作品Free Graded Reading
キャラメルと飴玉Caramel and Candy
Kyarameru to Amedama
by 夢野 久作 · Yumeno Kyusaku
JLPT N3Short StoryQuiz ready
Caramel and candy argue about who's better, sparking a hilarious candy war.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnCaramel and candy drop start arguing in a candy box, insulting each other about their shapes, names, and ingredients. Their friends join the fight, leading to a chaotic mess. A boy discovers them and calls his mother, who breaks all the candies apart with a hammer so they can be eaten.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 45/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 喧嘩 (けんか) | quarrel, fight |
|---|---|
| 間抜け野郎 (まぬけやろう) | fool, idiot |
| 着物 (きもの) | kimono, clothing |
| 高慢チキ (こうまんチキ) | arrogant, stuck-up |
| 羊羹 (ようかん) | yōkan (sweet bean jelly) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～たって (contraction of ～ても) N3Even if... (casual)外に出る時にゃちゃんと三角の紙の着物を着て行くんだ。第一貴様の名前が生意気だ。キャラメルなんて高慢チキな面をしやがって、日本にいるのならもっと日本らしい名前をつけろ
- ～てしまう (to do something completely, regrettably) N4Indicates completion or an unfortunate event.金槌を持って来て、パラパラと打ちこわしておしまいになりました。
- ～やがる (vulgar suffix indicating contempt) N1Do (with disdain) - used after verb masu-stem.キャラメルなんて高慢チキな面をしやがって、
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Japanese Sweets (菓子)The story mentions various traditional Japanese sweets like 元禄 (Genroku), 西郷玉 (Saigōdama), 花林糖 (karintō), 有平糖 (arameitō), 羊羹 (yōkan), and コンペイトウ (konpeitō). These are classic confections often enjoyed as snacks or gifts.
- お菓子箱 (Snack Box)In Japanese households, snack boxes (お菓子箱) are common for storing various sweets. The concept of candies arguing inside reflects a playful personification of inanimate objects, a common literary device in children's stories.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat do the candies argue about?
- Which one is tastier
- Their shapes, names, and ingredients
- Who is the strongest
- How to escape the box
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipFocus on the dialogues to understand character traits; note the use of rough language (e.g., 貴様, こん畜生) indicating a quarrel.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseキャラメルと飴玉とがお菓子箱のうちで喧嘩をはじめました。「ヤイ、飴玉の間抜け野郎。貴様はまん丸くて甘ったるいばかりで何にもならないじゃないか。俺なんぞ見ろ。ちゃんと着物を着て四角いおうちにはいっているんだぞ。貴様なんぞは着物なんか欲しくたって持たないだろう。態をみろヤーイ」飴玉は真赤になって憤り出しました。「失敬なことを言うな。うちにいる時は裸だけど、外に出る時にゃちゃんと三角の紙の着物を着て行くんだ。第一貴様の名前が生意気だ。キャラメルなんて高慢チキな面をしやがって、日本にいるのならもっと日本らしい名前をつけろ」「こん畜生、横着な事を言う。キャラメルが悪けりゃあカステイラは西班牙の言葉だぞ。シュークリームでもワッフルでも良いが、菓子にはみんな西洋の名前が付いているんだ。あめだのせんべいなぞ言うのはみんな安っぽい美味くないお菓子ばかりだ」「嘘を吐け。
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