われわれは、いわば、火山の上に座っているようなものだった。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

We sat, as it were, on a volcano.

Furigana

われわれは、いわば、火山(かざん)の上(うえ)に座(すわ)っているようなものだった。

Romanji

Wareware wa, iwaba, kazan no ueni suwatteiru yōna mono datta.

Words

我々 (われわれ)

は (は)

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

言わば (いわば)

so to speak; so to call it; as it were

火山 (かざん)

volcano

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

座る (すわる)

to sit; to squat; to assume (a position); to hold steady; to hold still

様だ (ようだ)

(usu. at sentence-end) seeming to be; appearing to be; like; similar to; in order to (e.g. meet goal); so that; indicates hope, wish, request or mild command

者 (もの、もん)

person

だ (だ)

be; is; indicates past or completed action; indicates light imperative