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N3 · IntermediateLong passagePassage #760
2

1年ねんに2万まん通つうも感かん謝しゃの手て紙がみがくる会かい社しゃがある。

四し国こくにある①靴くつの会かい社しゃだ。初はじめはスリッパを作つくっていたのだが、約やく25年ねん前まえ、お年とし寄よりのための介かい護ご施し設せつ（注）の経けい営えい者しゃから、こんな相そう談だんをされた。

「施し設せつ内ないでお年とし寄よりがよく転ころぶので、困こまっているんです。いろいろ工く夫ふうしても解かい決けつできません。靴くつに問もん題だいがありそうなんです。」

それで、お年とし寄よりのための安あん全ぜんな靴くつを作つくることにしたそうだ。社しゃ長ちょうはまず、約やく500人にんのお年とし寄よりの足あしを観かん察さつして、歩あるき方かたを調ちょう査さすることにした。そうして作つくった靴くつを履はいてもらい、意い見けんを聞ききながら悪わるいところを直なおしていった。2年ねん後ご、「お年とし寄よりのための靴くつ」が完かん成せいしたが、初はじめはあまり売うれなかった。

そこで、②調査結果ちょうさけっかをもう一いち度ど確かく認にんすることにした。すると、あることがわかった。お年とし寄よりの中なかには年としをとって片かた方ほうの足あしだけが悪わるくなったり、足あしの形かたちが変かわってしまい左さ右ゆうの足あしの大おおきさが違ちがってきたりして、困こまっている人ひとが少すくなくない。左さ右ゆうのセットではなく、片かた方ほうの靴くつだけが必ひつ要ような人ひともいるのだ。そこで、「お年とし寄よりのための靴くつ」を片かた方ほうでも買かえるようにした。

靴くつの会かい社しゃを経けい営えいしているある先せん輩ぱいからは、③そんなことをしたら経けい営えいがうまくいかなくなると反はん対たいされたが、社しゃ長ちょうはこの新あたらしい販はん売ばい方ほう法ほうを実行じっこうした。困こまっている人ひとの問もん題だいを解かい決けつするためにいいものを作つくり、今いままでの靴くつの売うり方かたとは全まったく違ちがった売うり方かたで、それが必ひつ要ような人ひとのところに届とどけようとしたのである。

今いまでは、この靴くつは1年ねんに100万まん足そく以い上じょうも売うれている。2万まん通つうも感かん謝しゃの手て紙がみがくるのは、④このような会かい社しゃの姿し勢せいがあるからではないだろうか。

Questions

0/4 answered
  1. 1①靴の会社は、どうしてお年寄りのための靴を作ることにしたか。
  2. 2②調査結果をもう一度確認することにしたとあるが、その結果、例えばどんなことがわかったか。
  3. 3③そんなこととあるが、それは何か。
  4. 4④このような会社の姿勢とあるが、どのようなものか。

