首相の答弁は玉虫色だった。

Sentence Analyzer

首相 の 答弁 は 玉虫色 だった 。

English Translation

The prime minister's answer was equivocal.

Furigana

首相(しゅしょう)の答弁(とうべん)は玉虫色(たまむしいろ)だった。

Romanji

Shushō no tōben wa tamamushiiro datta.

Words

首相 (しゅしょう)

Prime Minister; Chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); Premier

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

答弁 (とうべん)

response; reply; answer; defence; defense

は (は)

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

玉虫色 (たまむしいろ)

iridescent; equivocal; ambivalent; variable meaning; weasel-word; chameleonic interpretation

だ (だ)

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

Kanji

首

Readings: シュ、 くび

Meanings: neck, counter for songs and poems

相

Readings: ソウ、 ショウ、 あい-

Meanings: inter-, mutual, together, each other, minister of state, councillor, aspect, phase, physiognomy

答

Readings: トウ、 こた.える、 こた.え

Meanings: solution, answer

弁

Readings: ベン、 ヘン、 かんむり、 わきま.える、 わ.ける、 はなびら、 あらそ.う

Meanings: valve, petal, braid, speech, dialect, discrimination, dispose of, distinguish, conical cap

玉

Readings: ギョク、 たま、 たま-、 -だま

Meanings: jewel, ball

虫

Readings: チュウ、 キ、 むし

Meanings: insect, bug, temper

色

Readings: ショク、 シキ、 いろ

Meaning: color