空車
by Mori Ōgai
From an old word for an empty cart, the author describes one passing.
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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
The text begins with the old word munaguruma (empty carriage), discussing how archaic words are confined to pseudo-classical writing and arguing that the author deliberately uses them in modern and colloquial prose to give them new life. It then turns to the author's deliberation over how to read the title Empty Carriage, and the piece reads like a quiet essay on language, filled with careful reflection on words.
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.
An ox-drawn carriage used by noblewomen from the Heian period through the Middle Ages when going out on excursions, hung with curtains on all four sides so that one could view the scenery outside from within—hence the name "物見" (sightseeing). The author uses this to show that the old word "むなぐるま" evokes associations with the sights and manners of the ancient past.
A transliteration of the English word "archaism," meaning archaic expression or old words. Here it refers to the restricted domain in which the old word lives—surviving only within the style of writing that imitates classical prose.
Before the Meiji period, written Japanese used the literary style (bungo); the modern colloquial style arose only after the Meiji genbun'itchi movement. During the Taishō era, the opposition between the literary and colloquial styles remained a central issue in discussions of prose style.
About the author
Mori Ōgai (February 17, 1862 – July 8, 1922), born Mori Rintarō, was a Japanese Army Surgeon general officer, translator, novelist and poet, and father of the writer Mari Mori. He obtained his medical license at a young age, introduced translated German literary works to Japanese readers, and is considered a leading figure who modernized Japanese literature; his major work is The Wild Geese (1911–1913).
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.
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What level is it?
This one is marked “Intermediate”. 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.
More by this author
- 高瀬舟Mori Ōgai · Intermediate
- Sansho the StewardMori Ōgai · Intermediate
- The Last PhraseMori Ōgai · Intermediate
- The Abe FamilyMori Ōgai · Advanced
- The Wild GeeseMori Ōgai · Advanced
- YouthMori Ōgai · Advanced
- 杯Mori Ōgai · Intermediate
- 牛鍋Mori Ōgai · Intermediate