作品Free Graded Reading
双生児The Twins
Sōseiji
by 江戸川 乱歩 · Edogawa Ranpo
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
Twins caught in a web of mystery and murder.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator, a death row inmate, begins his confession to a visitor (先生). He explains his decision to reveal a hidden crime: killing his identical twin brother and assuming his identity. He describes being haunted by his brother's ghost and his fear of mirrors and reflections. He then details his motive, the planning, and the execution of the murder.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 85/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 白状 (はくじょう) | confession |
|---|---|
| 千金 (せんきん) | a thousand gold pieces; immense weight |
| 自暴自棄 (じぼうじき) | desperation; self-abandonment |
| 執念 (しゅうねん) | obsession; persistent attachment |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～て了う N4Indicates completion of an action, often with a sense of regret or finality.早く心にあることを喋って了って、せめて死ぬ迄の数日を安らかに送り度いと思います。
- ～より他ない N2Means 'there is no choice but to ~' or 'must ~'.そういう訳で、私は兄の所へ無心に行くより仕方がないのでした。
- ～てやまない N1Indicates a strong, continuing feeling (usually of hope, love, etc.).私はこのすばらしい考えに有頂天になりました。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 双生児（双子）Twins, especially identical twins, appear often in Japanese literature as symbols of duality and identity. This story explores the psychological horror of being indistinguishable from one's twin.
- 死刑囚の告白Death row confessions are a common literary trope in Japan, often used to explore themes of guilt, redemption, and the human condition. This story is a first-person narrative from a condemned prisoner.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is the narrator's main reason for confessing his hidden crime?
- He wants to be forgiven by his brother's ghost.
- He hopes to reduce his sentence.
- He wants his wife to know the truth.
- He is proud of his crime.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the use of first-person pronouns like '私' (watashi) and the polite 'ます/です' forms, which indicate the narrator is addressing a listener respectfully.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese先生、今日こそはお話しすることに決心しました。私の死刑の日もだんだん近づいてきます。早く心にあることをしゃべってしまって、せめて死ぬまでの数日を安らかに送りたいと思います。どうか、ご迷惑でしょうけれど、しばらくこの哀れな死刑囚のために時間をお割きください。先生もご承知のように、私は一人の男を殺して、その男の金庫から三万円の金を盗んだ廉によって死刑の宣告を受けたのです。誰もそれ以上に私を疑うものはありません。私は事実、それだけの罪を犯しているのではありますし、死刑と決まってしまった今さら、もう一つのもっと重大な犯罪について、わざわざ白状する必要は少しもないのです。たとえそれが知られているものよりも幾層倍重い大罪であったところで、極刑を宣告されている私に、それ以上の刑罰の方法があるわけもないのですから。いや必要がないばかりではありません。
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