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N2 · Upper intermediateShort passagePassage #602
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私わたしが親おやと同どう居きょしていた頃ころ、既すでに引いん退たいした父ちちが不ふ機き嫌げんになる種たねがあった。それは父ちち宛あてに届とどく郵ゆう便びん物ぶつの量りょうが、息子むすこである私わたし宛あてに届とどく郵ゆう便びん物ぶつより少すくないことであった。私わたし宛あての郵ゆう便びん物ぶつといっても大おお方かた（注1）がダイレクトメール（注2）で、開かい封ふうもせずにゴミ箱ばこ行いきになるものが多おおかったのだが、それでも父ちちは不ふ機き嫌げんになった。

届とどく郵ゆう便びん物ぶつの量りょうは、確たしかにその人ひとの社しゃ会かい的てきな活かつ動どうの広ひろさと関かん係けいしている。たとえ読よまれることのないダイレクトメールであっても、それが届とどくということは、その人ひとが世よの中なかに存そん在ざいしている証しょう拠こである。

（外と山やま知徳とものり『家か族ぞくの絆きずなをつくる家いえー失しっ敗ぱいしない住すまいづくりのための30講こう』による）

（注ちゅう1）大おお方かた：大だい部ぶ分ぶん

（注ちゅう2）ダイレクトメール：個こ人じんに直ちょく接せつ送おくられてくる広こう告こく

Questions

0/1 answered
  1. 1筆者である「私」は、なぜ父が不機嫌になったと考えているか。

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Vocabulary2 words
  • 広さひろさ
    • ·area; extent; dimensions; size
    • ·width; breadth
    N2
  • 住まいすまい
    • ·dwelling; house; residence; address
    • ·living; life
    N2
Other levels47 words
  • 私わたし
    • ·I; me
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: して
    • ·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
  • するAs it appears here: した
    • ·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
  • なる
    • ·to become; to get; to grow; to turn; to reach; to attain
    • ·to result in; to turn out; to end up; to prove (to be)
    • ·to consist of; to be composed of; to be made up of
    • ·to be completed; to be realized; to succeed; to be attained; to be accomplished
    • ·to change (into); to turn (into); to transform
    • ·to come (to do); to begin (to do); to grow (to do)
    • ·to come to; to amount to; to add up to; to make
    • ·to play (the part of); to act as
    • ·to be used for; to be useful for; to serve as
    • ·to be promoted
    • ·to do ...
    N5
  • あるAs it appears here: あった
    • ·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
  • それ
    • ·that; it
    • ·then; that point (in time); that time
    • ·there
    • ·you
    N5
  • 少ないすくない
    • ·few; little; small (amount); low; scarce; insufficient; seldom; rare
    N5
  • いうAs it appears here: いって
    • ·to say; to utter; to declare
    • ·to name; to call
    • ·to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: せ
    • ·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
  • もの
    • ·thing; object; article; stuff; substance
    • ·one's things; possessions; property; belongings
    • ·things; something; anything; everything; nothing
    • ·quality
    • ·reason; the way of things
    • ·used to emphasize emotion, judgment, etc.; used to indicate a common occurrence in the past (after a verb in past tense); used to indicate a general tendency; used to indicate something that should happen
    • ·item classified as ...; item related to ...; work in the genre of ...
    • ·cause of ...; cause for ...
    • ·somehow; somewhat; for some reason
    • ·really; truly
    N5
  • 多いおおいAs it appears here: 多かった
    • ·many; numerous; a lot
    • ·large amount of; large quantity of; a lot; much
    • ·frequent; common
    N5
  • なるAs it appears here: なった
    • ·to become; to get; to grow; to turn; to reach; to attain
    • ·to result in; to turn out; to end up; to prove (to be)
    • ·to consist of; to be composed of; to be made up of
    • ·to be completed; to be realized; to succeed; to be attained; to be accomplished
    • ·to change (into); to turn (into); to transform
    • ·to come (to do); to begin (to do); to grow (to do)
    • ·to come to; to amount to; to add up to; to make
    • ·to play (the part of); to act as
    • ·to be used for; to be useful for; to serve as
    • ·to be promoted
    • ·to do ...
    N5
  • その
    • ·that; the
    • ·part (as in "part two")
    • ·um ...; er ...; uh ...
    N5
  • 人ひと
    • ·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
  • 読むよむAs it appears here: 読まれる
    • ·to read
    • ·to recite (e.g. a sutra); to chant
    • ·to predict; to guess; to forecast; to read (someone's thoughts); to see (e.g. into someone's heart); to divine
    • ·to pronounce; to read (e.g. a kanji)
    • ·to decipher; to read (a meter, graph, music, etc.); to tell (the time)
    • ·to count; to estimate
    • ·to read (a kanji) with its native Japanese reading
    N5
  • 家族かぞく
    • ·family
    N5
  • つくる
    • ·to make; to produce; to manufacture; to build; to construct
    • ·to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol)
    • ·to raise; to grow; to cultivate; to train
    • ·to till
    • ·to draw up (a document); to make out; to prepare; to write
