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

これはなんだ。キャッチセールスじゃないのなら、新手の逆ナンだろうか。

Sentence Analyzer

これ なん キャッチセールス じゃない なら 新手 なん だろう

English Translation

Then what is this I wonder? If it isn't dodgy door-to-door sales then could it be a new kind of pickup technique for the ladies?

Furigana

これはなんだ。キャッチセールスじゃないのなら、新手(あらて)(ぎゃく)ナンだろうか。

Romanji

Kore wa nan da. kyatchise-rusu janai no nara, arate no gyaku Nan darou ka.

Words

此れ (これ)
this (indicating an item near the speaker, the action of the speaker, or the current topic); this person (usu. indicating someone in one's in-group); now; here; I (me); certainly
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
(なに、なん)
what; how many; you-know-what; that; whatsit; what's the expression; what do you call them; what?; hey!
()
be; is; indicates past or completed action; indicates light imperative
キャッチセールス (キャッチセールス、キャッチ・セールス)
unscrupulous sales practice involving expensive hard-to-break contracts
じゃあ (じゃあ、じゃ)
then; well; so; well then; combination of 'de' and 'wa' particles; plain copula
()
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
新手 (あらて、しんて)
fresh supply of troops; newcomer; new method; new trick
(ぎゃく)
reverse; opposite; converse (of a hypothesis, etc.)
(なん)
difficulty; trouble; hardship; accident; disaster; danger; fault; defect; criticism
()
indicates a question (sometimes rhetorical); or; whether or not; some- (e.g. something, someone); indicates doubt, uncertainty, etc.; emphatic prefix; suffix forming adjectives or adverbs; in that way

Kanji

Readings: シン、 あたら.しい、 あら.た、 あら-、 にい-
Meaning: new
Readings: シュ、 ズ、 て、 て-、 -て、 た-
Meaning: hand
Readings: ギャク、 ゲキ、 さか、 さか.さ、 さか.らう
Meanings: inverted, reverse, opposite, wicked