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

進むべきか退くべきか、はっきりとはわからなかった。

Sentence Analyzer

進む べき 退く べき はっきり わからなかった

English Translation

I was uncertain whether to advance or to retreat.

Furigana

(すす)むべきか退(しりぞ)くべきか、はっきりとはわからなかった。

Romanji

Susumu beki ka shirizoku beki ka, hakkiri to wa wakaranakatta.

Words

進む (すすむ)
to advance; to go forward; to precede; to go ahead (of); to make progress; to improve; to deepen; to heighten; to be fast (of a clock); to be ahead; to do of one's own free will
可し (べし)
shall; should; must
()
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
退く (しりぞく)
to step back; to move back; to leave (the presence of a superior); to withdraw; to retreat; to concede; to resign; to retire; to quit
はっきり (はっきり)
clearly; plainly; distinctly; to be clear; to be definite; to be certain; to be exact; to become clear; to clear up
()
if; when; and; with; particle used for quoting (with speech, thoughts, etc.); quoting particle; promoted pawn; indicates question (sentence end)
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
分かる (わかる)
to understand; to comprehend; to grasp; to see; to get; to follow; to become clear; to be known; to be discovered; to be realized; to be realised; to be found out

Kanji

Readings: シン、 すす.む、 すす.める
Meanings: advance, proceed, progress, promote
退
Readings: タイ、 しりぞ.く、 しりぞ.ける、 ひ.く、 の.く、 の.ける、 ど.く
Meanings: retreat, withdraw, retire, resign, repel, expel, reject