What JLPT level is ザウサンサルサン?

ザウサンサルサン is suitable for JLPT N4 level readers (estimated JLPT N4).

How long does ザウサンサルサン take to read?

ザウサンサルサン takes about 3 minutes (around 162 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

ザウサン　サルサンZausan and Sarusan

Q: What JLPT level is ザウサン サルサン?

ザウサン サルサン is suitable for JLPT N4 level readers (estimated JLPT N4).

Q: How long does ザウサン サルサン take to read?

ザウサン サルサン takes about 3 minutes (around 162 words) to read at a learner's pace.

Zausan Sarusan

by 村山籌子 · Murayama Kazuko

JLPT N4Short Story

A polite elephant and a naughty monkey learn a lesson about manners.

About this story

A polite elephant is teased by a mischievous monkey, who then learns a lesson about kindness.

Read a sample in Japanese

あるところに大変たいへんお行儀ぎょうぎの良よい象ぞうさんがいました。朝あさは誰だれにでも帽子ぼうしを取とって、「おはようございます。」と、挨拶あいさつをします。夜よるは誰だれにでも帽子ぼうしを脱ぬいで、「こんばんは。」と、言いいます。だから、みんながとても褒ほめていました。しかし、意地悪いじわるな猿さるさんが、「みんなは『象ぞうさんはとてもお行儀ぎょうぎが良よい』と言いって褒ほめますが、帽子ぼうしを取とる時ときに手てで取とらないで、鼻はなで取とっています。とてもお行儀ぎょうぎが悪わるいですよ。」と、言いって笑わらいました。すると、みんなが、「象ぞうさんは手ても足あしも使つかえないから、鼻はなで取とるのですよ。

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Source

This 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): 「日本児童文学大系　第二六巻」ほるぷ出版
1978（昭和53）年11月30日初刷発行

Typed in by 菅野朋子. Proofread by noriko saito.

Yomimaru has edited this text for modern readers. Its Aozora Bunko card has the text as the volunteers entered it.

The furigana are Yomimaru's.

What you'll learn

A polite elephant is praised for greeting everyone by taking off his hat, but a mischievous monkey criticizes him for using his nose instead of his hands. Others defend the elephant, shaming the monkey.

Language difficultyIntermediate · 60/100

Key vocabulary

ザウサン	Elephant (honorific form)
オギヤウギ	Manners, behavior
バウシ	Hat

Grammar points you'll meet

～があります N5Indicates existence of inanimate objects or animals.
アルトコロニタイヘンオギヤウギノヨイザウサンガアリマシタ。
～て N5Te-form used for sequential actions or reasons.
アサハダレニデモバウシヲトッテ、「オハヤウゴザイマス。」ト、アイサツヲイタシマス。
～ている (progressive/state) N5Indicates ongoing action or resultant state.
ソレデ、ミンナカラタイソウホメラレテヲリマシタ。

Cultural notes

Polite Greetings in JapanThe story highlights the importance of polite greetings (aisatsu) in Japanese culture. The elephant greets everyone with 'Ohayou gozaimasu' in the morning and 'Konbanwa' in the evening, which are essential social rituals.
Historical Kana UsageThe text uses historical kana orthography (e.g., ザウサン for ぞうさん, オギヤウギ for おぎょうぎ), which was common before WWII. This is important for reading older texts.