作品Free Graded Reading
ネコ ノ オバアサンGrandma Cat
Neko no Obaasan
by 村山 籌子 · Murayama Kazuko
JLPT N4Short StoryQuiz ready
A grumpy old cat can't sleep because of noisy kittens playing baseball.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA grandmother cat wakes up at noon, annoyed by children playing baseball outside. She tries to read but is disturbed, then goes to the kitchen but finds no breakfast ready. She falls asleep in an armchair until evening, when the children pass by again, waking her. Despite her anger, she never yells at them because she is a good cat.
Language difficultyBeginner · 10/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| オバアサン | grandmother; old woman |
|---|---|
| ヤキユウ | baseball |
| ネコ | cat |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～から N5Indicates reason or cause; 'because'.セイヨウネコデシタカラ、ナイト・キヤツプトイフヅキンヲカブツテ...
- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion of an action, often with a sense of regret or finality.メガサメテシマツテネムレナイノデ、ホンヲヒロゲテヨミマセウトシマストキウニ、マドノスグソトデ、パタパタトハシリマハルオトガシマシタ。
- ～ながら N3Indicates doing two actions simultaneously; 'while'.トヒトリデ、ブツブツオコリナガラ、マタホンヲヨミハジメマシタ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Nightcap and NightgownThe grandmother cat wears a 'night cap' and 'night gown', which are traditional Western sleepwear items, often depicted in old-fashioned illustrations. This reflects a Western influence on Japanese domestic life.
- Playing Baseball in the NeighborhoodChildren playing baseball (ヤキユウ) in the street is a common scene in Japanese neighborhoods, especially in post-war Japan. It reflects a time when children played outdoors freely.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the grandmother cat do when she wakes up?
- She goes outside to play.
- She puts on a nightcap and nightgown.
- She starts cleaning the house.
- She goes back to sleep.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipThe text is written entirely in katakana, which is unusual. This may be a stylistic choice to represent the story as seen through the cat's eyes or to simplify reading for beginners. Focus on recognizing common words and patterns.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese大変 年 を とった おばあさん 猫 が 、 お昼 ごろ に 目 を 覚まして 、 ベッド の 上 へ 起き上がりました 。おばあさん は 、 外国 の 猫 でした から 、 ナイトキャップ という 帽子 を かぶって 、 ナイトガウン という 寝巻き を 着て 、 眼鏡 を かけていました 。「 ああ 、 少し も ゆっくり 眠れませんでした 。嫌 です ね 。なんだか とても 寒い です から 、 この 中 で 、 本 を 読みましょう 。」おばあさん は 夜 ずっと ぐっすり 眠りました が 、 まだ 眠りたい です 。でも 、 目 が 覚めて しまって 眠れない ので 、 本 を 広げて 読もう と しました 。その 時 、 窓 の すぐ 外 で 、 パタパタ と 走る 音 が しました 。「 おや 、 何 だろう 。」
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