意外重返職場的故事
A Japanese man’s early retirement dream turned out to be very different from what he expected.
一名日本男子的提早退休夢想，結果與他的想像完全不同。
turn out結果證明、結果發現～
At 42, he left his corporate job after saving around 70 million Japanese yen (about 14 million NTD).
42歲時，他在累積約7,000萬日圓（約新台幣1,400萬元）的存款後，辭去了企業工作。
corporate(adj.)企業的／corporate image企業形象approximately(adv.)大約
The money was built up over years of steady work, simple living, and regular investing in index funds.
這筆錢是他多年穩定工作、簡樸生活，並定期投資指數型基金所累積的成果。
build up累積、加強accumulate(v.)累積steady(adj.)穩定的／stable(adj.)穩定的invest in…投資～on a regular basis規律地funds(n.)資金
He believed this amount was enough to support his daily life without working again, so he decided to stop working and enjoy early retirement.
他認為這筆錢已足以支應日常生活，因此決定不再工作，享受提早退休生活。
daily(adj.)每天的=everyday／day-to-day
He believed he had achieved financial freedom and could enjoy a carefree life.
他相信自己已實現財務自由，可以過上無憂無慮的生活。
freedom(n.)自由live a…life過著～的生活
For a while, it seemed true. He slept late, went for walks, studied investments, and had dinner with his family every evening. Life felt slow, calm, and meaningful.
起初確實如此，他睡到自然醒、散步、研究投資，每晚都和家人共進晚餐。生活節奏緩慢、平靜且充實。
sleep in睡得比平常晚起床go for a stroll／walk去散步calm(adj.)鎮定的、平和的meaningless(adj.)無意義的
However, reality soon became more complicated.
然而，現實很快變得更複雜。
out of touch with reality脫離現實、不切實際reality check現實檢驗、當頭棒喝complicated(adj.)複雜的／complex(adj.)複雜的
Since his wife continued working full-time, he took on most of the housework and childcare.
因為他的妻子仍然全職工作，所以他承擔了大部分的家務與育兒。
take on承擔house chores家事
Cooking, shopping, and picking up the children filled his days.
煮飯、採買與接送孩子佔滿了他的時間。
At the same time, his mother needed long-term care after a stroke.
同時，他的母親在中風後需要長期照護。
suffer／have a stroke罹患中風partly paralyzed局部癱瘓的
Because he was “free,” he became the primary caregiver.
因為他「很有空」，他變成了主要的照顧者。
primary(adj.)主要的
Unexpected expenses also reduced his savings faster than he had planned.
而突發的開支也讓他的存款消耗得比預期更快。
savings(n.)存款、儲蓄drain savings把存款花光
After two years, stress replaced freedom.
兩年後，壓力取代了自由。
replace A with B用B取代A
Family responsibilities made daily life heavier than before.
家庭責任讓日常生活變得比以前更沉重。
In the end, he returned to work.
最後，他選擇重返職場。
Surprisingly, he felt relieved.
令人意外的是，他反而感到鬆了一口氣。
to everyone’s surprise讓大家都很驚訝的是relieved(adj.)感到放鬆的、鬆了一口氣的
Even commuting and office routines now felt stable and reassuring.
甚至連通勤與辦公室的規律生活，如今都讓他感到穩定且安心。
commute(v.)通勤daily routine每日例行公事set sb.’s mind at ease讓某人安心reassuring smile安撫人心的微笑
He even said that being an employee felt “happier” than early retirement.
他甚至提到，當個上班族其實比提早退休更「快樂」。