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

初めに、言葉があった。

Sentence Analyzer

初め 言葉 あった

English Translation

In the beginning was the Word.

Furigana

(はじ)めに、言葉(ことば)があった。

Romanji

Hajime ni, kotoba ga atta.

Words

始め (はじめ)
beginning; start; outset; opening; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
()
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
言葉 (ことば、けとば)
language; dialect; word; words; phrase; term; expression; remark; speech; (manner of) speaking
()
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and
有る (ある)
to be (usu. of inanimate objects); to exist; to live; to have; to be located; to be equipped with; to happen; to come about

Kanji

Readings: ショ、 はじ.め、 はじ.めて、 はつ、 はつ-、 うい-、 -そ.める、 -ぞ.め
Meanings: first time, beginning
Readings: ゲン、 ゴン、 い.う、 こと
Meanings: say, word
Readings: ヨウ、 は
Meanings: leaf, plane, lobe, needle, blade, spear, counter for flat things, fragment, piece