Study this passage

Vocabulary21 words
  • 感謝かんしゃ
    • ·thanks; gratitude; appreciation; thankfulness
    N3
  • 約やく
    • ·approximately; about
    • ·promise; appointment; engagement
    • ·shortening; reduction; simplification
    • ·contraction (in phonetics)
    N3
  • お
    • ·honorific/polite/humble prefix
    N3
  • 相談そうだん
    • ·consultation; discussion; discussing; asking (someone) for advice
    N3
  • 転ぶころぶ
    • ·to fall down; to fall over
    • ·to turn out; to play out
    • ·to abandon Christianity (and convert to Buddhism); to apostatize
    • ·to roll; to tumble
    • ·(for a geisha) to prostitute (herself) in secret
    N3
  • 解決かいけつ
    • ·settlement; solution; resolution
    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
  • まず
    • ·first (of all); firstly; to begin with; before anything else
    • ·probably; most likely; almost certainly; virtually
    • ·more or less (satisfactory); on the whole; reasonably
    • ·anyway; at any rate; for now (at least); for the time being
    N3
  • 観察かんさつ
    • ·observation; survey; watching
    N3
  • 調査ちょうさ
    • ·investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
    N3
  • 完成かんせい
    • ·completion; perfection; accomplishment
    N3
  • 売れるうれるAs it appears here: 売れなかった
    • ·to sell (well)
    • ·to be well known; to be popular; to be famous
    N3
  • そこで
    • ·so; accordingly; now; then; thereupon; therefore
    N3
  • 確認かくにん
    • ·confirmation; verification; validation; review; check; affirmation; identification
    N3
  • 左右さゆう
    • ·left and right; right and left
    • ·(asserting) control; influence; domination
    • ·one's attendants; people accompanying one
    • ·(serving at someone's) side
    • ·equivocation
    N3
  • よう
    • ·appearing ...; looking ...
    • ·way to ...; method of ...ing
    • ·form; style; design
    • ·like; similar to
    • ·thing (thought or spoken)
    N3
  • 経営けいえい
    • ·management; administration; operation; running (a business); conducting
    N3
  • うまいAs it appears here: うまく
    • ·skillful; skilful; skilled; good; expert; clever (expression, trick, etc.); apt; appropriate
    • ·delicious; tasty; good; nice
    • ·good (deal, idea, etc.); profitable; promising; lucky; fortunate; successful; satisfactory; splendid
    N3
  • 実行じっこう
    • ·execution (e.g. of a plan); carrying out; (putting into) practice; action; implementation; fulfillment; realization
    • ·execution (of a program); run
    N3
  • 全くまったく
    • ·really; truly; entirely; completely; wholly; perfectly
    • ·indeed
    • ·good grief
    N3
  • 売れるうれるAs it appears here: 売れて
    • ·to sell (well)
    • ·to be well known; to be popular; to be famous
    N3
Other levels60 words
  • 万まん
    • ·10,000; ten thousand
    • ·myriad
    • ·everything; all
    • ·various
    N5
  • 手紙てがみ
    • ·letter; note
    N5
  • くる
    • ·to come (spatially or temporally); to approach; to arrive
    • ·to come back; to do ... and come back
    • ·to come to be; to become; to get; to grow; to continue
    • ·to come from; to be caused by; to derive from
    • ·to come to (e.g. "when it comes to spinach ...")
    N5
  • 会社かいしゃ
    • ·company; corporation; firm
    • ·one's workplace
    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
  • 靴くつ
    • ·shoe; shoes; boots; footwear; footgear
    N5
  • 作るつくるAs it appears here: 作って
    • ·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
  • 前まえ
    • ·in front (of); before (e.g. a building)
    • ·before; earlier; previously; prior; ago; (minutes) to (the hour)
    • ·(the) front; frontal part; fore; head (e.g. of a line)
    • ·forward; ahead
    • ·(in the) presence (of); in front (of someone)
    • ·previous (e.g. page); prior (e.g. engagement); first (e.g. half); former (e.g. example)
    • ·portion; helping
    • ·front (of one's body or clothing); breast (of a coat, kimono, etc.)
    • ·privates; private parts
    • ·criminal record; previous conviction; (a) prior
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: された
    • ·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
  • よく
    • ·nicely; properly; well; skillfully; skilfully
    • ·frequently; often
    • ·I'm glad that you ...; thank you for ...
    • ·(you have) quite the nerve to; I don't know how you can ...
    N5
  • 困るこまるAs it appears here: 困って
    • ·to be troubled; to have difficulty; to be in a fix; to be at a loss; to be stumped; to be embarrassed
    • ·to be bothered; to be inconvenienced; to be annoyed
