作品Free Graded Reading
しんばいWorry
Shinbai
by 村山 籌子 · Murayama Kazuko
JLPT N4Short StoryClassical / archaic
A child's bedtime worry about being bad.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA child tells his mother he is worried he can never be good again after being so naughty. His mother reassures him that he can become good starting tomorrow. The child then decides to start practicing being good right away by sleeping in an attentive posture.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 35/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| けふ (きょう) | today (archaic) |
|---|---|
| いたづら (いたずら) | mischief, naughtiness |
| おけいこ | practice, training (often for arts) |
| きをつけ | attention (standing at attention posture) |
| しんぱい | worry, concern |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ので N4Indicates reason or cause; 'because'「あんまりいたづらばかりしたので」
- ～かと N4Indicates the content of worry or thought; 'that (something might happen)'「もうぼくはいいこになれなくなりやしないかと、しんぱいだ。」
- ～てから N5Indicates sequence; 'after doing'「あしたからでも、いいこにならうとおもへば、きつとなれますよ。」
- ～たまま N3Indicates a state that continues; 'while keeping the state of having done something'「きをつけをしたままねてやらう。」
- ～よう (volitional) N4Volitional form expressing intention; 'let's do / I will do'「こんばんからおけいこをしよう。」
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Child's Self-DisciplineThe child decides to sleep in a formal attentive posture (気をつけ) as a form of practice to become good. This reflects Japanese cultural values of self-discipline and repentance for past misbehavior.
- Historical Kana UsageThe text uses historical kana orthography (e.g., けふ for きょう, いたづら for いたずら, いふ for いう). This is often found in older literature and adds formality or a classic feel. Learners should be aware of such variations.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy is the child worried?
- Because he was scolded by his mother.
- Because he thinks he can never become a good child again after being so naughty.
- Because he has to practice something.
- Because his mother said he can't be good.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to historical kana spelling: words like けふ (today) and いたづら (mischief) are written differently from modern standard.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese「きょうは、あんまり いたずらばかり したので、もう ぼくは いい こに なれなく なりはしないかと、しんぱいだ。かあさん。」「そんな こと ありませんよ。あしたからでも、いい こに なろうと おもえば、きっと なれますよ。おやすみなさい。」（母でてゆく。）「かあさんは ああ いうけれど、しんぱいだなあ。こんばんから おけいこを しよう。どう したら いいか しら。そうだ。きをつけを したまま ねて やろう。」（ひとりごと）
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