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

10代の初めの頃、私は両親と必ずしも最善の関係にあったわけではなかった。

Sentence Analyzer

初め 両親 必ずしも 最善 関係 あった わけ なかった

English Translation

During my early teens, I was not always on the best of terms with my parents.

Furigana

10(だい)(はじ)めの(ころ)(わたし)両親(りょうしん)(かなら)ずしも最善(さいぜん)関係(かんけい)にあったわけではなかった。

Romanji

Ichi zero dai no hajime no koro, watashi wa ryōshin to kanarazushimo saizen no kankei ni atta wake de wa nakatta.

Words

(いち)
one; best; first; foremost; beginning; start; bottom string (on a shamisen, etc.)
(まる)
circle (sometimes used for zero); 'correct' (when marking); symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position, or because of censorship); period; full stop; maru mark; semivoiced sound; p-sound
(だい)
charge; cost; price; generation; age; reign; era; a representative of; on behalf of; for (someone); used after a phone number to indicate that it is a switchboard number; counter for decades of ages, eras, etc.; counter for generations (of inheritors to a throne, etc.); proxy application company; pronoun
()
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
始め (はじめ)
beginning; start; outset; opening; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
(ころ、ごろ)
(approximate) time; around; about; toward; suitable time (or condition); time of year; season
(わたし、わたくし)
I; me; private affairs; personal matter; secrecy; selfishness
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
両親 (りょうしん、ふたおや)
parents; both parents
()
if; when; and; with; particle used for quoting (with speech, thoughts, etc.); quoting particle; promoted pawn; indicates question (sentence end)
必ずしも (かならずしも)
not always; not necessarily; not all; not entirely
最善 (さいぜん)
the very best
関係 (かんけい)
relation; relationship; connection; participation; involvement; concern; influence; effect; sexual relations; sexual relationship; related to ...; connected to ...
()
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
有る (ある)
to be (usu. of inanimate objects); to exist; to live; to have; to be located; to be equipped with; to happen; to come about
(わけ)
conclusion from reasoning, judgement or calculation based on something read or heard; reason; cause; meaning; circumstances; situation
()
be; is; indicates past or completed action; indicates light imperative
無い (ない)
nonexistent; not being (there); unpossessed; unowned; not had; unique; indicates negation, inexperience, unnecessariness or impossibility; not ...; to not be...; to have not ...

Kanji

Readings: ダイ、 タイ、 か.わる、 かわ.る、 かわ.り、 か.わり、 -がわ.り、 -が.わり、 か.える、 よ、 しろ
Meanings: substitute, change, convert, replace, period, age, counter for decades of ages, eras, etc., generation, charge, rate, fee
Readings: ショ、 はじ.め、 はじ.めて、 はつ、 はつ-、 うい-、 -そ.める、 -ぞ.め
Meanings: first time, beginning
Readings: ケイ、 キョウ、 ころ、 ごろ、 しばら.く
Meanings: time, about, toward
Readings: シ、 わたくし、 わたし
Meanings: private, I, me
Readings: リョウ、 てる、 ふたつ
Meanings: both, old Japanese coin, counter for carriages (e.g., in a train), two
Readings: シン、 おや、 おや-、 した.しい、 した.しむ
Meanings: parent, intimacy, relative, familiarity, dealer (cards)
Readings: ヒツ、 かなら.ず
Meanings: invariably, certain, inevitable
Readings: サイ、 シュ、 もっと.も、 つま
Meanings: utmost, most, extreme
Readings: ゼン、 よ.い、 い.い、 よ.く、 よし.とする
Meanings: virtuous, good, goodness
Readings: カン、 せき、 -ぜき、 かか.わる、 からくり、 かんぬき
Meanings: connection, barrier, gateway, involve, concerning
Readings: ケイ、 かか.る、 かかり、 -がかり、 かか.わる
Meanings: person in charge, connection, duty, concern oneself