雷鳴が聞こえるよりも先に稲光が見えるのは、光が音よりも早く伝わるからである。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

It is because light travels faster than sound that we see lightning before we hear thunder.

Furigana

雷鳴(らいめい)が聞(き)こえるよりも先(さき)に稲光(いなびかり)が見(み)えるのは、光(ひかり)が音(おと)よりも早(はや)く伝(つた)わるからである。

Romanji

Raimei ga kikoeru yori mo saki ni inabikari ga mieru no wa, hikari ga oto yori mo hayaku tsutawaru kara de aru.

Words

雷鳴 (らいめい)

thunder

が (が)

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

聞こえる (きこえる)

to be heard; to be audible; to be said to be; to be reputed

より (より)

than; from; out of; since; at; on; except; but; other than; more

も (も)

too; also; in addition; as well; (not) either (in a negative sentence); both A and B; A as well as B; neither A nor B (in a negative sentence); even; as much as; as many as; as far as; as long as; no less than; no fewer than; even if; even though; although; in spite of; further; more; again; another; the other

先 (さき)

previous; prior; former; some time ago; preceding; point (e.g. pencil); tip; end; nozzle; head (of a line); front; ahead; the other side; the future; hereafter; destination; the other party

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

稲光 (いなびかり)

(flash of) lightning

見える (まみえる)

to have an audience; to meet; to see; to face (an enemy); to confront; to serve (esp. as one's wife)

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

は (は)

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

光 (ひかり)

light

音 (おと、ね、おん)

sound; noise; report; note; fame; Chinese-derived character reading

早い (はやい)

fast; quick; hasty; brisk; early (in the day, etc.); premature; (too) soon; not yet; (too) early; easy; simple; quick

伝わる (つたわる)

to be handed down; to be introduced; to be transmitted; to be circulated; to go along; to walk along

から (から)

from (e.g. time, place, numerical quantity); since; from (originator); by; because; since; out of (constituent, part); through (e.g. window, vestibule); after; since

だ (だ)

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

或 (ある)

a certain ...; some ...