会話にとって機知は食物に対する塩のようなものである。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

Wit is to conversation what salt is to food.

Furigana

会話(かいわ)にとって機知(きち)は食物(しょくもつ)に対(たい)する塩(しお)のようなものである。

Romanji

Kaiwa nitotte kichi wa shokumotsu nitaisuru shio no yōna mono de aru.

Words

会話 (かいわ)

conversation

に取って (にとって)

to; for; concerning; as far as ... is concerned; regarding

機知 (きち)

wit; resources; tact

は (は)

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

食物 (しょくもつ)

food; foodstuff

に対する (にたいする)

regarding; in; to; towards; with regards to

塩 (しお、えん)

salt (i.e. sodium chloride); common salt; table salt; salt (e.g. sodium chloride, calcium sulfate, etc.); hardship; toil; trouble; saltiness

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

様だ (ようだ)

(usu. at sentence-end) seeming to be; appearing to be; like; similar to; in order to (e.g. meet goal); so that; indicates hope, wish, request or mild command

者 (もの、もん)

person

だ (だ)

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

或 (ある)

a certain ...; some ...