    • ·to be badly off; to be hard up; to be in straitened circumstances
    N5
  • いろいろ
    • ·various; a variety of; all sorts of; many (different)
    • ·variously; in various ways; in many ways
    • ·various things; this and that
    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
  • できるAs it appears here: できません
    • ·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
  • 問題もんだい
    • ·question (e.g. on a test); problem
    • ·problem (e.g. societal, political); question; issue; subject (e.g. of research); case; matter
    • ·question (i.e. doubt)
    • ·public discussion; controversy
    • ·trouble; problem; inconvenience; difficulty
    N5
  • あるAs it appears here: あり
    • ·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
  • 作るつくる
    • ·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
  • 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
  • 足あし
    • ·foot; paw; arm (of an octopus, squid, etc.)
    • ·leg
    • ·gait
    • ·pace
    • ·lower radical of a kanji
    • ·means of transportation; (one's) ride
    • ·money; coin
    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
  • 作るつくるAs it appears here: 作った
    • ·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
  • 履くはくAs it appears here: 履いて
    • ·to put on (lower-body clothing, e.g. pants, skirt, footwear); to wear
    • ·to affix (a sword to one's hip)
    • ·to affix (a bowstring to a bow)
    N5
  • 聞くきくAs it appears here: 聞き
    • ·to hear
    • ·to listen (e.g. to music)
    • ·to ask; to enquire; to query
    • ·to hear about; to hear of; to learn of
    • ·to follow (advice, order, etc.); to obey; to listen to; to comply with
    • ·to hear (e.g. a plea); to grant (a request); to accept (e.g. an argument); to give consideration to
    • ·to smell (esp. incense); to sample (a fragrance)
    • ·to taste (alcohol); to try
    N5
  • 悪いわるい
    • ·bad; poor; undesirable
    • ·poor (quality); inferior; insufficient
    • ·evil; sinful
    • ·ugly; not beautiful
    • ·at fault; to blame; in the wrong
    • ·bad (at doing something)
    • ·unprofitable; unbeneficial
    • ·sorry; (my) bad; unforgivable
    N5
  • ところ
    • ·place; spot; scene; site
    • ·address
    • ·district; area; locality
    • ·one's house
    • ·point; aspect; side; facet
    • ·passage (in text); part
    • ·space; room
    • ·thing; matter
    • ·whereupon; as a result
    • ·about to; on the verge of
    • ·was just doing; was in the process of doing; have just done; just finished doing
    • ·approximately; around; about
    N5
  • あまり
    • ·remainder; remnant; rest; balance; surplus; remains (of a meal); leftovers
    • ·(not) very; (not) much
    • ·too much; excessively; overly
    • ·extreme; great; severe; tremendous; terrible
    • ·not very good; so-so; mediocre
    • ·more than; over
    N5
  • もう一度もういちど
    • ·once more; again
    N5
  • わかるAs it appears here: わかった
    • ·to understand; to comprehend; to grasp; to see; to get; to follow
    • ·to become clear; to be known; to be discovered; to be realized (realised); to be found out; to make sense
    • ·I know!; I think so too!
    N5
  • 悪いわるいAs it appears here: 悪く
    • ·bad; poor; undesirable
    • ·poor (quality); inferior; insufficient
    • ·evil; sinful
    • ·ugly; not beautiful
    • ·at fault; to blame; in the wrong
    • ·bad (at doing something)
    • ·unprofitable; unbeneficial
    • ·sorry; (my) bad; unforgivable
    N5
  • なるAs it appears here: なったり
    • ·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
  • 違うちがうAs it appears here: 違って
    • ·to differ (from); to be different; to be distinct; to be unlike; to vary; to disagree (with)
    • ·to be wrong; to be incorrect; to be mistaken
    • ·to become abnormal; to go wrong
    • ·isn't it?; wasn't it?
    N5
  • いる
    • ·to be (of animate objects); to exist
    • ·to stay
    • ·to be ...-ing
    • ·to have ...-ed; to be ...-ed
    N5
  • 買えるかえる
    • ·to return; to come home; to go home; to go back
    • ·to leave (of a guest, customer, etc.)
    • ·to get home; to get to home plate
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: したら
    • ·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
  • いくAs it appears here: いかなく
    • ·to go; to move (towards); to head (towards); to leave (for)
    • ·to move through; to travel across; to walk along (e.g. a road)
    • ·to go (well, badly, etc.); to proceed; to turn out; to get along
    • ·to do (in a particular way); to go (with; a choice); to try
    • ·to pass (of time, seasons, etc.); to go by
