What JLPT level is 四十不惑?

四十不惑 is suitable for JLPT N1 level readers (estimated JLPT N1).

How long does 四十不惑 take to read?

四十不惑 takes about 87 minutes (around 6963 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

四十不惑Forty and Unconfused

Shijū Fukaku

by 佐々木邦 · Sasaki Kuni

JLPT N1Short StoryQuiz ready

A hilarious take on being forty and still confused about life.

About this story

A man turns forty and his wife playfully warns him to stop being attracted to other women, leading to humorous domestic banter.

Read a sample in Japanese

綺麗きれいなタイピストの群ぐん僕ぼくが満まん四よん十じゅうになった時とき、妻つまは尾頭おかしらつきで誕生たんじょう日びを祝いわってくれて、その席上せきじょう、「四よん十じゅうにして惑まどわずと申もうしますからあなたももう惑まどわないで下くださいよ」と註文ちゅうもんをつけた。「おれは今いままでだって惑まどったことなんかないよ。停年ていねんまで今いまの会社かいしゃにいる」「迷まよわないで下くださいってことよ」「それだからさ。このまゝ頑張がんばっていれば、重役じゅうやくのお鉢はちが廻まわって来こないものでもない」「その方ほうじゃないわ。分わかりやすく言いえば、女おんなに迷まよわないで下くださいってこと」「女おんなに迷まよったことはないよ。唯ただ一遍いっぺんお前まえに迷まよっただけで、すっかり悟さとりを開ひらいている。冗談じょうだんは時々ときどき言いうけれど」「その御ご冗談じょうだんが私わたし気きに入いりませんの。どこの誰だれさんが綺麗きれいだの何なにだのと仰おっしゃ有あることが」妻つまは幾いくつかの実例じつれいを引ひいて反省はんせいを促うながすのだった。考かんがえて見みると思おもい当あたる。黙だまっていればいゝのに、僕ぼくは正直しょうじきだ。タイピストの小柴こしばさんのことを二に度ども寝言ねごとに言いったそうだ。「不惑ふわくよ、あなた。四よん十じゅうにして惑まどわずよ。

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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): 「佐々木邦全集　補巻5　王将連盟　短篇」講談社
1975（昭和50）年12月20日第1刷

Typed in by 特定非営利活動法人はるかぜ. Proofread by 芝裕久.

Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.

The furigana are Yomimaru's.

What you'll learn

The protagonist, a 41-year-old department head, is reminded by his wife on his 40th birthday to be 'without confusion' regarding women. He oversees a group of young typists, including the beautiful Koshiko, who ask him to teach them English. Though initially hesitant, he eventually agrees after Koshiko visits his home to persuade his wife.

The protagonist teaches English to the typists, while his wife begins teaching tea ceremony to Koshiko. The wife reveals her strategy: by keeping Koshiko close, she can monitor her husband's attraction. The protagonist reluctantly starts learning tea ceremony alongside Koshiko.

A young man follows Koshiko home, claiming he recognized a sash (obi) she was wearing as his own artwork. He explains he painted a pattern of hibiscus flowers on the obi and wanted to meet its owner. The protagonist chases him off, but the incident deepens the intrigue around Koshiko.

Language difficultyIntermediate · 45/100

Key vocabulary

惑まどわず	to be confused; to be led astray
タイピスト	typist
お茶ちゃ	tea ceremony
フラート	flirt (loanword)
矩のり	rule; measure; (moral) standard

Grammar points you'll meet

～て下さい N5Please do ~ (polite request)
迷まよわないで下ください
～てしまう N4to complete; to do something regrettable/unexpected
思おもったことがつい口くちに出でてしまう
～てから N5after doing ~
考かんがえてから
～という N4called; that is called
四よん十じゅうにして惑まどわずと申もうしますから
～かもしれない N4might; perhaps
まだその辺あたりにいるかも知しれません

Cultural notes

Tea Ceremony (茶道)The tea ceremony (chado) is a traditional Japanese ritual involving the preparation and consumption of matcha (powdered green tea). It emphasizes aesthetics, discipline, and hospitality. The wife's enthusiasm for teaching tea ceremony reflects its cultural importance as a refined accomplishment for women in Japan.
Forty Without Confusion (四十にして惑わず)This phrase originates from Confucius's Analects, meaning 'At forty, I had no doubts.' It is often used as a milestone for maturity and self-assurance. The wife repeatedly references it to remind her husband to avoid romantic temptations.