金のくびかざり

Name: 金のくびかざり
Availability: InStock
Author: Hiroshi Ono

by Hiroshi Ono

On Christmas Eve a black cat waits on a chimney: a tale of a necklace.

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Original language: JapaneseLevel: Beginner3,432 characters · ≈ 14 minSource: 青空文库

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.

一one

One

よし子さんYoshiko (name + polite suffix)の's (possessive particle)お家house/home (polite form)もtoo/alsoあすtomorrowはtopic marker (as for)クリスマスChristmasですis (polite copula)

Yoshiko's house too, tomorrow is Christmas.

毛なみのfur (の = possessive/attributive particle)つやつやしたshiny, glossyまっ黒いネコはjet-black cat (は = topic marker)夜どおしall night long煙突のてっぺんにon top of the chimneyすわってsitting (て-form of すわる)サンタクローズのおじいさんがold man Santa (が = subject marker)このお家をthis house (を = object marker)まちがいなくwithout fail, surely見つけてくれればいいがit would be good if (he) finds (it) for me, and (I wish)と(quotative particle marking the thought)黄色い目をyellow eyes (を = object marker)ひからせてmaking (them) blaze/brighten見つめていましたwas gazing steadily (polite past progressive)

The shiny black cat sat on the chimney top all night, watching with bright yellow eyes and hoping Santa would be sure to find this house.

よし子さんはYoshiko (polite name reference)今夜はtonightきっとsurelyおじいさんがGrandpa (subject)あたしのmyほしくてほしくてたまらないwant so badly I can't stand it小さなsmall金のgold (made of gold)くびかざりをnecklace (object)持って来てくれるwill bring (for me)にちがいないmust surely beと言ってsaying thatおねんねをしましたwent to bed (childish polite)

Yoshiko said, 'Tonight Santa will surely bring me the small gold necklace I want so much,' and went to sleep.

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About the book

On the night before Christmas, a black cat, a dog, and a parrot each prepare for Santa's visit: the cat keeps watch on the roof, the dog cleans beneath the chimney, and the parrot composes a new song in her cage. The prose is simple and gentle, with the quiet warmth of a bedtime tale.

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?

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What level is it?

This one is marked “Beginner”. 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.