    • ·to stream; to flow
    • ·to die; to pass away
    • ·to reach (a stage, extent, age, etc.); to get to; to go (so far as ...)
    • ·to reach (of information, instructions, wind, etc.); to arrive
    • ·to continue ...; to go on ...; to (progress) steadily; to gradually ...; to progressively ...
    • ·to have an orgasm; to come; to cum
    • ·to trip; to get high; to have a drug-induced hallucination
    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
  • この
    • ·this
    • ·last (couple of years, etc.); these; past; this
    • ·you (as in "you liar")
    N5
  • 新しいあたらしい
    • ·new; novel; fresh; recent; latest; up-to-date; modern
    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
  • 作るつくるAs it appears here: 作り
    • ·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
  • 違うちがうAs it appears here: 違った
    • ·to differ (from); to be different; to be distinct; to be unlike; to vary; to disagree (with)
    • ·to be wrong; to be incorrect; to be mistaken
    • ·to become abnormal; to go wrong
    • ·isn't it?; wasn't it?
    N5
  • それ
    • ·that; it
    • ·then; that point (in time); that time
    • ·there
    • ·you
    N5
  • ため
    • ·good; advantage; benefit; welfare
    • ·sake; purpose; objective; aim
    • ·consequence; result; effect
    • ·affecting; regarding; concerning
    N4
  • それで
    • ·so; therefore; and; (and) then
    N4
  • 安全あんぜん
    • ·safety; security
    N4
  • 社長しゃちょう
    • ·company president; manager; director
    N4
  • 意見いけん
    • ·opinion; view; comment
    • ·scolding; reprimand; rebuke; admonition; cautioning; warning
    N4
  • 直すなおすAs it appears here: 直して
    • ·to repair; to mend; to fix; to correct (a mistake, bad habit, etc.); to put right; to restore; to straighten (e.g. a tie); to tidy up (one's hair, make-up, etc.); to revive (one's spirits)
    • ·to change; to alter; to convert; to translate
    • ·to put back; to put away
    • ·to cure; to heal
    • ·to move up; to promote
    • ·to do over again; to redo
    N4
  • 形かたち
    • ·(physical) form; shape; figure
    • ·visage; (facial) features; appearance (of a person); figure; looks
    • ·form (as opposed to substance); manner (of action); style; (outward) appearance
    • ·(resultant) state; situation; condition; form
    • ·behaviour (towards others); attitude; demeanor; manners
    • ·shape (positional qualities of a group of stones)
    N4
  • 変わるかわるAs it appears here: 変わって
    • ·to change; to be transformed; to be altered; to vary
    • ·to move to
    • ·to be different; to be uncommon; to be unusual
    N4
  • 必要ひつよう
    • ·necessary; needed; essential; indispensable
    • ·necessity; need; requirement
    N4
  • 先輩せんぱい
    • ·senior (at school, work, etc.); superior; elder; older person; predecessor
    N4
  • 反対はんたい
    • ·opposition; resistance; antagonism; hostility; objection; dissent
    • ·reverse; opposite; inverse; contrary
    N4
  • 届けるとどけるAs it appears here: 届けよう
    • ·to deliver; to forward; to send
    • ·to report; to notify; to file notice (to the authorities); to give notice; to register
    N4
  • 以上いじょう
    • ·not less than ...; ... and over; ... and above; ... and upwards; ... or more
    • ·beyond (e.g. one's expectations); above; more than; further than
    • ·the above; the above-mentioned; the aforementioned; the foregoing
    • ·since ...; seeing that ...; now that ...; once ...
    • ·that's all; that is the end; the end
    N4
  • 工夫くふう
    • ·devising (a way); contriving; inventing; thinking up; figuring out; coming up with; working out
    • ·device; design; idea; plan; invention
    • ·dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
    N2
  • 姿勢しせい
    • ·posture; pose; position; stance; carriage (of the body)
    • ·attitude; approach; stance
    N2
  • 通つう
    • ·authority; expert; connoisseur; well-informed person
    • ·counter for messages, letters, notes, documents, etc.
    • ·understanding (esp. of male-female relations); tact; insight
    • ·supernatural powers; magical powers
    N1
  • 年寄りとしより
    • ·old person; elderly person; senior citizen
    • ·trustee of the Japan Sumo Association; (expl.) retired high-ranking wrestler who is licensed to coach and receives retirement pay
    • ·senior statesman (of the Tokugawa shogunate)
    • ·important local official (under the Tokugawa Shogunate)
    N1
  • 施設しせつ
    • ·facility; facilities; institution; establishment
    • ·home (for the elderly, orphans, etc.)
    N1
Grammar3 patterns

