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

しかし彼の友達は彼をケンと呼ぶ。

Sentence Analyzer

しかし 友達 けん 呼ぶ

English Translation

But his friends call him Ken.

Furigana

しかし(かれ)友達(ともだち)(かれ)をケンと()ぶ。

Romanji

Shikashi kare no tomodachi wa kare o Ken to yobu.

Words

然し (しかし)
however; but
(かれ)
he; him; his; boyfriend
()
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
友達 (ともだち)
friend; companion
()
topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
()
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.
(けん)
tendon
()
if; when; and; with; particle used for quoting (with speech, thoughts, etc.); quoting particle; promoted pawn; indicates question (sentence end)
呼ぶ (よぶ)
to call out (to); to call; to invoke; to summon (a doctor, etc.); to invite; to designate; to name; to brand; to garner (support, etc.); to gather; to take as one's wife

Kanji

Readings: ヒ、 かれ、 かの、 か.の
Meanings: he, that, the
Readings: ユウ、 とも
Meaning: friend
Readings: タツ、 ダ、 -たち
Meanings: accomplished, reach, arrive, attain
Readings: コ、 よ.ぶ
Meanings: call, call out to, invite