのお医者さんは見たところそれほど丈夫そうにもないのに、毎日のおびただしい患者を扱って少しも疲労を感じないと言う。
- ～ておく N4To do something in advance or for future use.椎の実、龍眼肉、栗、人参などを買って来てあたえてみた。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 九龍虫 (Kuryu insect)九龍虫 (literally 'nine dragon insect') is a type of beetle traditionally used in Chinese and Japanese folk medicine. It is believed to boost vitality and stamina, often consumed alive or dried. The insects are bred on nutritious foods like ginseng, longan, and chestnuts, which are themselves considered healthful.
- Ne Zumi San (ねずみ算式に増える)The phrase 'ネズミ算式に増える' means 'to increase at a rate like rat reproduction' — idiomatically, 'to multiply like rabbits'. It refers to rapid, exponential growth.
- Traditional Foods for VitalityThe text mentions 椎の実 (shii nuts), 龍眼肉 (longan), 栗 (chestnuts), and 人参 (ginseng or carrot) as foods fed to the insects. In Chinese medicine, these are considered to boost energy (Qi) and nourish the body. Longan is believed to calm the mind, and ginseng is a classic adaptogen.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat did the dentist claim about his fatigue despite his workload?
- He said he was always exhausted.
- He said he never felt tired.
- He said he took regular naps.
- He said he had a secret medicine.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to onomatopoeia like うじゃうじゃ and ひりりっと — they vividly describe scenes and sensations.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseいつだったか歯をわるくしてお医者さんに行ったところ、そのお医者さんは見たところそれほど丈夫そうにもないのに、毎日のおびただしい患者を扱って少しも疲労を感じないと言う。「何か秘訣でも？」と訊ねると、「大いにありますよ」そう言ってお医者さんは南京虫のようなものがうじゃうじゃうごめいている小さな箱をみせてくれた。九龍虫という虫で、なかなか精力のつく薬虫だとその医者は説明してくれた。私は二、三十匹もらって桐の箱に入れて、医者の説明通り椎の実、龍眼肉、栗、人参などを買って来てあたえてみた。二週間ほどしてから覗いてみたら九龍虫の蛹がいくつも出来ていた。さらに半月ほどしてからしらべてみると、もう何百匹となくうじゃうじゃしているのには驚いた。「一遍に十匹ほどずつ飲んでみなさい、とてもよく効く」
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