Part 5 of 6 · JLPT N2
ごん狐（五） Gongitsune, part 5: Thanks Given to the Wrong One
In this part
Gon waits by the well until the prayer gathering ends, then follows Hyōjū and Kasuke home, walking on Hyōjū's shadow. Kasuke says the mysterious gifts must come from the gods, who pity Hyōjū for being all alone, and tells him to thank them every day. Gon is disappointed: he is the one bringing the chestnuts and mushrooms, yet the gods get the thanks.
AI translation · independently checked
ごんは、おねんぶつがすむまで、井戸のそばにしゃがんでいました。Gon crouched beside the well until the Buddhist chanting was over.
兵十と加助は、また一しょにかえっていきます。Hyōjū and Kasuke set off home together again.
ごんは、二人の話をきこうと思って、ついていきました。Gon wanted to hear what the two of them were saying, so he followed along behind.
兵十の影法師をふみふみいきました。He went along, stepping and stepping on Hyōjū's shadow.
お城の前まで来たとき、加助が言い出しました。When they reached the front of the castle, Kasuke spoke up.
「さっきの話は、きっと、そりゃあ、神さまのしわざだぞ」"That thing we were talking about earlier, you know, that's the work of the gods for sure."
「えっ？」と、兵十はびっくりして、加助の顔を見ました。"What?" said Hyōjū, startled, and he looked at Kasuke's face.
「おれは、あれからずっと考えていたが、どうも、そりゃ、人間じゃない、神さまだ、神さまが、お前がたった一人になったのをあわれに思わっしゃって、いろんなものをめぐんで下さるんだよ」"I've been thinking about it ever since, and I just don't reckon it's a person, it's the gods. The gods took pity on you, seeing you've been left all alone, and they're blessing you with all sorts of things."
「そうかなあ」"Is that really so?"
「そうだとも。だから、まいにち神さまにお礼を言うがいいよ」"Of course it is. So you'd best thank the gods every day."
「うん」"All right."
ごんは、へえ、こいつはつまらないなと思いました。Gon thought, "Huh, well, that's no fun at all."
おれが、栗や松たけを持っていってやるのに、そのおれにはお礼をいわないで、神さまにお礼をいうんじゃア、おれは、引き合わないなあ。I'm the one bringing him chestnuts and matsutake mushrooms, and if he's going to thank the gods instead of thanking me, well, that's hardly fair to me.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning | JLPT |
|---|---|---|
| しゃがんでしゃがむ | to crouch, to squat downdictionary form: しゃがむOften used for hiding or waiting low to the ground. | N2 |
| 井戸いど | well (for water) | N2 |
| 影法師かげぼうし | shadow (of a person)Old-fashioned, literary word for a person's shadow cast on the ground. | — |
| ふみふみふむ | stepping again and againdictionary form: 踏むRepeating a verb stem (ふみ＋ふみ) shows an action repeated as one moves along. | N4 |
| 言い出しましたいいだす | to start to say, to bring updictionary form: 言い出す〜出す adds the sense of beginning an action. | N2 |
| しわざしわざ | doing, work (of someone)dictionary form: 仕業Usually said of something done by an unseen or unknown agent. | — |
| あわれにあわれ | pitiful; あわれに思う = to feel pity fordictionary form: 哀れ | N3 |
| めぐんでめぐむ | to bestow out of kindness, to bless withdictionary form: 恵むImplies giving to someone in need; 恵み = blessing. | N1 |
| お礼おれい | thanks, gratitudeお礼を言う = to say thank you. | N4 |
| つまらないつまらない | disappointing, no fun, not worth itHere not "boring" but "what a letdown." | N5 |
| 松たけまつたけ | matsutake mushroomdictionary form: 松茸A prized autumn mushroom found under pine trees (松). | — |
| 引き合わないひきあう | (negative) not worth it, not paying off, unfairdictionary form: 引き合う引き合わない = the effort isn't repaid. | — |
Grammar
〜ようと思う N4 to intend to, to want to
The volitional form きこう plus と思う expresses Gon's intention: he meant to listen, so he followed.
ごんは、二人の話をきこうと思って、ついていきました。
Gon wanted to hear what the two were saying, so he followed along.
思わっしゃる N1 dialectal honorific: (the gods) think/feel
〜っしゃる is an old rural honorific ending, similar to 〜なさる. Kasuke uses it respectfully of the gods: あわれに思わっしゃって = "took pity."
神さまが、お前がたった一人になったのをあわれに思わっしゃって
the gods took pity on you, seeing you've been left all alone
〜とも N2 of course, certainly
Attached to the end of a sentence, とも strongly agrees or asserts. そうだとも = "Sure it is!"
そうだとも。
Sure I do.
〜がいい N2 you should, it would be good to
Dictionary form + がいい gives advice or a suggestion, somewhat old-fashioned in tone.
まいにち神さまにお礼を言うがいいよ
you'd best thank the gods every day
〜のに N4 even though, despite
のに shows frustration at a contrast: Gon brings the gifts, yet he gets no thanks.
おれが、栗や松たけを持っていってやるのに
Even though I'm the one bringing him chestnuts and matsutake
〜んじゃ(ア) N3 if (it's the case that)…
A casual contraction of のでは, setting up a condition followed by a negative judgment: "if he's going to thank the gods, it's not fair to me."
神さまにお礼をいうんじゃア、おれは、引き合わないなあ。
if he's going to thank the gods, well, that's hardly fair to me.