作品Free Graded Reading
無題Untitled
Mudai
by 芥川 竜之介 · Akutagawa Ryūnosuke
Akutagawa's hilarious excuse: he can't give a lecture because he has diarrhea.
About this text
About this textA writer humorously explains his absence from a lecture due to stomach trouble, with vivid metaphors.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis 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): 「筑摩全集類聚 芥川龍之介全集第四巻」筑摩書房
1971（昭和46）年6月5日初版第1刷発行
1979（昭和54）年4月10日初版第11刷発行
Typed in by 土屋隆. Proofread by 松永正敏.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe writer apologizes for missing a lecture due to upset stomach and vomiting, describing his symptoms humorously. He has arranged for his friend Sasaki Motosaku to read his speech and believes Sasaki will also give his own lecture; if not, he urges the audience to protest.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 講演会 (こうえんかい) | lecture meeting |
|---|---|
| 腹を壊す (はらをこわす) | to have an upset stomach |
| 尾籠 (びろう) | indecent, vulgar, coarse |
| もー (もう) | already |
| 生み落す (うみおとす) | to lay (eggs), to give birth to |
| 潮を吐く (しおをはく) | to spout water (like a whale) |
| 足を踏み鳴らす (あしをふみならす) | to stamp one's feet (in protest) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～つもりでいる N3Indicates intention or plan to do something; 'had intended to'.わたくしはけふの講演会に出るつもりでゐましたが、
- ～為に (ため) N3Indicates reason or cause; 'because of'.腹を壊してゐる為に出られません。
- ～ものです (mono da) N2Used to state a general truth or characteristic; 'it is a fact that'.元来講演と云ふものは肉体労働に近いものですから、
- ～と云ふものは N1A formal/nominalizing phrase meaning 'the thing called'.元来講演と云ふものは肉体労働に近いものですから、
- ～やうに感ずる N3Expression meaning 'to feel as if'.何だか鮫の卵か何かを生み落してゐるやうに感ずるのです。
- ～ことにした N4Indicates a decision; 'decided to'.そこで友人佐佐木茂索君にこの文章を読んで貰ふことにしました。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Historical Kana Usage (歴史的仮名遣い)This text uses pre-war orthography: ゐ (wi), けふ (today), やう (like), 云ふ (say), 為 (tame). This is common in pre-1946 Japanese literature. Helps learners recognize older writing.
- 大正時代 (Taishō Era)The date 大正十五年 (1926) is the last year of the Taishō era, a period of cultural flourishing and Western influence in Japan. This text reflects a humorous, self-deprecating style typical of Japanese writers.
- 日本人の謝罪と遠慮The writer apologizes (御挨拶) for missing the lecture with exaggerated descriptions of his illness, showing a blend of politeness and humorous self-mockery common in Japanese communication.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy is the writer not attending the lecture?
- He has an upset stomach.
- He is tired.
- He has a cold.
- He forgot.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to old kana usage: ゐ→い, けふ→きょう, やう→よう, 云ふ→いう, 為→ため.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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