本を選ぶときは、まず過去の偉大な作家たちの作品に目を向けるべきだ。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

In one's reading, great writers of the past must be given the most attention.

Furigana

本(ほん)を選(えら)ぶときは、まず過去(かこ)の偉大(いだい)な作家(さっか)たちの作品(さくひん)に目(め)を向(む)けるべきだ。

Romanji

Hon o erabu toki wa, mazu kako no idaina sakkatachi no sakuhin ni me o mukeru beki da.

Words

本 (ほん)

book; volume; script; this; present; main; head; real; regular; counter for long cylindrical things; counter for films, TV shows, etc.; counter for goals, home runs, etc.; counter for telephone calls

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.

選ぶ (えらぶ)

to choose; to select

とき (とき)

regular (stops at every station) Jouetsu-line Shinkansen

は (は)

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

先ず (まず)

first (of all); to start with; about; almost; anyway; well; now; hardly (with neg. verb)

過去 (かこ)

the past; bygone days; the previous; a past (i.e. a personal history one would prefer remained secret); one's past; past (tense); preterit; preterite; previous life

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

偉大 (いだい)

greatness

作品 (さくひん)

work (e.g. book, film, composition, etc.); opus; performance; production

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

目 (め)

eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; vision; look; stare; glance; an experience; viewpoint; stitch; texture; weave; ordinal number suffix; somewhat; -ish

向ける (むける)

to turn towards; to point

可し (べし)

shall; should; must

だ (だ)

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