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

その老人は言わば生き字引だ。

Sentence Analyzer

その 老人 言わば 生き字引

English Translation

That old man is, so to speak, a walking dictionary.

Furigana

その老人(ろうじん)()わば(いきじび)字引()だ。

Romanji

Sono rōjin wa iwaba ikijibiki da.

Words

其の (その)
that (something or someone distant from the speaker, close to the listener; actions of the listener, or ideas expressed or understood by the listener); the; um...; er...; uh...
老人 (ろうじん)
the aged; old person
()
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
生き字引き (いきじびき)
walking dictionary or encyclopedia
()
be; is; indicates past or completed action; indicates light imperative

Kanji

Readings: ロウ、 お.いる、 ふ.ける
Meanings: old man, old age, grow old
Readings: ジン、 ニン、 ひと、 -り、 -と
Meaning: person
Readings: ゲン、 ゴン、 い.う、 こと
Meanings: say, word
Readings: セイ、 ショウ、 い.きる、 い.かす、 い.ける、 う.まれる、 うま.れる、 う.まれ、 うまれ、 う.む、 お.う、 は.える、 は.やす、 き、 なま、 なま-、 な.る、 な.す、 む.す、 -う
Meanings: life, genuine, birth
Readings: ジ、 あざ、 あざな、 -な
Meanings: character, letter, word, section of village
Readings: イン、 ひ.く、 ひ.き、 ひ.き-、 -び.き、 ひ.ける
Meanings: pull, tug, jerk, admit, install, quote, refer to