もとは手当たり次第に小説を読んだものだ。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

I used to read novels at random.

Furigana

もとは手当(てあて)たり次第(しだい)に小説(しょうせつ)を読(よ)んだものだ。

Romanji

Moto wa teate tari shidaini shōsetsu o yonda mono da.

Words

元 (もと)

origin; source; base; basis; foundation; root; cause; ingredient; material; (somebody's) side; (somebody's) location; original cost (or capital, principal, etc.); (plant) root; (tree) trunk; first section of a waka; counter for blades of grass, tree trunks, etc., and for falcons (in falconry); handle (chopsticks, brush, etc.); grip

は (は)

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

手当 (てあて)

salary; pay; compensation; allowance (e.g. housing allowance); benefit; bonus; medical care; treatment; advance preparation

たり (たり、だり)

-ing and -ing (e.g. "coming and going"); (used adverbially) doing such things as...; expresses a command; (after a noun) to be; indicates completion or continuation of an action

次第に (しだいに)

gradually (progress into a state); in sequence; in order; in turn

小説 (しょうせつ)

novel; (short) story

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.

読む (よむ)

to read; to count; to guess; to predict; to read (someone's thoughts); to see (e.g. into someone's heart); to divine

者 (もの、もん)

person

だ (だ)

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