JLPT N5 • GENERAL

貧しい(まずしい)年老いた(としおいた)父親を(ちちおやお)養う(やしなう)ための、やむを得ない選択

'Wild Geese' (Gan) is a classic of modern Japanese literature written by Ogai Mori during the Meiji period, portraying the conflict between unreasonable fate and a sad, missed unrequited love. The beautiful and submissive woman, Otama, had no choice but to choose the path of becoming the 'concubine' (mistress besides the official wife) of a wealthy man named Suezou to support her poor, aged father.

Practice Question

森鴎外の写実的傑作『雁』。無垢で美しいお玉は、極貧の父親に人並みの老後を送らせるため、不本意ながら悪名高い金貸し・末造の「妾」という境遇に身を落とします。
Explanation

森鴎外の写実的傑作『雁』。無垢で美しいお玉は、極貧の父親に人並みの老後を送らせるため、不本意ながら悪名高い金貸し・末造の「妾」という境遇に身を落とします。

English Explanation

Otama became a mistress to support her poor elderly father: '美しく(うつくしく)従順な(じゅうじゅんな)女性・お玉(おたま)は、貧しい(まずしい)年老いた(としおいた)父親を(ちちおやお)養う(やしなう)ために、やむを得ず(えず)...「妾(めかけ)」...'.

日本語解説

文章の中に「美しく従順な女性・お玉は、貧しい年老いた父親を養うために、やむを得ず『末造』という裕福な男の『妾』(本妻以外の愛人)になる道を選択したのだった」とあります。

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