母親の死を聞いて泣かずにはいられなかった。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

He could not but cry, when he heard about his mother's death.

Furigana

母親(ははおや)の死(し)を聞(き)いて泣(な)かずにはいられなかった。

Romanji

Hahaoya no shi o kiite nakazu ni wa irarenakatta.

Words

母親 (ははおや)

mother

の (の)

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

死 (し)

death; decease; death penalty (by strangulation or decapitation)

を (を)

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

泣く (なく)

to cry; to weep; to sob; to howl

に (に)

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

は (は)

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

要る (いる)

to need; to want