少女たちはさながら蝶のように軽やかに踊っていた。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

The girls were dancing lightly like so many butterflies.

Furigana

少女(しょうじょ)たちはさながら蝶(ちょう)のように軽(かろ)やかに踊(おど)っていた。

Romanji

Shōjotachi wa sanagara chō no yōni karoyaka ni odotteita.

Words

は (は)

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

宛ら (さながら)

just like

蝶 (ちょう、チョウ)

butterfly

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

様に (ように)

in order to (e.g. meet goal); so that; take care (so as); hoping or wishing for something

軽やか (かるやか、かろやか)

light; easy; non-serious; minor

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

踊る (おどる)

to dance (orig. a hopping dance)