作品Free Graded Reading
八百屋The Greengrocer
Yao-ya
by 三遊亭 円朝 · Sanyūtei Enchō
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A laugh-out-loud comedy of errors as a man struggles to return borrowed water.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA husband returns home tired and is asked by his wife to fetch water and return a borrowed bucket. She has saved sekihan (red rice) for him, and he must go thank the neighbor who gave it. The husband struggles to remember the polite speech his wife instructs him to say, and after a painful reminder, he goes to the doctor's house. There, he mistakenly accuses the doctor of theft, but the doctor clarifies the gift was a bear skin, leading to a final misunderstanding.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 55/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 井戸端 (いどばた) | wellside |
|---|---|
| 赤飯 (せきはん) | red rice (celebratory) |
| 強飯 (こわめし) | steamed glutinous rice (another name for sekihan) |
| 熊の皮 (くまのかわ) | bear skin |
| お門多い (おかどおおい) | too kind/honorable (polite expression) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- 〜てお呉れな N3Colloquial imperative meaning 'please do ~', from '〜てくれ' plus 'な'.水を汲んで来てお呉れな
- 〜てんだ N2Colloquial contraction of 〜ているのだ or 〜たのだ, used for explanation.極まつてらアね、承はりますれば御邸から何か御拝領物の儀に就きまして、私共までお赤飯を有難う存じますてんだよ
- 〜てえ N4Colloquial pronunciation of 〜たい, meaning want to do.喰ひてえと思つたんだ
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 赤飯 (Sekihan)Red rice, often made with glutinous rice and red beans, is a traditional Japanese celebratory dish served on auspicious occasions. In the story, the neighbor gives sekihan to celebrate receiving a bear skin.
- 熊の皮 (Bear Skin) as a GiftBear skins were valuable gifts in old Japan, often given as a token of appreciation or as a luxury item. The doctor receives one from his former lord.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the wife want the husband to do first?
- Eat the sekihan
- Go to the well and fetch water
- Thank the neighbor immediately
- Change his clothes
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipFocus on the comedic misunderstandings created by similar-sounding words (e.g., おせきさん vs お赤飯).
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese亭「今帰ったよ。女房「おやお帰りかい、帰ったばかりで疲れているだろうが、ごしょうお願いだから、井戸端へ行って水を汲んできておくれな、それからついでにお気の毒だけど、お隣で二杯借りたんだから手桶に二杯返しておくれな。亭「うーむ、水まで借りて使うんだな。妻「その代りお前の好物を取っておいたよ。亭「え、何を。妻「赤飯。亭「赤飯、嬉しいな、実は今日なんだ、山下を通った時、ぽつぽつと蒸気が立ってたから食いてえと思ったんだが、そうか、そのやつはありがてえな、すぐに食おう。妻「まあまあ食うのは後にして、早く用をしてしまってから、ちょいとお礼に行っておいでよ。亭「うむ。これから水を汲んでしまい、亭「じゃあまあ行ってくるが、どこの家からもらったんだ。妻「あの奥のね、真卓先生のところからもらったんだよ。亭「うむ、あのお医者か、おかしいな。
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