錆が鉄を虫食むのと同様に心配は心を虫食む。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

As rust eats iron, so care eats the heart.

Furigana

錆(さび)が鉄(てつ)を虫(むし)食(は)むのと同様(どうよう)に心配(しんぱい)は心(こころ)を虫(むし)食(は)む。

Romanji

Sabi ga tetsu o mushi hamu no to dōyō ni shinpai wa kokoro o mushi hamu.

Words

錆 (さび)

rust

が (が)

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and

鉄 (てつ)

iron (Fe); strong and hard (as iron); railway; railway enthusiast

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.

虫 (むし)

insect; bug; cricket; moth; worm

食む (はむ)

to eat (fodder, grass, etc.); to receive (a salary); to receive a stipend from one's lord

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

と (と)

if; when; and; with; particle used for quoting (with speech, thoughts, etc.); quoting particle; promoted pawn; indicates question (sentence end)

同様 (どうよう)

identical; equal to; same (kind); like; similarity

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

心配 (しんぱい)

worry; concern; anxiety; care; help; aid; assistance

は (は)

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

心 (こころ)

mind; heart; spirit; the meaning of a phrase (riddle, etc.)