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

私たちはそのなぞのはっきりした説明を聞くことができなかった。

Sentence Analyzer

私たち その なぞ はっきり した 説明 聞く こと できなかった

English Translation

We never got a clear explanation of the mystery.

Furigana

(わたし)たちはそのなぞのはっきりした説明(せつめい)()くことができなかった。

Romanji

Watashitachi wa sono nazo no hakkiri shita setsumei o kiku koto ga dekinakatta.

Words

私たち (わたしたち、わたくしたち)
we; us
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
其の (その)
that (something or someone distant from the speaker, close to the listener; actions of the listener, or ideas expressed or understood by the listener); the; um...; er...; uh...
何ぞ (なんぞ、なにぞ、なぞ)
something; what; why; how
()
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
はっきり (はっきり)
clearly; plainly; distinctly; to be clear; to be definite; to be certain; to be exact; to become clear; to clear up
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
説明 (せつめい)
explanation; exposition
()
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.
聞く (きく)
to hear; to listen (e.g. to music); to ask; to enquire; to query; to learn of; to hear about; to follow (advice); to comply with; to smell (esp. incense); to sample fragrance
(こと、こん)
thing; matter; incident; occurrence; event; something serious; trouble; crisis; circumstances; situation; state of affairs; work; business; affair; after an inflectable word, creates a noun phrase indicating something the speaker does not feel close to; nominalizing suffix; pretending to ...; playing make-believe ...; alias; aka; nickname; alternative name; also known as
()
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and
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

Kanji

Readings: シ、 わたくし、 わたし
Meanings: private, I, me
Readings: セツ、 ゼイ、 と.く
Meanings: opinion, theory, explanation, rumor
Readings: メイ、 ミョウ、 ミン、 あ.かり、 あか.るい、 あか.るむ、 あか.らむ、 あき.らか、 あ.ける、 -あ.け、 あ.く、 あ.くる、 あ.かす
Meanings: bright, light
Readings: ブン、 モン、 き.く、 き.こえる
Meanings: hear, ask, listen