This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

私は彼らに厳しくして、いつもできるだけ笑わないように努めた。

Sentence Analyzer

彼ら 厳しく して いつも できる だけ 笑わない ように 努めた

English Translation

I always tried to be strict with them and not to smile.

Furigana

(わたし)(かれ)らに(きび)しくして、いつもできるだけ(わら)わないように(つと)めた。

Romanji

Watashi wa karera ni kibishiku shite, itsumo dekiru dake warawanai yōni tsutometa.

Words

(わたし、わたくし)
I; me; private affairs; personal matter; secrecy; selfishness
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
彼ら (かれら)
they (usually male); them
()
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
厳しい (きびしい、いかめしい)
severe; strict; rigid; unsparing; relentless; stern; austere; grave; solemn; majestic; intense (cold); harsh
為る (する)
to do; to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into); to serve as; to act as; to work as; to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.); to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as; to decide on; to choose; to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.); to be (in a state, condition, etc.); to be worth; to cost; to pass (of time); to elapse; verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs"); creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go"); to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
何時も (いつも)
always; usually; every time; never
出来る (できる)
to be able (in a position) to do; to be up to the task; to be ready; to be completed; to be made; to be built; to be good at; to be permitted (to do); to become intimate; to take up (with somebody); to grow; to be raised; to become pregnant
(だけ)
only; just; merely; simply; no more than; nothing but; alone; as (e.g. as soon as, as much as); worth
笑う (わらう)
to laugh; to smile; to sneer; to ridicule; to be dumbfounded; to be flabbergasted
様に (ように)
in order to (e.g. meet goal); so that; take care (so as); hoping or wishing for something
努める (つとめる)
to endeavor (endeavour); to try; to strive; to make an effort; to exert oneself; to be diligent; to be committed (to doing something)

Kanji

Readings: シ、 わたくし、 わたし
Meanings: private, I, me
Readings: ヒ、 かれ、 かの、 か.の
Meanings: he, that, the
Readings: ゲン、 ゴン、 おごそ.か、 きび.しい、 いか.めしい、 いつくし
Meanings: stern, strictness, severity, rigidity
Readings: ショウ、 わら.う、 え.む
Meaning: laugh
Readings: ド、 つと.める
Meanings: toil, diligent, as much as possible