    • ·to create (an artistic work, etc.); to compose
    • ·to coin (a phrase); to organize; to organise; to establish; to found
    • ·to have (a child)
    • ·to make up (one's face, etc.)
    • ·to fabricate (an excuse, etc.)
    • ·to give a (false) appearance; to feign (a smile, etc.); to put on a show of emotion
    • ·to form (a line, etc.)
    • ·to set (a record)
    • ·to commit (a sin, etc.)
    N5
  • 家いえ
    • ·house; residence; dwelling; home
    • ·family; household
    • ·lineage; family name
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: しない
    • ·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
  • 親おや
    • ·parent; parents; mother and father
    • ·dealer; banker
    • ·founder; inventor
    • ·(pet) owner
    • ·key; parent (organization); main
    • ·ancestor; forefather
    N4
  • 息子むすこ
    • ·son
    • ·penis
    N4
  • 関係かんけい
    • ·relation; relationship; connection
    • ·participation; involvement; concern
    • ·influence; effect
    • ·sexual relations; sexual relationship
    • ·related to; connected to
    N4
  • 失敗しっぱい
    • ·failure; mistake; blunder
    N4
  • ため
    • ·good; advantage; benefit; welfare
    • ·sake; purpose; objective; aim
    • ·consequence; result; effect
    • ·affecting; regarding; concerning
    N4
  • 送るおくるAs it appears here: 送られて
    • ·to send; to dispatch; to forward; to transmit; to ship; to remit
    • ·to see (someone) off; to escort; to accompany; to take
    • ·to bid farewell to (the departed); to say goodbye to; to bury
    • ·to spend (time); to pass; to lead (a life); to live
    • ·to pass (on, along); to advance (a runner)
    • ·to affix (okurigana)
    N4
  • 頃ころ
    • ·(approximate) time; around; about; toward
    • ·suitable time (or condition)
    • ·time of year; season
    N3
  • 既にすでに
    • ·already
    • ·previously; before
    • ·undeniably; unmistakably; in the first place
    N3
  • 引退いんたい
    • ·retirement
    N3
  • 種たね
    • ·seed (e.g. of a plant); pip; kernel; stone (e.g. of a peach)
    • ·progeny; offspring; issue; breed
    • ·paternal blood; lineage
    • ·sperm; semen; seed
    • ·cause; source; seed; origin
    • ·material (e.g. for an article); matter (e.g. of a story); subject (of discussion); theme; (news) copy; source (of a story)
    • ·ingredient; main ingredient (of a piece of sushi); leaven
    • ·mechanism (of a magic trick, etc.); secret; trickery
    • ·10-point card; tane; animal card
    N3
  • 届くとどく
    • ·to reach; to touch; to get to; to carry (of sound)
    • ·to be delivered; to arrive
    • ·to be attentive; to be scrupulous; to be thorough
    • ·to be realized (of a desire); to be fulfilled; to get through (to someone); to be appreciated; to make an impression
    N3
  • 量りょう
    • ·quantity; amount; volume; capacity; portion (of food)
    • ·generosity; magnanimity; tolerance
    • ·pramana (means by which one gains accurate and valid knowledge; in Indian philosophy)
    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
  • 行きいき
    • ·the way there; outbound leg; outbound trip; departing leg
    • ·bound for ...
    • ·outbound ticket
    N3
  • それでも
    • ·but (still); and yet; nevertheless; even so; notwithstanding
    N3
  • 活動かつどう
    • ·activity (of a person, organization, animal, volcano, etc.); action; operation
    • ·moving picture
    N3
  • 世の中よのなか
    • ·society; the world; the times
    N3
  • 存在そんざい
    • ·existence; being; presence
    N3
  • 注ちゅう
    • ·annotation; explanatory note; comment
    N3
  • 大部分だいぶぶん
    • ·most part; greater part; majority
    N3
  • 個人こじん
    • ·individual; private person; personal; private
    • ·natural person
    N3
  • 直接ちょくせつ
    • ·direct; immediate; personal; firsthand
    N3
  • 広告こうこく
    • ·advertisement; advertising
    • ·announcement; notice
    N3
  • 同居どうきょ
    • ·living together; coexistence
    N1
  • 宛あて
    • ·aim; object; purpose; end
    • ·expectations; prospects; hopes
    • ·something that can be relied upon
    • ·snack served with alcoholic drink
    • ·pad; guard
    • ·blow; strike
    • ·addressed to
    • ·per
    N1
  • 大方おおかた
    • ·large part; greater part; majority
    • ·people in general; general public; public at large
    • ·mostly; for the most part; almost; nearly
    • ·probably; maybe; perhaps
    N1
  • たとえ
    • ·even if; no matter (what); if; though; although; supposing; supposing that; -ever
    N1
  • 証拠しょうこ
    • ·evidence; proof
    N1
Grammar2 patterns

Example sentences are translated by AI.

