人生とは何であるかを知ったとき、すでに生涯の半ばは過ぎている。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

Life is half spent before we know what it is.

Furigana

人生(じんせい)とは何(なに)であるかを知(し)ったとき、すでに生涯(しょうがい)の半(なか)ばは過(す)ぎている。

Romanji

Jinsei to wa nani de aru ka o shitta toki, sudeni shōgai no nakaba wa sugiteiru.

Words

人生 (じんせい)

(human) life (i.e. conception to death)

と (と)

if; when; and; with; particle used for quoting (with speech, thoughts, etc.); quoting particle; promoted pawn; indicates question (sentence end)

は (は)

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

何 (なに、なん)

what; how many; you-know-what; that; whatsit; what's the expression; what do you call them; what?; hey!

だ (だ)

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

或 (ある)

a certain ...; some ...

か (か)

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

を (を)

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.

知る (しる)

to be aware of; to know; to be conscious of; to cognize; to cognise; to notice; to feel; to understand; to comprehend; to grasp; to remember; to be acquainted with (a procedure); to experience; to go through; to learn; to be acquainted with (a person); to get to know; to concern

とき (とき)

regular (stops at every station) Jouetsu-line Shinkansen

既に (すでに、すんでに)

already; too late

生涯 (しょうがい)

one's lifetime (i.e. one's existence until death); one's career

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

半ば (なかば)

middle; half; semi; halfway; partly

過ぎる (すぎる)

to pass through; to pass by; to go beyond; to pass (i.e. of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to be over; to exceed; to surpass; to be above; to be no more than ...; to be excessive; to be too much; to be too ...