彼が絵を描き始めたのは４０歳になってからだった。

Sentence Analyzer

English Translation

It was not until he was forty that he started to paint pictures.

Furigana

彼(かれ)が絵(え)を描(えが)き始(はじ)めたのは４０歳(さい)になってからだった。

Romanji

Kare ga e o egakihajimeta no wa yon zero sai ni natte kara datta.

Words

彼 (かれ)

he; him; his; boyfriend

が (が)

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and

絵 (え)

picture; drawing; painting; sketch

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.

描く (えがく、かく)

to draw; to paint; to sketch; to depict; to describe; to picture in one's mind; to imagine; to form a certain shape (e.g. path of an action, appearance of an object, etc.)

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

は (は)

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

四 (し、よん、よ)

four

○ (まる)

circle (sometimes used for zero); 'correct' (when marking); symbol used as a placeholder (either because a number of other words could be used in that position, or because of censorship); period; full stop; maru mark; semivoiced sound; p-sound

歳 (さい)

-years-old; ability; gift; talent; aptitude; genius

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

成る (なる)

to become; to get; to grow; to be; to reach; to attain; to result in; to prove to be; to consist of; to be composed of; to succeed; to be complete; to change into; to be exchanged for; to play a role; to be promoted; to do ...

から (から)

from (e.g. time, place, numerical quantity); since; from (originator); by; because; since; out of (constituent, part); through (e.g. window, vestibule); after; since

だ (だ)

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