寝ぼけSleepyhead

About this story

A boy keeps messing up because he's drowsy, so he resolves to stay alert for Sports Day.

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Source

This 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): 「夢野久作全集7」三一書房
1970（昭和45）年1月31日第1版第1刷発行
1992（平成4）年2月29日第1版第12刷発行

Typed in by 川山隆. Proofread by 土屋隆.

Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.

The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 2 parts.

What you'll learn

Taro, a sleepy boy, decides to be prepared for sports day. But after his mother says it's canceled due to rain, he goes back to sleep. Later, his parents rush him to get ready, and he goes to school only to find it empty. He returns home embarrassed, realizing it's Sunday.

Key vocabulary

寝ねぼける	to be sleepy-headed, to be groggy
しくじる	to fail, to make a mistake
口惜くやしい	regrettable, mortifying
支度したく	preparations
鞄かばん	bag, school bag

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～てしまう N4Indicates that an action is completed, often with a sense of regret or finality.

  太郎たろうさんはしじゅう寝ねぼけてしくじるので、口惜くやしくてたまりません。

• ～なければならない N4Must do; obligation.

  寝ねぼけてはならぬと、寝床ねどこの中なかで考かんがえはじめました。

• ～と言われた N4Someone said (to me). Passive form of 言う.

  太郎たろうさんは昨日きのう先生せんせいが「雨あめが降ふったら運動会うんどうかいはおやめ」と言いわれた事ことを思おもい出だして、安心あんしんして眠ねむりました。

• ～てみる N4To try doing something.

  どっちが本当ほんとうだろうと考かんがえてみましたが、どうしてもわかりません。

Cultural notes

• 運動会 (Sports Day)Sports day is a major annual event in Japanese schools, featuring races, relay, and team competitions. It is often held on a Saturday and may be canceled or postponed due to rain.
• 日曜は休み (Sunday is a holiday)In Japan, most schools are closed on Sundays. Taro's mistake of going to school on Sunday highlights his confusion.

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