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

本末を転倒するな。

Sentence Analyzer

本末 転倒する

English Translation

Don't put the cart before the horse.

Furigana

本末(ほんまつ)転倒(てんとう)するな。

Romanji

Honmatsu o tentōsuru na.

Words

本末 (ほんまつ)
essence and fringe; beginning and ending; root and branch; means and end
()
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.
転倒 (てんとう)
falling down; tumbling; overturning; turning over; reversing; inverting; inversion; getting upset
()
(sentence end, mainly masc.) indicates emotion or emphasis; (used with masu stem verb) command; (used with dictionary form verb) prohibition

Kanji

Readings: ホン、 もと
Meanings: book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things
Readings: マツ、 バツ、 すえ
Meanings: end, close, tip, powder, posterity
Readings: テン、 ころ.がる、 ころ.げる、 ころ.がす、 ころ.ぶ、 まろ.ぶ、 うたた、 うつ.る、 くる.めく
Meanings: revolve, turn around, change
Readings: トウ、 たお.れる、 -だお.れ、 たお.す、 さかさま、 さかさ、 さかしま
Meanings: overthrow, fall, collapse, drop, break down