作品Free Graded Reading
お金とピストルThe Money and the Pistol
Okane to Pisutoru
by 夢野 久作 · Yumeno Kyūsaku
A miser buys a thief's pistol with counterfeit money, but the pistol is fake too! A comedic twist awaits.
About this story
About this storyA thief bargains over a pistol with a miser, leading to unexpected consequences and a twist.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseWhat you'll learn
What you'll learnA thief enters a miser's home and demands money. The miser refuses, instead offering to buy the thief's pistol for 1000 yen. The thief agrees, but as soon as the miser gets the pistol, he threatens the thief. The thief laughs and reveals the pistol is a toy, then escapes. They fight in the street and are arrested by a police officer. At the police station, they discover the money is counterfeit and the pistol is real, leading both to jail.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 泥棒 (どろぼう) | thief |
|---|---|
| ケチンボ | miser |
| ピストル | pistol |
| 贋物 (にせもの) | fake, counterfeit |
| おまわりさん | police officer (friendly term) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ております N4Polite progressive form of ～ている, used in narration.泥棒は考えておりましたが、
- ～そうに N4Adverbial form of ～そうだ, meaning 'seemingly' or 'as if about to'.すぐにも泥棒を撃ちそうにしながら、
- ～ながら N4Indicates doing two actions simultaneously or 'while'.すぐにも泥棒を撃ちそうにしながら、
- ～と言ううちに N3While saying; indicates that one action occurs during another.と言ううちに表へ逃げ出しました。
- ～てみますと N3When (someone) tries doing and finds; ～てみる + と conditional.警察でいろいろ調べてみますと、
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Police in Japan (おまわりさん)The term 'おまわりさん' is a friendly, informal way to address a police officer in Japan, often used by children. It reflects a community-oriented policing style.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat was the thief's initial demand?
- To buy the pistol
- To give him money
- To call the police
- To fight
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipBreak the story into three parts: the initial confrontation, the trick and escape, and the police discovery.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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