不思議な帽子
A devil in a city sewer and a mysterious hat.
- Authentic text: the opening of a public-domain original
- Word-by-word glosses and translation in English or Chinese, free
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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 passage tells of a demon living in a big city's sewer who slips out through an open manhole, and when the iron lid is closed at night, he hides in a hat shop and turns himself into a hat. The contrast between the dark sewer and the bright, lively street gives it a light, fairy-tale feel with a touch of gentle tension and humor.
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 gramophone. Introduced to Japan with Western civilisation from the late Meiji to the Taishō period, it became a signature sound of the bustling urban entertainment districts. In the text, the demon hears it for the first time, and it is used to evoke the prosperity and liveliness of the city.
Refers to a young apprentice or shopboy in a merchant's shop, also called 丁稚 (detchi). Most of them lived at the shop, doing odd jobs and errands, and ranked below the 番頭 (head clerk). The word has nothing to do with Buddhist monks.
A senior employee or head clerk in a shop, ranking above the apprentices and responsible for managing the business and supervising the junior staff. There is no exact English equivalent; unlike the owner, the 番頭 was a hired employee.
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 “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.