作品Free Graded Reading
ミミヅクサンMimizuku-san
Mimizukusan
by 村山 籌子 · Murayama Kazuko
JLPT N5Short Story
A simple, playful story of an owl character losing his glasses.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnMimizukusan goes for a walk, moving slowly.
Mimizukusan drinks water from a pond, gulping it down.
Mimizukusan drops his glasses with a splash.
Language difficultyBeginner · 5/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| ミミヅクサン | Mimizukusan (character name, likely a small owl or bird) |
|---|---|
| サンポ | walk, stroll |
| ノソリ | slowly, sluggishly (onomatopoeia) |
| オイケ | pond |
| メガネ | glasses, spectacles |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- 〜マシタ (past tense polite) N5Polite past tense form of verbs, used to describe completed actions.ミミヅクサン ハ サンポ ニ デカケマシタ。
- 〜ニ (particle indicating direction/goal) N5Particle used to mark the destination or purpose of movement.サンポ ニ デカケマシタ。
- 〜ヲ (particle marking direct object) N5Particle indicating the object of a transitive verb.ミミヅクサン ハ メガネ ヲ オトシマシタ。
- 〜ト (quoting/onomatopoeia marker) N5Particle used with onomatopoeic words or to quote sounds/actions.ノソリ、ノソリ、ト。
- 〜ガ (subject marker) N5Particle indicating the subject of a sentence, especially for existence or actions.クシヤミ ガ デマシタ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Japanese OnomatopoeiaThis story uses many onomatopoeic words (擬声語・擬態語) that mimic sounds and states, e.g., ノソリノソリ (slow movement), ゴクリゴクリ (gulping), ドンブリコ (splash), ビショビショ (drenched), キヨロキヨロ (looking around). Onomatopoeia is very common in Japanese children's literature and everyday speech.
- Polite Speech in StorytellingThe story uses the polite masu form (〜マシタ) throughout, which is typical for narrative aimed at young children or in formal written contexts. It gives a gentle, polite tone.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does Mimizukusan do in Chapter 1?
- Goes for a walk
- Drinks water
- Drops glasses
- Sneezes
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the repeated onomatopoeia words; they often indicate actions or states and are fun to read aloud.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese一みみずくさんは散歩に出かけました。ノソリ、ノソリ、と。二みみずくさんはお池の水を飲みました。ゴクリ、ゴクリ、と。三みみずくさんはめがねを落としました。ドンブリコ、と。四みみずくさんはめがねを取りに水へ入りました。ジャブ、ジャブ、と。五みみずくさんは体中濡れました。ビショ、ビショ、に。六みみずくさんはくしゃみが出ました。ハックション、と。七みみずくさんは散歩をやめて家に帰りました。ノソリ、ノソリ、と。八みみずくさんは今でもめがねがありません。キョロ、キョロ、と。
Read the full text with furigana + instant lookups in Yomimaru →
Topics
More N5 reads
