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N1 · AdvancedShort passagePassage #476
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おとなは子こどもに「嘘うそつきは泥どろ棒ぼうのはじまり」として正しょう直じきであることを強きょう要ようしますが、弱じゃく者しゃは苦くるしい嘘うそをついてでも自みずからの尊そん厳げんを守まもろうとします。

論ろん理り的てきに正ただしいことを理り性せいと呼よぶとすれば、理り性せい的てきにあることができるのは強者つわものだからです。強者つわものはそれゆえに理り性せい的てきに弱じゃく者しゃの過あやまちを責せめようとしますが、弱じゃく者しゃの立たち場ばからいえば、それは何どの意い味みも持もたないことが多おおいのです。弱じゃく者しゃのする謝しゃ罪ざいとは、劣勢れっせいを一いち時じ的てきに解かい消しょうする手て続つづきや儀ぎ式しきにすぎないのです。

（吉よし田だ脩しゅう二じ『ヒトとサルのあいだ－－精せい神しんはいつ生うまれたのか』による）

Questions

0/1 answered
  1. 1筆者は、弱者をどのようにとらえているか。

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Vocabulary3 words
  • 嘘つきうそつき
    • ·liar; fibber
    • ·lying
    N1
  • 理性りせい
    • ·reason; reasoning power; (one's) sense
    N1
  • 過ちあやまち
    • ·fault; error; indiscretion; faux pas
    N1
Other levels31 words
  • おとな
    • ·adult; grown-up
    N5
  • はじまるAs it appears here: はじまり
    • ·to begin; to start; to commence
    • ·to happen (again); to begin (anew)
    • ·to date (from); to originate (in)
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: します
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • 呼ぶよぶ
    • ·to call out (to); to call; to invoke
    • ·to summon (a doctor, etc.)
    • ·to invite
    • ·to designate; to name; to brand
    • ·to garner (support, etc.); to gather
    • ·to take as one's wife
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: すれば
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • ある
    • ·to be; to exist; to live
    • ·to have
    • ·to be located
    • ·to be equipped with
    • ·to happen; to come about
    • ·to exist (in a completed state); to be (something unchanged in its current state)
    N5
  • できる
    • ·to be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do)
    • ·to be good at; to do well; to be proficient (in); to be capable
    • ·to come into existence; to form; to appear; to come up (of a matter); to be born; to make (a friend); to get (a girlfriend, free time, etc.)
    • ·to be made; to be built; to be constructed; to be formed; to be established; to be set up
    • ·to be finished; to be completed; to be done; to be ready
    • ·to grow (of a crop); to be produced
    • ·to be mature and well-balanced; to be of fine character
    • ·to be by nature; to be born ...
    • ·to become (sexually) involved (with); to become intimate (with); to take up (with someone)
    • ·to get pregnant
    N5
  • それ
    • ·that; it
    • ·then; that point (in time); that time
    • ·there
    • ·you
    N5
  • いうAs it appears here: いえば
    • ·to say; to utter; to declare
    • ·to name; to call
    • ·to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
    N5
  • 何のどの
    • ·which; what (way)
    N5
  • 意味いみ
    • ·meaning; significance; sense
    N5
  • 持つもつAs it appears here: 持たない
    • ·to hold (in one's hand); to take; to carry
    • ·to possess; to have; to own
    • ·to maintain; to keep
    • ·to last; to be durable; to keep; to survive
    • ·to take charge of; to be in charge of
    • ·to hold (meeting, etc.); to have (opportunity, etc.)
    • ·to have "it"; to have that special something; to be blessed with good luck
    N5
  • 多いおおい
    • ·many; numerous; a lot
    • ·large amount of; large quantity of; a lot; much
    • ·frequent; common
    N5
  • する
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • ヒトひと
    • ·person; someone; somebody
    • ·human beings; mankind; man; people; humans
    • ·human (Homo sapiens)
    • ·(other) people; others
    • ·character; personality; nature
    • ·capable person; competent person; suitable person; right person
    • ·adult; grown-up
    • ·I; me; one
    N5
  • いつ
    • ·when; at what time; how soon
    • ·normal times; ordinary days
    N5
  • 生まれるうまれるAs it appears here: 生まれた
    • ·to be born
    N5
  • 泥棒どろぼう
    • ·thief; burglar; robber
    • ·theft; burglary; robbery
    N4
  • 正しいただしい
    • ·right; correct
    • ·proper; righteous; just; honest; truthful; lawful
    N4
  • すぎるAs it appears here: すぎない
    • ·to pass through; to pass by; to go beyond
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to have expired; to have ended; to be over
    • ·to exceed; to surpass; to be above
    • ·to be no more than ...
    • ·to be excessive; to be too much; to be too ...
    N4
  • 正直しょうじき
    • ·honest; frank; candid; straightforward
    • ·honestly; frankly
    N3
  • こと
    • ·thing; matter
    • ·incident; occurrence; event; something serious; trouble; crisis
    • ·circumstances; situation; state of affairs
    • ·work; business; affair
    • ·after an inflectable word, creates a noun phrase indicating something the speaker does not feel close to
    • ·nominalizing suffix
    • ·pretending to ...; playing make-believe ...
    • ·alias; also known as; otherwise known as; or
    • ·necessity; need
    • ·you should ...; I advise that you ...; it's important to ...
    N3
  • 苦しいくるしい
    • ·painful; difficult; tough; hard
    • ·distressing; (psychologically) difficult; stressful; awkward (e.g. position)
    • ·straitened (circumstances); tight (financial situation); needy; struggling
    • ·strained (interpretation, explanation, etc.); lame (e.g. excuse); forced (e.g. smile); far-fetched
    • ·hard to do; unpleasant
    N3
  • 嘘うそ
    • ·lie; fib; falsehood; untruth
    • ·mistake; error
    • ·unwise move; bad decision
    • ·no way!; unbelievable!; really?!
    N3
  • 守るまもるAs it appears here: 守ろう
    • ·to protect; to guard; to defend
    • ·to keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe; to obey; to follow
    N3
  • 責めるせめるAs it appears here: 責めよう
    • ·to condemn; to blame; to criticize; to criticise; to reproach; to accuse
    • ·to urge; to press; to pester
    • ·to torture; to torment; to persecute
    • ·to break in (a horse)
    N3
  • 立場たちば
    • ·position; situation
    • ·viewpoint; standpoint; point of view
    N3
  • 精神せいしん
    • ·mind; spirit; soul; heart; ethos
    • ·attitude; mentality; will; intention
    • ·spirit (of a matter); essence; fundamental significance
    N3
  • つくAs it appears here: ついて
    • ·to be lit (of a lamp, burner, etc.); to catch fire; to ignite; to start burning
    • ·to be turned on (of a light, appliance, etc.); to come on
    N2
  • 手続きてつづき
    • ·procedure; process; proceedings; formalities
    N2
  • 儀式ぎしき
    • ·ceremony; rite; ritual; service
    N2
Grammar1 patterns

