父は私の弟を掌中の玉のようにかわいがった。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

My brother was the apple of my father's eye.

Furigana

父(ちち)は私(わたし)の弟(おとうと)を掌中(しょうちゅう)の玉(たま)のようにかわいがった。

Romanji

Chichi wa watashi no otōto o shōchū no tama no yō ni kawaigatta.

Words

父 (ちち、とと、ちゃん、てて、かぞ、かそ、しし、あて)

father

は (は)

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

私 (わたし、わたくし)

I; me; private affairs; personal matter; secrecy; selfishness

の (の)

indicates possessive; nominalizes verbs and adjectives; substitutes for "ga" in subordinate phrases; (at sentence-end, falling tone) indicates a confident conclusion; (at sentence-end) indicates emotional emphasis; (at sentence-end, rising tone) indicates question

弟 (おとうと、おと、おとと、てい)

younger brother; little brother; kid brother; pupil; apprentice

を (を)

indicates direct object of action; indicates subject of causative expression; indicates an area traversed; indicates time (period) over which action takes place; indicates point of departure or separation of action; indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.

掌中 (しょうちゅう)

in the hand; (something) easily manipulated

玉 (たま)

ball; sphere; globe; orb; bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; droplet; ball (in sports); pile (of noodles, etc.); bullet; bulb (i.e. a light bulb); lens (of glasses, etc.); bead (of an abacus); ball (i.e. a testicle); gem; jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively); pearl; female entertainer (e.g. a geisha); person (when commenting on their nature); character; item, funds or person used as part of a plot; egg; coin; precious; beautiful; excellent

様 (よう)

appearing ...; looking ...; way to ...; method of ...ing; form; style; design; like; similar to; thing (thought or spoken)

に (に)

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

可愛がる (かわいがる)

to love; to be affectionate; to favor; to favour; to be partial to; to torment; to tease; to be rough with