何かにたとえられないでしょうか。

what; how many; you-know-what; that; whatsit; what's the expression; what do you call them; what?; hey!

indicates a question (sometimes rhetorical); or; whether or not; some- (e.g. something, someone); indicates doubt, uncertainty, etc.; emphatic prefix; suffix forming adjectives or adverbs; in that way

at (place, time); in; on; during; to (direction, state); toward; into; for (purpose); because of (reason); for; with; by; from; as (i.e. in the role of); per; in; for; a (e.g. "once a month"); and; in addition to; if; although

to compare; to liken; to speak figuratively; to illustrate; to use a simile

death