眠っているようだったが、本当は死んでいた。

He looked asleep, but he was really dead.

眠(ねむ)っているようだったが、本当(ほんとう)は死(し)んでいた。

Nemutteiru yō datta ga, hontōha shindeita.

眠る (ねむる、ねぶる)

to sleep (not necessarily lying down); to die; to close one's eyes

様 (よう)

appearing ...; looking ...; way to ...; method of ...ing; form; style; design; like; similar to; thing (thought or spoken)

だ (だ)

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

が (が)

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

死ぬ (しぬ)

to die; to pass away; to lose spirit; to lose vigor; to look dead; to cease; to stop

Readings: ミン、ねむ.る、ねむ.い

Meanings: sleep, die, sleepy

Readings: ホン、もと

Meanings: book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things

Readings: トウ、あ.たる、あ.たり、あ.てる、あ.て、まさ.に、まさ.にべし

Meanings: hit, right, appropriate, himself

Readings: シ、し.ぬ、し.に-

Meanings: death, die