作品Free Graded Reading
親孝行Filial Piety
Oyakōkō
by 牧野 信一 · Makino Shin'ichi
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A boy uses the logic of filial piety to justify sleeping in—while his mother gets increasingly annoyed.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA schoolboy named Shin'ichi uses elaborate rationalizations involving filial piety, philosophy, and religion to stay in bed when his mother tries to wake him, but finally gets up when his father is called.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 85/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 亀の子 (かめのこ) | curled up like a turtle |
|---|---|
| 修身 (しゅうしん) | moral education (school subject) |
| 孝行 (こうこう) | filial piety |
| 重盛 (しげもり) | Taira no Shigemori (historical figure) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regret. Here used to show the boy's thoughts about his efforts being wasted.今こゝで起きてしまつては、凡てが水泡に帰してしまふのだ。
- ～なければならない N4Must do something. The boy recalls that he must take care of his body.吾々は身体を大切にしなければならない。
- ～といふ (という) N4Quotation or definition. Here used to mark the moral lesson.「この身体は両親からさづかつたものだ、吾々は身体を大切にしなければならない、それが先づ第一の孝行である。」と。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Filial Piety (孝行)A Confucian virtue emphasizing respect and obedience to parents. The boy in the story twists this virtue to justify staying in bed.
- Taira no Shigemori (平重盛)A historical figure from the Heian period known for his dilemma between filial piety and loyalty to the emperor. The boy references him to justify his own stubbornness.
- Heaven and Earth, Only I Am the Venerable One (天上天下唯我独尊)A famous saying attributed to the Buddha at his birth, meaning 'In heaven and on earth, I alone am the honored one.' The boy uses it to argue for his independence.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy does Shin'ichi finally get out of bed?
- His mother convinces him with logic.
- His father calls and he fears his father.
- He decides it is time to be filial.
- O-Matsu's pleading moves him.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipThis text uses historical kana usage (e.g., ゐる, をか) and classical literary style. Focus on context and common modern counterparts to understand unfamiliar words.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese「新一、遅くなるよ、さあお起き。」と耳もとで母の声――。おや夢かな、と思う途端、悲しくも夢ではなかった。私は亀の子のように床の中にもぐったまま、眼を開いた。――なさけない程眠かった。即座に夢を見る、ということが非常に容易な事だった。――何も横着で起きないのじゃない、自分の体が目下すべての物をさし置いて、ただ睡眠だけを欲しているのだから止むを得ない。――どうかもう五分間だけ眠らせてくれ。その五分間を自分はどれ程有用に費やすかも知れないのだから……などと思いながら再びウトウトした。「新！」と先程より稍強硬な母の声！「ウーム。」と私は、如何に今眠がっているかを表すべく、更にもぐもぐと夜具を引き被った。「さあ、さあ、お起き！ お起き！」倅が可愛いと思うのなら、もう少し眠らせてくれてもよさそうなものだ。
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