食物が我々の身体にとって必要であるのにまさるとも劣らず、読書は精神にとって必要である。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

Reading is not less necessary to our mind than food is to our body.

Furigana

食物(しょくもつ)が我々(われわれ)の身体(しんたい)にとって必要(ひつよう)であるのにまさるとも劣(おと)らず、読書(どくしょ)は精神(せいしん)にとって必要(ひつよう)である。

Romanji

Shokumotsu ga wareware no shintai nitotte hitsuyō de aru no ni masaru to mo otorazu, dokusho wa seishin nitotte hitsuyō de aru.

Words

食物 (しょくもつ)

food; foodstuff

が (が)

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

我々 (われわれ)

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

体 (からだ、しんたい、しんだい、しんてい)

body; torso; trunk; build; physique; constitution; health; corpse; dead body

に取って (にとって)

to; for; concerning; as far as ... is concerned; regarding

必要 (ひつよう)

necessary; needed; essential; indispensable; necessity; need; requirement

だ (だ)

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

或 (ある)

a certain ...; some ...

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

勝る (まさる)

to excel; to surpass; to exceed; to have an edge; to be superior; to outrival; to outweigh; to preponderate

と (と)

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

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

劣る (おとる)

to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind

読書 (どくしょ、とくしょ)

reading

は (は)

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

精神 (せいしん)

mind; soul; heart; spirit; intention