作品Free Graded Reading
約束The Promise
Yakusoku
by 夢野 久作 · Yumeno Kyūsaku
A man drowns while keeping a promise. Was he right?
About this story
About this storyA philosophical dialogue questioning whether keeping a promise is foolish, illustrated by a tragic tale.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis 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): 「夢野久作全集7」三一書房
1970（昭和45）年1月31日第1版第1刷発行
1992（平成4）年2月29日第1版第12刷発行
Typed in by 川山隆. Proofread by 土屋隆.
Yomimaru has not changed the spelling or the wording.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA person tells a story of a man who drowned while waiting under a bridge to keep a promise, sparking a debate about the value of keeping promises. Another listener argues that the man should have moved to a safer location, while the storyteller insists that keeping promises is foolish. A third person accuses the storyteller of hypocrisy.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 約束 | promise |
|---|---|
| 溺れ死ぬ | drown to death |
| 守る | keep (a promise) |
| 動かない | does not move |
| 間違いなく | without fail; certainly |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ために N3Indicates purpose: 'in order to'
その人に間違いなく会うために約束をしたのだから
- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regrettable action
とうとうその人は溺れ死んでしまった。
- ～ていた N4Past progressive tense: 'was doing'
ある人が橋の下で友達に会う約束をして待っていた。
- ～かもしれない N4Expresses possibility: 'might'
Not used in text; pattern is '～かもしれない' not present. Actually text has 'そうじゃない' but not. I'll skip 'かもしれない' and include '～から' from text: 'のだから'.
- ～から N5Indicates reason or cause: 'because'
その人に間違いなく会うために約束をしたのだから、ほかのよくわかる処で待っていたっていいじゃないか
- ～てもらう N4Receive a favor; 'have someone do'
つまりお前は自分だけ約束を守らないで、ほかの人にだけ守って貰いたいのだろう
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- The Importance of Promises in Japanese CultureIn Japan, keeping promises (約束を守る) is considered a fundamental virtue. This story challenges that idea, prompting discussion about blind adherence to promises. The debate reflects a cultural tension between duty and practical wisdom.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat happened to the man who kept his promise under the bridge?
- He met his friend.
- He drowned.
- He moved to higher ground.
- He broke his promise.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the dialogue markers 'と言いました' and 'と尋ねました' to track who is speaking.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar同級More at N3
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