作品Free Graded Reading
（和）茗荷The Myoga
Myouga
by 三遊亭 円朝 · Sanyutei Encho
JLPT N2Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
茗荷を食べると忘れっぽくなる？宿の主人が客に仕掛ける愉快な罠！
What you'll learn
What you'll learnAn innkeeper devises a plan to serve myoga to a guest to make him forgetful, but the guest repeatedly returns for forgotten items and ultimately forgets to pay.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 50/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 茗荷 (みょうが) | Japanese ginger (myoga) |
|---|---|
| 槃特 (はんどく) | Handoku (a disciple of the Buddha known for poor memory) |
| 托鉢 (たくはつ) | mendicancy, alms-begging (by monks) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Expresses completion of an action, often with regret or unintended result.翌朝になると早々に彼の客人は立つて了つた。
- ～そうだ (hearsay) N4Indicates hearsay; 'I heard that...'其の槃特が相果てゝから之を葬ると、其墓場へ生えたのが茗荷だと云ふ事だ。
- ～から (reason) N5Indicates reason or cause; 'because'.されば「名を荷ふ」と書いて「めうが」と読ませる、だから茗荷を喰へば馬鹿になる。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Myoga and ForgetfulnessIn Japanese folklore, it is believed that eating myoga (Japanese ginger) causes forgetfulness. This story humorously plays on that belief. The name myoga (茗荷) is said to derive from '名を荷う' (carry a name), referencing the Buddhist disciple Handoku who wore a nameplate. When he died, myoga grew from his grave, thus linking the plant to memory loss.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the innkeeper hope will happen if the guest eats myoga?
- The guest will become smarter.
- The guest will forget things.
- The guest will remember his name.
- The guest will leave immediately.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the dialogue tags (主, 客, 妻) to follow who is speaking.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseある旅宿の亭主が鬱ぎ込んで、主「どうも宿泊客がなくてはしょうがない、何とか上手い工夫はないものかなあ……うむ、先日お説教で聞いたことがある、釈迦如来のお弟子に槃特という者がいて、至って愚鈍にして忘れっぽい……托鉢に出て人にお前さんの名はと聞かれても、自分の名さえ忘れるというのだから、釈迦如来が槃特の名を木札に書き、これを首にかけて托鉢に出したという、その槃特が相果ててからこれを葬ると、その墓場へ生えたのが茗荷だということだ、だから「名を荷う」と書いて「みょうが」と読ませる、だから茗荷を食べれば馬鹿になる、今度お客が泊まったら茗荷を食べさせよう、そうしたら無闇に物を忘れて行くだろう、なに、こっちは泥棒をしたんじゃねえから罪にはならねえや。しきりに考え込んでいるところへ、客「はい、ごめんなさい。主人「へい、これはいらっしゃい。客「この両掛をそちらへお預かりください。
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