Example sentences are translated by AI.

  • ためにN35 times in this passage

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

    初めはスリッパを作っていたのだが、約25年前、お年寄りのための介護施設の経営者から、こんな相談をされた。

    At first, the company made slippers, but about 25 years ago, the manager of an elderly care facility came to them with the following problem.

  • あまり〜ないN3

    The degree adverb あまり, typically with a following negative, expresses a limited degree, "not very / not much."

    2年後、「お年寄りのための靴」が完成したが、初めはあまり売れなかった。

    Two years later, their “shoes for elderly people” were completed, but at first they did not sell very well.

  • ようとするN3

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

    困っている人の問題を解決するためにいいものを作り、今までの靴の売り方とは全く違った売り方で、それが必要な人のところに届けようとしたのである。

    The company made a good product to solve the problems of people in need and tried to deliver it to those who needed it through a sales method completely different from the conventional way of selling shoes.

Other levels22 patterns
  • 〜ていたN4

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

    初めはスリッパを作っていたのだが、約25年前、お年寄りのための介護施設の経営者から、こんな相談をされた。

    At first, the company made slippers, but about 25 years ago, the manager of an elderly care facility came to them with the following problem.

  • てもN4

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

    いろいろ工夫しても解決できません。

    No matter what measures we try, we cannot solve the problem.

  • ことにするN43 times in this passage

    Expresses a decision the speaker makes by their own volition; 'decide to (do).'

    それで、お年寄りのための安全な靴を作ることにしたそうだ。

    So the company decided to make safe shoes for elderly people.

  • 〜てもらうN4

    Benefactive construction: receive the favor of someone doing an action for you — 'have/get someone to ...'.

    そうして作った靴を履いてもらい、意見を聞きながら悪いところを直していった。

    They then had elderly people wear the shoes they had made, and improved the weak points while listening to their feedback.

  • ながらN4

    Attaches to a verb stem to show two actions by the same subject happening at once — 'while (doing) / as'.

    そうして作った靴を履いてもらい、意見を聞きながら悪いところを直していった。

    They then had elderly people wear the shoes they had made, and improved the weak points while listening to their feedback.

  • 〜ていくN4

    Marks an action that continues/progresses onward from the present, or is done before moving away — 'to go on doing', 'to do and go'.

    そうして作った靴を履いてもらい、意見を聞きながら悪いところを直していった。

    They then had elderly people wear the shoes they had made, and improved the weak points while listening to their feedback.

  • 〜てしまう / 〜ちゃうN4

    Verb te-form plus しまう, marking an action as fully completed or done regrettably/by accident — 'end up ...ing' / 'finish ...ing'; ちゃう/じゃう is the casual contraction.

    お年寄りの中には年をとって片方の足だけが悪くなったり、足の形が変わってしまい左右の足の大きさが違ってきたりして、困っている人が少なくない。

    Quite a few elderly people have difficulties because, as they age, only one foot may become weak, or the shape of their feet may change so that their left and right feet become different sizes.

  • 〜さN4

    Suffix that turns an adjective into a noun naming its degree or quality — '-ness' (e.g. 高さ 'height', 重さ 'weight').

    お年寄りの中には年をとって片方の足だけが悪くなったり、足の形が変わってしまい左右の足の大きさが違ってきたりして、困っている人が少なくない。

    Quite a few elderly people have difficulties because, as they age, only one foot may become weak, or the shape of their feet may change so that their left and right feet become different sizes.

  • 〜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'.

    お年寄りの中には年をとって片方の足だけが悪くなったり、足の形が変わってしまい左右の足の大きさが違ってきたりして、困っている人が少なくない。

    Quite a few elderly people have difficulties because, as they age, only one foot may become weak, or the shape of their feet may change so that their left and right feet become different sizes.

