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

生兵法は大怪我のもと。

Sentence Analyzer

生兵法 怪我 もと

English Translation

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Furigana

生兵法(なまびょうほう)(だい)怪我(けが)のもと。

Romanji

Namabyōhō wa dai kega no moto.

Words

生兵法 (なまびょうほう)
crude tactics; smattering of knowledge
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
(おお)
big; large
怪我 (けが)
injury (to animate object); hurt
()
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
(もと)
origin; source; base; basis; foundation; root; cause; ingredient; material; (somebody's) side; (somebody's) location; original cost (or capital, principal, etc.); (plant) root; (tree) trunk; first section of a waka; counter for blades of grass, tree trunks, etc., and for falcons (in falconry); handle (chopsticks, brush, etc.); grip

Kanji

Readings: セイ、 ショウ、 い.きる、 い.かす、 い.ける、 う.まれる、 うま.れる、 う.まれ、 うまれ、 う.む、 お.う、 は.える、 は.やす、 き、 なま、 なま-、 な.る、 な.す、 む.す、 -う
Meanings: life, genuine, birth
Readings: ヘイ、 ヒョウ、 つわもの
Meanings: soldier, private, troops, army, warfare, strategy, tactics
Readings: ホウ、 ハッ、 ホッ、 フラン、 のり
Meanings: method, law, rule, principle, model, system
Readings: ダイ、 タイ、 おお-、 おお.きい、 -おお.いに
Meanings: large, big
Readings: カイ、 ケ、 あや.しい、 あや.しむ
Meanings: suspicious, mystery, apparition
Readings: ガ、 われ、 わ、 わ.が-、 わが-
Meanings: ego, I, selfish, our, oneself