JLPT N5 • GENERAL

彼女の(かのじょの)ひたむきさに惹かれ(ひかれ)つつも、どこか「徒労(とろう)」のようだと冷ややかに(ひややかに)感じて(かんじて)いた

Waiting for Shimamura at the hot spring inn was Komako, a geisha. Komako was exceptionally clean and threw a passionate love at Shimamura. While attracted to her earnest beauty, Shimamura, having a family in Tokyo, coldly felt that her way of living was somehow like 'Torō' (wasted effort).

Practice Question

島村は芸者の駒子のひたむきな清潔さに惹かれながらも、都会人の虚無感から、彼女の情熱を「徒労」として冷ややかに傍観します。
Explanation

島村は芸者の駒子のひたむきな清潔さに惹かれながらも、都会人の虚無感から、彼女の情熱を「徒労」として冷ややかに傍観します。

English Explanation

He liked Komako but felt her passion was a wasted effort (Toro): '惹かれ(ひかれ)つつも...「徒労(とろう)」...のように冷ややかに(ひややかに)感じて(かんじて)してしまう...'.

日本語解説

文章の中に「島村は彼女のひたむきな美しさに惹かれつつも...彼女の生き方をどこか『徒労』(無駄な努力)のようだと冷ややかに感じてしまう」とあります。

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