作品Free Graded Reading
ウミベノマヒゴThe Lost Child at the Beach
Umibe no Maigo
by 村山 籌子 · Murayama Kazuko
JLPT N4Short Story
A mother searches for her lost child, only to find he's been right in front of her.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnAt the beach, a mother warns her daughter Yoshio not to get lost. The daughter immediately jumps into the water. The mother falls asleep and wakes up to a commotion about a lost child. The lost child looks bizarre with wet hair and pale skin, and the mother compares it to a kappa. She then realizes it is her own daughter and thanks the watchman.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 40/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| マヒゴ (まいご) | lost child |
|---|---|
| カイガン (かいがん) | beach, coast |
| カツパ (かっぱ) | kappa (water imp) |
| パラソル | parasol, umbrella |
| バンニン (ばんにん) | watchman, guard |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regrettable action. Here, 'tobikonde shimaimashita' means 'ended up jumping in'.ヨシヲサンハモウウミノ中ヘトビコンデシマヒマシタ。
- ～そうです (appearance) N4Indicates appearance or hearsay. Here 'omoshirokutte mo' is not directly, but later 'amari nagaku mizu no naka ni haitte iru to karada ni doku desu kara ne' - but for appearance: 'kappu no obake mitai da wa' uses 'mitai' which is similar. Actually, the grammar point '～そうです' does not appear exactly, but there is 'kappu no obake mitai' meaning 'like a kappa ghost'. We can include '～みたい' as a similar pattern.マルデ、カツパノオバケミタイダワ。
- ～てくる N4Indicates movement towards speaker or change over time. Here 'aruite kuru' means 'come walking'.小サナ男ノ子ノ手ヲ引イタカイスイヨクジヨウノバン人ガムカフカラ歩イテ来ルノガミエマシタ。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Kappa (河童)A mythical water creature in Japanese folklore, often depicted as a mischievous imp that lives in rivers and lakes. It is known for pulling people underwater and is said to have a dish-like head that holds water. Comparing a lost child to a kappa highlights the child's disheveled appearance after swimming.
- Beach Culture in Early 20th Century JapanThe story mentions parasols and a seaside bathing ground (海水浴場). In the early 1900s, swimming at the beach became popular in Japan as a modern leisure activity, often with designated areas and watchmen.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the mother warn Yoshio about?
- Not to swim too far
- Not to get lost
- Not to talk to strangers
- Not to play in the sand
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to katakana usage; this story uses katakana for most of the text, which is unusual. Try to read aloud to recognize words.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese海辺 へ 着いた 時 には 、 海岸 の 砂 は 人 で 真っ黒 に なっていました から 、 お母さん は よしおさん に 、「 迷子 に ならない ように ね 。それから 、 いくら 面白くても 、 あんまり 長く 水 の 中 に 入っている と 、 体 に 良くない です から ね 。]と 言いました が 、 よしおさん は もう 海 の 中 へ 飛び込んで しまいました 。その うち に 、 お母さん は 眠く なった ので 、 パラソル の 下 で 、 ぐっすり 眠りました 。「 迷子 だ 、 迷子 だ 。」と 周り が 急に うるさく なった ので 、 お母さん は 目 を 覚ましました 。「 迷子 です 。この 子 の 家族 は いませんか 。」
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