#58 横光利一「御身」
母は答えずそのまま下へ降りて了った。彼は一寸腹が立った。が、その腹立たしさの中から微笑がはみ出るように浮んで来た。いくら顔をひき締めてみても駄目だった。
Vocabulary:
横光利一 よこみつりいち Yokomitsu Riichi (author, 1898-1947)
降りる おりる to go down
一寸 ちょっと a little
腹が立つ はらがたつ to get irritated
腹立たしい はらだたしい irritating
微笑 びしょう smile
はみ出る はみでる to spill over, to brim
浮ぶ うかぶ to appear, to rise to the surface
ひき締める ひきしめる to strain, to tighten
駄目 だめ no good, useless, futile, in vain
Grammar:
いくら…しても
This pattern is used quite frequently, and means ‘no matter how much [one does]…’.
Translation:
His mother didn't answer and immediately went downstairs. He was a little irritated. But, as if spilling over from inside that irritation, a smile came to his face. No matter how much he tried to keep a straight face, he couldn’t help it.
Amazon.jp link for the book I used: