作品Free Graded Reading
うちの ねこOur Cat's Secret
by Yomimaru
JLPT BeginnerShort StoryQuiz ready
Your cat comes home with a neighbor's sock – is she a thief? A funny cat story in simple kana.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator introduces their cat Chiro, who returns home holding a neighbor's sock, prompting the owner to laughingly suspect Chiro is a 'thief cat.'
Language difficultyBeginner · Level 3 · 6/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| くわえています | to hold in one's mouth |
|---|---|
| どろぼうねこ | thief cat |
| となり | next door / neighbor |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ている N5Used to show an ongoing action or state.くちになにかくわえています。
- ～てくる N4Indicates an action directed towards the speaker, or coming back from a certain place.あるあさ、ちろがかえってきました。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Dorobou Neko (Thief Cat)In Japan, outdoor roaming cats that bring home small objects (like laundry, toys, or fish) are comically and traditionally referred to as 'dorobou neko' (thief cats). It is a common trope in Japanese pop culture and anime.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat did Chiro bring home in its mouth?
- A sock (くつした)
- A fish (さかな)
- A toy (おもちゃ)
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to basic particles like 'の' (possessive/modifier) and 'が' (subject marker) to easily identify who owns what.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseうち の ねこ の なまえ は ちろ です。ある あさ、 ちろ が かえって きました。くち に なにか くわえています。「ちろ、 それ なに?」なんと、 となり の いえ の くつした!ちろ、 どろぼうねこ?!
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