初期の人間は、自分が所有する動物や蓄えている穀物の量を数えるのに、手足の指を使った。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

Early man used his fingers and toes to count the animals he owned, or the measures of grain he had stored.

Furigana

初期(しょき)の人間(にんげん)は、自分(じぶん)が所有(しょゆう)する動物(どうぶつ)や蓄(たくわ)えている穀物(こくもつ)の量(りょう)を数(かぞ)えるのに、手足(てあし)の指(ゆび)を使(つか)った。

Romanji

Shoki no ningen wa, jibun ga shoyūsuru dōbutsu ya takuwaeteiru kokumotsu no ryō o kazoeru noni, teashi no yubi o tsukatta.

Words

初期 (しょき)

early (days); initial stage; initial

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

人間 (にんげん)

human being; person; man; mankind; humankind; character (of a person)

は (は)

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

自分 (じぶん)

myself; yourself; oneself; himself; herself; I; me; you

が (が)

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

所有 (しょゆう)

one's possessions; ownership

動物 (どうぶつ)

animal

や (や)

such things as (non-exhaustive list related to a specific time and place); and ... and; the minute (that) ...; no sooner than ...; as soon as; punctuational exclamation in haiku, renga, etc.; interjection expressing surprise; hi; plain copula; yes; what?; indicates a question

蓄える (たくわえる)

to store; to lay in stock; to have a beard; to grow a beard

穀物 (こくもつ)

grain; cereal; corn

量 (りょう)

quantity; amount; volume; portion (of food)

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.

数える (かぞえる)

to count; to enumerate

のに (のに)

although; when; and yet; despite this; in spite of; even though; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless; for all that; notwithstanding that; while; if only; I wish; I tell you; you should do; in order to

手足 (てあし)

one's hands and feet; limbs

指 (ゆび、および、おゆび)

finger; toe; digit

使う (つかう)

to use (a thing, method, etc.); to make use of; to put to use; to use (a person, animal, puppet, etc.); to employ; to handle; to manage; to manipulate; to use (time, money, etc.); to spend; to consume; to use (language); to speak