彼は、言わば、水の外にいる魚のようなものだ。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

He is, so to speak, a fish out of water.

Furigana

彼(かれ)は、言(い)わば、水(みず)の外(そと)にいる魚(さかな)のようなものだ。

Romanji

Kare wa, iwaba, mizu no soto ni iru sakana no yōna mono da.

Words

彼 (かれ)

he; him; his; boyfriend

は (は)

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

水 (みず、み)

water (esp. cool, fresh water, e.g. drinking water); fluid (esp. in an animal tissue); liquid; flood; floodwaters; water offered to wrestlers just prior to a bout; break granted to wrestlers engaged in a prolonged bout

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

外 (そと、と)

outside; exterior; open air; other place

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

要る (いる)

to need; to want

魚 (さかな、うお)

fish

様だ (ようだ)

(usu. at sentence-end) seeming to be; appearing to be; like; similar to; in order to (e.g. meet goal); so that; indicates hope, wish, request or mild command

者 (もの、もん)

person

だ (だ)

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