  • 確かにN2

    concedes a point as true before countering it, or asserts certainty, 'admittedly / certainly (~ but)'.

    届く郵便物の量は、確かにその人の社会的な活動の広さと関係している。

    The amount of mail a person receives is indeed related to the breadth of that person’s social activity.

  • ということはN2

    Draws a logical conclusion or restatement from a preceding fact — "which means…, in other words…, that is to say…".

    たとえ読まれることのないダイレクトメールであっても、それが届くということは、その人が世の中に存在している証拠である。

    Even if it is direct mail that will never be read, the very fact that it arrives is proof that the person exists in society.

Other levels14 patterns
  • といってもN3

    Concedes that a preceding statement overstates the case — "although I say", "even though ~, (not really)".

    私宛の郵便物といっても大方がダイレクトメールで、開封もせずにゴミ箱行きになるものが多かったのだが、それでも父は不機嫌になった。

    Although most of the mail addressed to me was direct mail, much of which went straight into the trash unopened, my father would still become displeased.

  • ずにN3

    Marks doing one thing without doing another; a more formal equivalent of 〜ないで — 'without …ing'.

    私宛の郵便物といっても大方がダイレクトメールで、開封もせずにゴミ箱行きになるものが多かったのだが、それでも父は不機嫌になった。

    Although most of the mail addressed to me was direct mail, much of which went straight into the trash unopened, my father would still become displeased.

  • 的（てき）N3

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

    届く郵便物の量は、確かにその人の社会的な活動の広さと関係している。

    The amount of mail a person receives is indeed related to the breadth of that person’s social activity.

  • たとえ〜てもN3

    Concessive 'even if / even though' — sets up a hypothetical or fact that does not change the outcome.

    たとえ読まれることのないダイレクトメールであっても、それが届くということは、その人が世の中に存在している証拠である。

    Even if it is direct mail that will never be read, the very fact that it arrives is proof that the person exists in society.

  • ためにN3

    marks a purpose ('in order to') or a cause ('because of / owing to').

    （外山知徳『家族の絆をつくる家ー失敗しない住まいづくりのための30講』による）

    (From Toyama Tomonori, “A Home That Builds Family Bonds — 30 Lessons for Creating a Home Without Regrets”)

  • 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'.

    （外山知徳『家族の絆をつくる家ー失敗しない住まいづくりのための30講』による）

    (From Toyama Tomonori, “A Home That Builds Family Bonds — 30 Lessons for Creating a Home Without Regrets”)

  • 〜ていたN4

    The past progressive/continuous — an action that was ongoing or a state that held in the past — 'was (do)ing'.

    私が親と同居していた頃、既に引退した父が不機嫌になる種があった。

    When I was living with my parents, there was one thing that would put my already-retired father in a bad mood.

  • 頃（ころ / ごろ）N4

    Suffix/noun marking an approximate point in time; 'around (the time of), about when, back when'.

    私が親と同居していた頃、既に引退した父が不機嫌になる種があった。

    When I was living with my parents, there was one thing that would put my already-retired father in a bad mood.

  • よりN4

    Particle marking the standard in a comparison (also a starting point), "than / (more) than; from".

    それは父宛に届く郵便物の量が、息子である私宛に届く郵便物より少ないことであった。

    It was that the amount of mail addressed to my father was smaller than the amount addressed to me, his son.

  • それでもN4

    Concessive conjunction — 'even so, nevertheless, still.'

    私宛の郵便物といっても大方がダイレクトメールで、開封もせずにゴミ箱行きになるものが多かったのだが、それでも父は不機嫌になった。

    Although most of the mail addressed to me was direct mail, much of which went straight into the trash unopened, my father would still become displeased.

  • てもN4

    Concessive — 'even if / even though …'; the main clause holds regardless of the te-clause.

    たとえ読まれることのないダイレクトメールであっても、それが届くということは、その人が世の中に存在している証拠である。

    Even if it is direct mail that will never be read, the very fact that it arrives is proof that the person exists in society.

  • 〜てくるN4

    Verb te-form plus 来る, marking motion toward the speaker or the gradual onset of a state — 'come to do' / 'start to / become'.

    （注2）ダイレクトメール：個人に直接送られてくる広告

    (Note 2) ダイレクトメール: advertising sent directly to individuals

  • がありますN5

    States the existence or possession of an inanimate thing, "there is / to have".

    私が親と同居していた頃、既に引退した父が不機嫌になる種があった。

    When I was living with my parents, there was one thing that would put my already-retired father in a bad mood.

  • 〜ているN52 times in this passage

    Describes an action in progress or the state that remains after an action happened — “is doing” or “is in the state of having done”.

    届く郵便物の量は、確かにその人の社会的な活動の広さと関係している。

    The amount of mail a person receives is indeed related to the breadth of that person’s social activity.

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