  • が必要（がひつよう）N42 times in this passage

    Marks something as necessary or required — 'need X / X is necessary'.

    左右のセットではなく、片方の靴だけが必要な人もいるのだ。

    Some people do not need a left-and-right pair, but only a single shoe.

  • ようにするN4

    Expresses making an ongoing effort or arranging things so that something does or doesn't happen — "make sure to / try to (do regularly)".

    そこで、「お年寄りのための靴」を片方でも買えるようにした。

    So the company made it possible to buy just one of its “shoes for elderly people.”

  • たらN4

    Conditional/temporal ending on the plain-past stem meaning that once or if the first action happens, the second follows ('if / once / when ... then').

    靴の会社を経営しているある先輩からは、③そんなことをしたら経営がうまくいかなくなると反対されたが、社長はこの新しい販売方法を実行した。

    A senior acquaintance who also ran a shoe company opposed the idea, saying that doing such a thing would make it difficult to run the business successfully, but the president went ahead with this new sales method.

  • ようだN4

    Expresses conjecture or resemblance drawn from evidence, "it seems / looks like".

    2万通も感謝の手紙がくるのは、④このような会社の姿勢があるからではないだろうか。

    Perhaps it is because of this kind of attitude on the company's part that it receives as many as 20,000 thank-you letters.

  • がありますN53 times in this passage

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

    1年に2万通も感謝の手紙がくる会社がある。

    There is a company that receives as many as 20,000 thank-you letters a year.

  • のでN52 times in this passage

    Gives a reason or cause with a soft, objective/polite nuance — 'because / since'.

    「施設内でお年寄りがよく転ぶので、困っているんです。

    “We are having a lot of trouble because elderly people often fall inside our facility.

  • 〜ているN55 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”.

    「施設内でお年寄りがよく転ぶので、困っているんです。

    “We are having a lot of trouble because elderly people often fall inside our facility.

  • んですN52 times in this passage

    Explanatory ending that supplies a reason, context, or emphasis — 'the thing is…', 'it's that…'.

    「施設内でお年寄りがよく転ぶので、困っているんです。

    “We are having a lot of trouble because elderly people often fall inside our facility.

  • だけN52 times in this passage

    Limiting particle marking 'only / just' — restricts to the stated amount, degree, or item.

    お年寄りの中には年をとって片方の足だけが悪くなったり、足の形が変わってしまい左右の足の大きさが違ってきたりして、困っている人が少なくない。

    Quite a few elderly people have difficulties because, as they age, only one foot may become weak, or the shape of their feet may change so that their left and right feet become different sizes.

  • 〜たり〜たりN52 times in this passage

    Lists a few representative actions among others done at various times, 'do things like X and Y'.

    お年寄りの中には年をとって片方の足だけが悪くなったり、足の形が変わってしまい左右の足の大きさが違ってきたりして、困っている人が少なくない。

    Quite a few elderly people have difficulties because, as they age, only one foot may become weak, or the shape of their feet may change so that their left and right feet become different sizes.

  • じゃない・ではないN52 times in this passage

    Negates a noun or na-adjective with the copula, "is not / am not".

    左右のセットではなく、片方の靴だけが必要な人もいるのだ。

    Some people do not need a left-and-right pair, but only a single shoe.

  • までN5

    Particle marking the spatial, temporal, or extent limit of an action — "until / up to / as far as."

    困っている人の問題を解決するためにいいものを作り、今までの靴の売り方とは全く違った売り方で、それが必要な人のところに届けようとしたのである。

    The company made a good product to solve the problems of people in need and tried to deliver it to those who needed it through a sales method completely different from the conventional way of selling shoes.

  • だろうN5

    Presumptive expressing conjecture — 'probably', 'I think', or seeking agreement 'right?'; plain だろう / polite でしょう.

    2万通も感謝の手紙がくるのは、④このような会社の姿勢があるからではないだろうか。

    Perhaps it is because of this kind of attitude on the company's part that it receives as many as 20,000 thank-you letters.

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