作品Free Graded Reading
幽霊の足The Ghost's Foot
Yuurei no Ashi
by 相馬 御風 · Sōma Gyofū
A boy tries to make a ghost without feet
About this story
About this storyA teacher observes a dreamy student who refuses to create anything during a clay modeling class.
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): 「日本の名随筆 別巻67 子供」作品社
1996（平成8）年9月25日第1刷発行
Typed in by 浦山敦子. Proofread by noriko saito.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji, and replaced classical grammar with its modern form.
The furigana are Yomimaru's. In the app it is split into 2 parts.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA teacher named F attempts a creative clay modeling lesson, but one slow student is unable to start because he is fixated on the problem of making a ghost without legs stand up. The teacher allows him to take his time, but the student never finishes the ghost.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 粘土 (ねんど) | clay |
|---|---|
| 劣等児 (れっとうじ) | slow student, inferior child |
| 幽霊 (ゆうれい) | ghost, spirit |
| 工夫 (くふう) | device, ingenuity, scheme |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～させる N4Causative form: to make/let someone do something.各自勝手な物を作らせて見ようと企てた。
- ～てみる N4Try doing something.各自勝手な物を作らせて見ようと企てた。
- ～かも知れない N4Maybe, might (possibility).或は一生涯彼はそれを考へ続けるのかも知れない。
- ～ず N3Negative form (classical/literary), equivalent to ～ないで/～なくて.しかし、その生徒は卒業するまでつひにそれを作り得ずにしまつた。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Japanese Ghosts (幽霊)In Japanese folklore, ghosts (yūrei) are often depicted without legs, floating in the air. This cultural detail is central to the student's dilemma in the story.
- Clay Modeling in Japanese Schools (手工の時間)Clay modeling (手工) has been a part of Japanese elementary school arts and crafts classes, fostering creativity and manual dexterity.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat did the teacher initially ask the students to do with the clay?
- Make the same object according to instructions
- Create whatever they wanted
- Make a ghost
- Work in groups
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to historical kana usage (e.g., あつた instead of あった, ゐる instead of いる).
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar同級More at N3
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