JLPT N5 • GENERAL

D. 顎(あご)の下(した)まで届(とど)くほど鼻(はな)が長(なが)かったこと。

Zenchi Naigu was a monk at a temple in a place called Ikenoo. His nose hung down about five or six sun (approx. 15-18 cm), almost reaching his chin. This unusual appearance was a source of daily distress for him, and his suffering inevitably cast a shadow even over his religious life. He was constantly plagued by suspicion, wondering if people were not laughing at his nose.

Practice Question

禅智内供(ぜんちないぐ)は、異常(いじょう)に長(なが)い鼻(はな)のせいで深(ふか)い苦悩(くのう)を抱(かか)えていた。
Explanation

禅智内供(ぜんちないぐ)は、異常(いじょう)に長(なが)い鼻(はな)のせいで深(ふか)い苦悩(くのう)を抱(かか)えていた。

English Explanation

The passage states, "This unusual appearance was a source of daily distress for him." The "unusual appearance" refers directly to his nose being "about five or six sun, almost reaching his chin." Therefore, the extreme length of his nose was the fundamental cause of his suffering. While his suspicion of people laughing (Option B) is a manifestation of his suffering, the root cause is the physical characteristic itself.

日本語解説

本文(ほんぶん)には「この異常(いじょう)な容姿(ようし)は、彼(かれ)にとって日夜(にちや)の煩悶(はんもん)の種(たね)であり」とあります。「異常(いじょう)な容姿(ようし)」とは、顎(あご)の下(した)まで届(とど)くほど長(なが)い鼻(はな)のことです。したがって、彼(かれ)が最(もっとも)も苦悩(くのう)していた原因(げんいん)は、その鼻(はな)の長(なが)さそのものにありました。人々(ひとびと)が嘲笑(ちょうしょう)していると疑(うたが)うこと(B)は、その苦悩(くのう)の表(あらわ)れではありますが、根本的(こんぽんてき)な原因(げんいん)は鼻(はな)の形(かたち)にあります。

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