郊外
A village schoolteacher and the people around him on the city’s edge.
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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
This text depicts a village schoolteacher named Tokuda and his everyday life in a boarding house on the outskirts, along with his casual interactions with local people like a former pupil. The narration is calm and detailed, giving the feel of unhurried village life.
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 term from the Meiji school system. From 1900 (Meiji 33), elementary schools had a four-year ordinary course (compulsory education) and a higher course; 'second year of the ordinary course' thus means second grade of elementary school. This was the standard system name at the time and has since been abolished.
A type of recited storytelling performed to the accompaniment of the shamisen, popular from the late Meiji to the early Shōwa period. It mostly told tragic, stirring tales of loyal retainers, devoted sons, and vengeance. In the nagaya tenements where common people lived, hired performers often gave rōkyōshi recitals at night.
An honorific title for professional performers of rōkyōshi and other such recited arts, indicating that the performer here is a hired professional rather than family members entertaining themselves.
About the author
Doppo Kunikida (30 August 1871 – 23 June 1908) was a Japanese author of novels and romantic poetry during the Meiji period. He is noted as one of the inventors of Japanese naturalism.
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.