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

私が日本語の勉強を始めてから40年になる。

Sentence Analyzer

日本語 勉強 始めて から なる

English Translation

It is forty years since I began studying Japanese.

Furigana

(わたし)日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)(はじ)めてから40(ねん)になる。

Romanji

Watashi ga nihongo no benkyō o hajimete kara yon zero nen ni naru.

Words

(わたし、わたくし)
I; me; private affairs; personal matter; secrecy; selfishness
()
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and
日本語 (にほんご、にっぽんご)
Japanese (language); Japanese as a second language
()
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
勉強 (べんきょう)
study; diligence; discount; reduction
()
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.
始める (はじめる)
to start; to begin; to commence; to initiate; to originate; to open (e.g. a store); to start up; to establish (business. etc.); to start ...; to begin to ...
から (から)
from (e.g. time, place, numerical quantity); since; from (originator); by; because; since; out of (constituent, part); through (e.g. window, vestibule); after; since
(し、よん、よ)
four
(まる)
circle (sometimes used for zero); 'correct' (when marking); symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position, or because of censorship); period; full stop; maru mark; semivoiced sound; p-sound
(とし)
year; many years; age; past one's prime; old age
()
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
成る (なる)
to become; to get; to grow; to be; to reach; to attain; to result in; to prove to be; to consist of; to be composed of; to succeed; to be complete; to change into; to be exchanged for; to play a role; to be promoted; to do ...

Kanji

Readings: シ、 わたくし、 わたし
Meanings: private, I, me
Readings: ニチ、 ジツ、 ひ、 -び、 -か
Meanings: day, sun, Japan, counter for days
Readings: ホン、 もと
Meanings: book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things
Readings: ゴ、 かた.る、 かた.らう
Meanings: word, speech, language
Readings: ベン、 つと.める
Meanings: exertion, endeavour, encourage, strive, make effort, diligent
Readings: キョウ、 ゴウ、 つよ.い、 つよ.まる、 つよ.める、 し.いる、 こわ.い
Meaning: strong
Readings: シ、 はじ.める、 -はじ.める、 はじ.まる
Meanings: commence, begin
Readings: ネン、 とし
Meanings: year, counter for years