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

泥棒を見て縄をなう。

Sentence Analyzer

泥棒 見て なう

English Translation

It's too late to shut the barn door after the horse is stolen.

Furigana

泥棒(どろぼう)()(なわ)をなう。

Romanji

Dorobō o mite nawa o nau.

Words

泥棒 (どろぼう)
thief; burglar; robber; theft
()
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.
見る (みる)
to see; to look; to watch; to view; to observe; to look over; to look on; to assess; to examine; to judge; to look after; to keep an eye on; to take care of; to view (e.g. flowers, movie); to try; to try out; to see that...; to find that...
(なわ)
rope; cord; policeman's rope
なう (なう)
to do ...

Kanji

Readings: デイ、 ナイ、 デ、 ニ、 どろ
Meanings: mud, mire, adhere to, be attached to
Reading: ボウ
Meanings: rod, stick, cane, pole, club, line
Readings: ケン、 み.る、 み.える、 み.せる
Meanings: see, hopes, chances, idea, opinion, look at, visible
Readings: ジョウ、 なわ、 ただ.す
Meanings: straw rope, cord