Example sentences are translated by AI.

  • ゆえにN1

    Formal/literary connective drawing a logical conclusion from a stated reason — 'therefore, consequently, and so.'

    強者はそれゆえに理性的に弱者の過ちを責めようとしますが、弱者の立場からいえば、それは何の意味も持たないことが多いのです。

    Those in the stronger position therefore try to rationally condemn the mistakes of the weak, but from the standpoint of the weak, such condemnation often has no meaning at all.

Other levels10 patterns
  • てでもN2

    'Even by doing X / even if it means doing X' — willing to take an extreme means to achieve something.

    おとなは子どもに「嘘つきは泥棒のはじまり」として正直であることを強要しますが、弱者は苦しい嘘をついてでも自らの尊厳を守ろうとします。

    Adults force children to be honest by telling them that “lying is the beginning of thievery,” yet those in a weaker position try to protect their own dignity even if they have to tell painful lies.

  • としてN3

    Marks the role, capacity, or status in which someone or something acts — "as (a doctor / a rule / etc.)".

    おとなは子どもに「嘘つきは泥棒のはじまり」として正直であることを強要しますが、弱者は苦しい嘘をついてでも自らの尊厳を守ろうとします。

    Adults force children to be honest by telling them that “lying is the beginning of thievery,” yet those in a weaker position try to protect their own dignity even if they have to tell painful lies.

  • ついN3

    Marks an action done unintentionally or on impulse, in spite of oneself — "can't help but, without meaning to".

    おとなは子どもに「嘘つきは泥棒のはじまり」として正直であることを強要しますが、弱者は苦しい嘘をついてでも自らの尊厳を守ろうとします。

    Adults force children to be honest by telling them that “lying is the beginning of thievery,” yet those in a weaker position try to protect their own dignity even if they have to tell painful lies.

  • ようとするN32 times in this passage

    Describes attempting to do something or being on the verge of doing it — 'try to…', 'be about to…'.

    おとなは子どもに「嘘つきは泥棒のはじまり」として正直であることを強要しますが、弱者は苦しい嘘をついてでも自らの尊厳を守ろうとします。

    Adults force children to be honest by telling them that “lying is the beginning of thievery,” yet those in a weaker position try to protect their own dignity even if they have to tell painful lies.

  • 的（てき）N34 times in this passage

    A suffix turning a noun into a na-adjective meaning "relating to / -like / -ical" (一般的, 科学的).

    論理的に正しいことを理性と呼ぶとすれば、理性的にあることができるのは強者だからです。

    If we call what is logically correct “reason,” then it is those in a position of strength who are able to act rationally.

  • とすれば・としたら・とするとN3

    'If / supposing that…' — sets up a hypothesis and states what would follow from it.

    論理的に正しいことを理性と呼ぶとすれば、理性的にあることができるのは強者だからです。

    If we call what is logically correct “reason,” then it is those in a position of strength who are able to act rationally.

  • によって/によるN3

    Marks means, cause, passive agent, or a factor something depends on; 'by (means of)', 'due to', 'depending on'.

    （吉田脩二『ヒトとサルのあいだ－－精神はいつ生まれたのか』による）

    (From Yoshida Shuuji, “Between Humans and Apes—When Did the Mind Emerge?”)

  • 〜ことができるN5

    States that someone is able to do something — “can do” / “is able to do”.

    論理的に正しいことを理性と呼ぶとすれば、理性的にあることができるのは強者だからです。

    If we call what is logically correct “reason,” then it is those in a position of strength who are able to act rationally.

  • だ / ですN53 times in this passage

    The copula linking a noun or na-adjective to the subject — plain だ / polite です, 'is/am/are'.

    論理的に正しいことを理性と呼ぶとすれば、理性的にあることができるのは強者だからです。

    If we call what is logically correct “reason,” then it is those in a position of strength who are able to act rationally.

  • すぎるN5

    Attaches to a verb or adjective stem to mean the action or quality is excessive, 'too much / overly ~'.

    弱者のする謝罪とは、劣勢を一時的に解消する手続きや儀式にすぎないのです。

    An apology by someone in the weaker position is merely a procedure or ritual for temporarily relieving that disadvantage.

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