Now all day long while the tailor was out at work, Simpkin kept house by himself; and he also was fond of the mice, though he gave them no satin for coats!
The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter
いちにちじゅう、シンプキンは るすばんしていた。
- predicate:
- 留守番する
“Miaw?” said the cat when the tailor opened the door. “Miaw?”
したてやが ドアを あけると、
シンプキンが ないた。
- predicate:
- 開ける
- 鳴く
The tailor replied—”Simpkin, we shall make our fortune, but I am worn to a ravelling.
「わたしは つかれはてている」
- predicate:
- 疲れ果てる
Take this groat (which is our last fourpence) and Simpkin, take a china pipkin; buy a penn’orth of bread, a penn’orth of milk and a penn’orth of sausages.
「パンと ミルクと ソーセージを かってきて」
- predicate:
- 買う
And oh, Simpkin, with the last penny of our fourpence buy me one penn’orth of cherry-coloured silk.
「さいごの１ペニーで わたしに チェリーいろの シルクを かってきて」
But do not lose the last penny of the fourpence, Simpkin, or I am undone and worn to a thread-paper, for I have NO MORE TWIST.”
「いとが もうない」
Then Simpkin again said, “Miaw?” and took the groat and the pipkin, and went out into the dark.
シンプキンは グロートと ピプキンを もって、でかけた。
- predicate:
- 持つ
- 出かける
The tailor was very tired and beginning to be ill.
したてやは びょうきになりかけていた。
- predicate:
- 病気になる
He sat down by the hearth and talked to himself about that wonderful coat.
かれは ひとりごとをいった。
“I shall make my fortune—to be cut bias—the Mayor of Gloucester is to be married on Christmas Day in the morning, and he hath ordered a coat and an embroidered waistcoat—to be lined with yellow taffeta—and the taffeta sufficeth; there is no more left over in snippets than will serve to make tippets for mice——”
「ざいりょうに よゆうがない」
- predicate:
- 余裕がない
- 崖っぷち（がけっぷち, on the brink / on the edge）
The Japanese word “gakeppuchi” describes a situation where someone is on the brink of failure, collapse, or a critical turning point. It conveys having no room for error, no extra time, and no emotional or practical margin left. It is often used in high‑pressure moments such as deadlines, competitions, financial trouble, or emotional stress, where one more mistake could lead to a serious consequence.
Then the tailor started; for suddenly, interrupting him, from the dresser at the other side of the kitchen came a number of little noises—
Tip tap, tip tap, tip tap tip!
しょっきだなから ちいさな ものおとがした。
- modifier:
- 食器棚から
“Now what can that be?” said the Tailor of Gloucester, jumping up from his chair.
したてやは とびあがった。
- predicate:
- 跳びあがる
The dresser was covered with crockery and pipkins, willow pattern plates, and tea-cups and mugs.
そのたなは しょっきで いっぱいだった。
- subject:
- その棚は