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Gon, the Little Fox (3): 4 Expressions
This is the final part of our series on Gon, the Little Fox. In Part 2, Gon began leaving chestnuts and mushrooms at Hyōjū's door every day, to make up for the eel.
Hyōjū has no idea where the gifts come from. His friend Kasuke says it must be the gods. Gon, following them in the dark, hears everything. This part contains one of the most famous endings in Japanese literature.
1. 引き合わない（ひきあわない）— it's not fair; it doesn't pay
引き合う means "to be worth it" or "to pay off." 引き合わない means the effort is not rewarded, so it is unfair.
神さまが、お前がたった一人になったのをあわれに思わっしゃって、いろんなものをめぐんで下さるんだよ。
The gods felt sorry for you, being left all alone, so they're giving you all kinds of things.
That is Kasuke's explanation. Gon's reaction is short and human:
おれは、引き合わないなあ。
That's not fair to me.
He is bringing the gifts, but the gods get the thanks.
Today:
- こんなに働いて、この給料じゃ引き合わない。
Working this hard for this pay just isn't worth it. - 安いけど、すぐ壊れるなら引き合わない。
It's cheap, but if it breaks right away, it's not worth it.
Tip: 割に合わない（わりにあわない）means almost the same thing and is more common today.
2. ドンと・ばたりと — bang; thud
Japanese uses many sound words (擬音語). ドン is the sound of a gun or a big drum. ばたり（と）is the sound of someone falling down flat.
今戸口を出ようとするごんを、ドンと、うちました。
Just as Gon was leaving through the door, Hyōjū shot him — bang.
ごんは、ばたりとたおれました。
Gon fell with a thud.
The next day Gon comes again, with chestnuts. Hyōjū sees a fox slip into his house and thinks, "That thieving fox is back to play tricks." He takes his gun.
Today:
- ドンと大きな音がして、びっくりした。
There was a loud bang, and I jumped. - 疲れて、ベッドにばたりと倒れこんだ。
I was exhausted and collapsed onto the bed.
Tip: ばったり is similar but also means "by chance": 駅で先生にばったり会った — "I ran into my teacher at the station."
3. お前だったのか（おまえだったのか）— so it was you
〜のか at the end shows that the speaker has just understood something. だったのか is "so it was..."
ごん、お前だったのか。いつも栗をくれたのは。
Gon, it was you? You were the one who always brought me chestnuts?
Hyōjū goes into the house and sees the chestnuts on the floor. The word order is reversed: normally it would be いつも栗をくれたのはお前だったのか. Putting お前だったのか first shows the shock hitting him all at once.
Today:
- なんだ、君だったのか。
Oh, it was you. - そういうことだったのか。
So that's what it was.
Tip: In daily speech, のか becomes んだ: 君だったんだ. のか sounds more serious and more written.
4. ぐったり — limp; completely drained
ぐったり describes a body with no strength left, from tiredness, heat or illness.
ごんは、ぐったりと目をつぶったまま、うなずきました。
Gon, lying limp with his eyes closed, nodded.
〜たまま means "while still..." Gon cannot speak, but he nods. Then the story ends with one quiet image: blue smoke still rising from the gun.
Today:
- 暑さで、犬がぐったりしている。
The dog is all limp from the heat. - 一日中歩いて、ぐったり疲れた。
I walked all day and I'm completely wiped out.
Tip: ぐったり is about how your body looks and feels. くたくた is similar and very common: もうくたくただ — "I'm exhausted."
Read it in the story
Many Japanese adults can still quote the last lines of Gon, the Little Fox from memory. Read the whole story and see why.
On Thursday, October 15, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter continues with Part 2, "The Five Treasures."