This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

それはほんの冗談にすぎなかったのだ。

Sentence Analyzer

それ ほんの 冗談 すぎなかった

English Translation

It was nothing but a joke.

Furigana

それはほんの冗談(じょうだん)にすぎなかったのだ。

Romanji

Sore wa honno jōdan ni suginakatta no da.

Words

其れ (それ)
that (indicating an item or person near the listener, the action of the listener, or something on their mind); it; that time; then; there (indicating a place near the listener); you
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
本の (ほんの)
mere; only; just; not even (with negative verb)
冗談 (じょうだん、ぎだん、げだん)
jest; joke; funny story
()
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
過ぎる (すぎる)
to pass through; to pass by; to go beyond; to pass (i.e. of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to be over; to exceed; to surpass; to be above; to be no more than ...; to be excessive; to be too much; to be too ...
()
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
()
be; is; indicates past or completed action; indicates light imperative

Kanji

Reading: ジョウ
Meanings: superfluous, uselessness
Reading: ダン
Meanings: discuss, talk