小雨のときは、傘は役に立つが、土砂降りのときは、ほとんど役に立たない。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

An umbrella is useful in a mild rain, but when it rains cats and dogs an umbrella is of little help.

Furigana

小雨(こさめ)のときは、傘(かさ)は役(やく)に立(た)つが、土砂降(どしゃぶ)りのときは、ほとんど役(やくた)に立()たない。

Romanji

Kosame no toki wa, kasa wa yakunitatsu ga, doshaburi no toki wa, hotondo yakunitatanai.

Words

小雨 (こさめ、しょうう、こあめ)

light rain; drizzle

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

とき (とき)

regular (stops at every station) Jouetsu-line Shinkansen

は (は)

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

傘 (かさ)

umbrella; parasol

役に立つ (やくにたつ)

to be helpful; to be useful

が (が)

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

土砂降り (どしゃぶり)

downpour; pouring rain; cloudburst; pelting rain; heavy rain