小羊を盗んで絞首刑になるくらいなら親羊を盗んで絞首刑になるほうがましだ。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.

Furigana

小(しょう)羊(ひつじ)を盗(ぬす)んで絞首刑(こうしゅけい)になるくらいなら親(おや)羊(ひつじ)を盗(ぬす)んで絞首刑(こうしゅけい)になるほうがましだ。

Romanji

Shō hitsuji o nusunde kōshukei ni naru kurai nara oya hitsuji o nusunde kōshukei ni naru hō ga mashi da.

Words

小 (しょう)

smallness; small item; short month (i.e. having fewer than 31 days); elementary school; younger or inferior (of two items or people with the same name); unit of field area (approx. 400 sq m)

羊 (ひつじ、ヒツジ)

sheep (Ovis aries)

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.

盗む (ぬすむ)

to steal

絞首刑 (こうしゅけい)

death by hanging

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

成る (なる)

to become; to get; to grow; to be; to reach; to attain; to result in; to prove to be; to consist of; to be composed of; to succeed; to be complete; to change into; to be exchanged for; to play a role; to be promoted; to do ...

くらい (くらい、ぐらい)

approximately; about; around; or so; to (about) the extent that; (almost) enough that; so ... that ...; at least; as ... as ...; like

だ (だ)

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

親 (おや)

parent; parents; dealer (in cards, mahjong, etc.); founder; (pet) owner

切っ先 (きっさき、ほう)

point (of a sword, etc.); pointed verbal attack

が (が)

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

増し (まし、マシ)

better; less objectionable; preferable; more; increase; extra; increase; growth