Yomibunko

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

オペラの帰途Return from the Opera

Opera no Kito

by 岡本 かの子 · Okamoto Kanoko

JLPT N2Short StoryQuiz ready

A French gentleman offers a ride to a Japanese mother and son after the opera.

About this story

In Paris after an opera, a young man rescues his mother from a gentleman's invitation, leading to a comedic misunderstanding.

Read a sample in Japanese

オペラがはねて、一いち人にんの東洋とうよう婦人ふじんがタキシーを探さがしていた。一いち人にんのオペラ帽ぼうを光ひからした中年ちゅうねんの紳士しんしが婦人ふじんを誘さそって戸との開ひらいている立派りっぱな自家用じかよう自動車じどうしゃの傍はたへ連つれて行いった。婦人ふじん「あら、これはタキシーではありませんわ」フランス紳士しんし「そうです、これは私わたしのです」うしろから髪かみをのばしたばかりの小柄こがらの東洋とうようの青年せいねんが、せかせか歩あるいて来きた。青年せいねん「ママン！　誘惑ゆうわくされちゃいけない‼」紳士しんし「あなたは？」青年せいねん「これ、僕ぼくのママです。ママこっちへ来くるんですよ」紳士しんしは二に人にんを制せいして微笑びしょうした。紳士しんし「よろしい、私わたしお二に人にんとも乗のせます」青年せいねん（笑わらいながら）「悪漢あっかんみたいだな、知しらん人ひとを自動車じどうしゃへ乗のせるなんて、あんたは」紳士しんし「冗談じょうだんじゃない、そりゃ、アメリカのことですよ。フランス人じんの物好ものずきさ」青年せいねん、婦人ふじんと行いきかける。紳士しんし「乗のって行いき給たまえ、オペラの帰かえりにぼろタキシーなんかに乗のるもんじゃないよ」青年せいねん「僕ぼく達たち直すぐ家かへかえるんだ」
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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): 「岡本かの子全集1」ちくま文庫、筑摩書房
1994（平成6）年1月24日第1刷発行

Typed in by 門田裕志. Proofread by いとうおちゃ.

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

After the opera in Paris, a Japanese mother is looking for a taxi when a French gentleman offers her a ride. Her son arrives and is suspicious, but the gentleman explains his kindness. They accept the ride, and after arriving home, the son reflects on adapting to Parisian life.

Language difficultyIntermediate · 55/100

Key vocabulary

オペラ帽ぼうopera hat (a type of formal hat)
物好ものずきcuriosity; being interested in something unusual
おしろいface powder (makeup)
操縦そうじゅうするto steer; to pilot

Grammar points you'll meet

  • ～ちゃいけない N4Contraction of ～てはいけない, meaning 'must not'
  • ～たまえ N2Polite imperative suffix, often used by superiors
  • ～もんじゃない N3Emphatic negative: 'should not' (spoken form of ものではない)
  • ～てあげる N4To do something for someone (giving)
  • ～っこない N1Emphatic negative: 'there is no way that'

Cultural notes

  • French Chivalry vs. Japanese CautionThe French gentleman's offer of a ride is motivated by boredom and a desire to help, but the Japanese son initially suspects ill intent. This highlights cultural differences in perception of strangers' generosity.
  • Madama Butterfly ReferenceThe gentleman mentions 'Madama Butterfly' (マダム・バッタフライ) to refer to Westernized Japanese women who wear heavy makeup, reflecting a common stereotype in early 20th-century Europe.
  • Parisian Night LifeThe story is set after the opera, showing Parisian high society. The son's final comment about adapting to Paris hints at the social norms one must learn when living there.

Try a comprehension question

Why does the French gentleman offer the mother and son a ride?

  1. He is a kind person who always helps strangers.
  2. He is bored with Westernized Japanese women and finds the mother refreshingly natural.
  3. He wants to show off his car.
  4. He is a kidnapper.
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Sensei's reading tip

Use context to infer the meaning of words like オペラ帽 and ショッファー (chauffeur).

Topics & grammar

Short Storycomedyfamilial bondscultural differenceshumorouslighthearted〜てあげるdo for someone (favour)

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