新生
A writer’s confession begins with a letter from a friend.
- Authentic text: the opening of a public-domain original
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Sample: three-line reading
Each word has its meaning in this sentence underneath, and each sentence has a full translation. Read the original and glance down only when you need to.
About the book
Shinsei (New Life) is a novel by Shimazaki Tōson, published in 1919 by Shunyōdō. It is known as a confessional novel that openly exposes the illicit relationship between its protagonist, Kishimoto Sutekichi, and his niece—an episode famous as the "Shinsei incident." The opening passage in the library shows the writer Kishimoto receiving a letter from a friend describing the friend's life and troubles.
Cultural notes (selection)
Background a translation can’t carry: social roles, history and allusions. While reading, tap “Note” at the end of a sentence to see them all.
A Buddhist term referring to the fleeting, ever-changing nature of all things in this world, arising and passing away moment by moment; it is often used together with the phrase “諸行無常.” Here, “無常の鐘の音” turns this abstract doctrine into an audible sound.
Fatsia (paperplant), a common evergreen ornamental plant in Japan. It keeps its leaves green through the winter, which is why the leaves drooping so noticeably stands out when frost damages them.
About the author
Tōson Shimazaki (25 March 1872 – 22 August 1943), the pen-name of Haruki Shimazaki, was a Japanese writer active in the Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa periods. He began his career as a Romantic poet but went on to establish himself as a major proponent of Japanese Naturalism, and his most popular work is the historical novel Before the Dawn (1929–1935), about the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Summary prepared with AI from Wikipedia: 新生 (小説) (CC BY-SA)
How the glosses are made
Word glosses and sentence translations are generated in context by AI models (DeepSeek and Zhipu GLM), and every word is checked to have a gloss. AI can make mistakes; you can report problems from the book page.
FAQ
Is this the original text?
Yes. The library holds the opening section of the public-domain original, taken from 青空文库.
Do I need to pay or sign up?
Library books are free to read without an account. Other gloss languages and importing your own texts need an account and credits.
What level is it?
This one is marked “Advanced”. Every word is glossed, so you can keep reading even with a small vocabulary.
Can I use another gloss language?
English and Chinese glosses are prepared in advance; signed-in readers can generate other languages.