寒さCold

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What you'll learn

In a physics teachers' office, a playful debate about applying the law of heat transfer to love transitions to a discussion of marriage. Days later, the protagonist witnesses a tragic train accident at a railway crossing, leading to a meditation on life, death, and the indifferent laws of nature.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～と云う N4A quotative particle used to indicate what someone or something is called; 'called' or 'named'.
  「堀川君。」　保吉はストオヴの前に立った宮本と云う理学士の顔を見上げた。
• ～てはいけません N5Expression meaning 'must not' or 'cannot' do something.
  「堀川さん、宮本さんの云うことなどを真面目に聞いてはいけませんよ。」
• ～はずだ N3Expresses expectation or logical conclusion; 'should be' or 'it is supposed that'.
  こりゃ怪しからん。僕の発見は長谷川君を大いに幸福にしているはずじゃないか？
• ～ながら N4Indicates two actions occurring simultaneously; 'while'.
  その内に八時の上り列車は長い汽笛を鳴らしながら、余り速力を早めずに堤の上を通り越した。
• ～つつある N2Indicates an action or change is ongoing or in progress; 'is in the process of ~ing'.
  それは室内に漂う寒さと戦いつづけている証拠だった。

Cultural notes

• 物理教官室 (Physics Teachers' Office)In Japanese schools, teachers often have a shared office (教官室) where they prepare lessons and discuss. The physics office here doubles as a setting for philosophical banter.
• 朝日新聞 (Asahi Newspaper)保吉 reads '朝日', likely the Asahi Shimbun, a major Japanese newspaper. It was common to buy newspapers at station kiosks.
• 踏切り番 (Railroad Crossing Guard)In early 20th century Japan, many railroad crossings had a guard (踏切り番) who manually operated the gates and warned of approaching trains. This job was dangerous.
• 菰 (Komō, Straw Mat)A straw mat traditionally used to cover corpses or objects. Here it covers the body of the crossing guard.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storycoldphilosophyhumorpoetichumorousphilosophical〜てはいけませんte wa ikemasen · must not / may not〜はずですhazu desu · supposed to / should be〜ながらnagara · while (doing both)〜という〜to iu · called / named