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

何もしないでいるより働いているほうがましだ。

Sentence Analyzer

しないでいる より 働いている ほう まし

English Translation

Work is preferable to idleness.

Furigana

(なに)もしないでいるより(はたら)いているほうがましだ。

Romanji

Nani mo shinaideiru yori hataraiteiru hō ga mashi da.

Words

(なに、なん)
what; how many; you-know-what; that; whatsit; what's the expression; what do you call them; what?; hey!
()
too; also; in addition; as well; (not) either (in a negative sentence); both A and B; A as well as B; neither A nor B (in a negative sentence); even; as much as; as many as; as far as; as long as; no less than; no fewer than; even if; even though; although; in spite of; further; more; again; another; the other
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
より (より)
than; from; out of; since; at; on; except; but; other than; more
働く (はたらく)
to work; to labor; to labour; to function; to operate; to be effective; to work (i.e. ... works); to come into play; to commit (e.g. a crime); to perpetrate; to do; to act; to practise; to practice; to be conjugated
切っ先 (きっさき、ほう)
point (of a sword, etc.); pointed verbal attack
()
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and
増し (まし、マシ)
better; less objectionable; preferable; more; increase; extra; increase; growth
()
be; is; indicates past or completed action; indicates light imperative

Kanji

Readings: カ、 なに、 なん、 なに-、 なん-
Meaning: what
Readings: ドウ、 リュク、 リキ、 ロク、 リョク、 はたら.く
Meanings: work, (kokuji)