What a funny sight it is to see a brood of ducklings with a hen!
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck by Beatrix Potter
なんて おかしな こうけいだ。
アヒルの こどもたちが めんどりと いっしょにいる。
- predicate:
- おかしな光景だ
—Listen to the story of Jemima Puddle-duck, who was annoyed because the farmer’s wife would not let her hatch her own eggs.
アヒルの ジマイマの おはなしを きこう。
かのじょは じぶんのたまごを かえせない。
- predicate:
- 聞く
Her sister-in-law, Mrs. Rebeccah Puddle-duck, was perfectly willing to leave the hatching to some one else—
ミセス・レベッカは ほかのだれかに たまごを まかせた。
- predicate:
- 任せる
”I have not the patience to sit on a nest for twenty-eight days; and no more have you, Jemima.
「わたしは にんたいりょくがない。あなたも」
- predicate:
- 忍耐力が無い
You would let them go cold; you know you would!”
「あなたは たまごを ひやすだろう」
- predicate:
- 冷やす
“I wish to hatch my own eggs; I will hatch them all by myself,” quacked Jemima Puddle-duck.
「わたしは じぶんひとりで たまごを かえす」
She tried to hide her eggs; but they were always found and carried off.
たまごは いつも もちさられた。
- predicate:
- 持ち去る
Jemima Puddle-duck became quite desperate. She determined to make a nest right away from the farm.
かのじょは すをつくることを けついした。
- modifier:
- 巣を作ることを
She set off on a fine spring afternoon along the cart-road that leads over the hill.
かのじょは はるのごごに しゅっぱつした。
- modifier:
- 春の午後に
She was wearing a shawl and a poke bonnet.
かのじょは ショールと ポークボンネットを みにつけていた。
- predicate:
- 身につけていた
When she reached the top of the hill, she saw a wood in the distance.
おかのうえに ついたとき、
かのじょは もりが みえた。
She thought that it looked a safe quiet spot.
そのもりは あんぜんで しずかなばしょに みえた。
- modifier:
- 安全で静かな場所に
Jemima Puddle-duck was not much in the habit of flying.
ジマイマは とぶのが にがてだった。
- predicate:
- 苦手だった
She ran downhill a few yards flapping her shawl, and then she jumped off into the air.
かのじょは じょそうをつけて、それから、そらに とんだ。
- predicate:
- 助走をつける
- 跳ぶ
She flew beautifully when she had got a good start.
かのじょは みごとに とんだ。
- predicate:
- 飛ぶ
She skimmed along over the tree-tops until she saw an open place in the middle of the wood, where the trees and brushwood had been cleared.
かのじょは ひらけたとちを みつけた。
- modifier:
- 開けた土地を
Jemima alighted rather heavily, and began to waddle about in search of a convenient dry nesting-place. She rather fancied a tree-stump amongst some tall fox-gloves.
ジマイマは いっぽんの きりかぶを きにいった。
- predicate:
- 気に入る
But—seated upon the stump, she was startled to find an elegantly dressed gentleman reading a newspaper.
かのじょは しんしをみつけて おどろいた。
- modifier:
- 紳士を見つけて
He had black prick ears and sandy coloured whiskers.
かれには くろい みみと すないろの ヒゲがあった。
“Quack?” said Jemima Puddle-duck, with her head and her bonnet on one side—”Quack?”
ジマイマは くびをかしげた。
- predicate:
- 首をかしげる
The gentleman raised his eyes above his newspaper and looked curiously at Jemima—
そのしんしは ジマイマを めずらしそうに みた。
- subject:
- その紳士は
“Madam, have you lost your way?” said he. He had a long bushy tail which he was sitting upon, as the stump was somewhat damp.
「みちに まよったのか？」
- predicate:
- 迷う
Jemima thought him mighty civil and handsome. She explained that she had not lost her way, but that she was trying to find a convenient dry nesting-place.
かのじょは すをつくるばしょを さがしていると せつめいした。
- modifier:
- 巣を作る場所を探している
“Ah! is that so? indeed!” said the gentleman with sandy whiskers, looking curiously at Jemima. He folded up the newspaper, and put it in his coat-tail pocket.
かれは しんぶんを たたんだ。
Jemima complained of the superfluous hen.
ジマイマは めんどりの ふまんをいった。
- predicate:
- 不満を言う
“Indeed! how interesting! I wish I could meet with that fowl. I would teach it to mind its own business!”
「よけいなおせわだと つたえてやる」
“But as to a nest—there is no difficulty: I have a sackful of feathers in my wood-shed. No, my dear madam, you will be in nobody’s way. You may sit there as long as you like,” said the bushy long-tailed gentleman.
「すについては、なにも もんだいない」
He led the way to a very retired, dismal-looking house amongst the fox-gloves.
かれは フォックスグローブのなかの いえに あんないした。
- predicate:
- 案内する
It was built of faggots and turf, and there were two broken pails, one on top of another, by way of a chimney.
やすぶしんの いえだった。
- 安普請（やすぶしん, cheap construction / shoddy building）
The Japanese word “やすぶしん” refers to a building or structure made with low‑quality materials or poor craftsmanship. It is often used when describing houses, rooms, or facilities that feel flimsy, unstable, or cheaply built. The term can also imply that the creator prioritized saving money over durability or comfort.