Understanding 「私の知識など先生のそれとは比較にならないほどお粗末なものでございます。」


The sentence

> 私の知識など先生のそれとは比較にならないほどお粗末なものでございます。

is supposed to translate to

> My knowledge is not even comparable to that of the teacher's.

However, when I break this down into constituent components:

  * 私の知識など: "my knowledge, etc"
  * **先生のそれとは:** "Teacher's in addition to"? (<- this is non-nonsensical, so I'm pretty sure I'm parsing this wrong)
  * 比較にならないほど: "the extent to which doesn't become comparable" (or just "isn't comparable)
  * お粗末なものでございます: "is a poor sort-of-thing"

I'm so far unable to quite combine these into a (literal) English translation
that corresponds with the intended translation.

The bold part is particularly difficult for me to parse, so perhaps that's the
missing component?




That `など` does not mean etc. It means "things like" in the sense of "looking
down" at your own knowledge. It's a humble way of saying: "A knowledge like
mine (that is poor).

[code]

    先生のそれと
    
[/code]

That と is the comparison と. Therefore, it is `それ＋と`(comparison particle) and
not `それと`(additive conjunction). "When comparing to that (knowledge) of the
teacher" ... It's a way to avoid repeating 知識 again.

[code]

    比較にならないほど
    
[/code]

To the point it can't be compared. Virtually, when saying "Something does not
become a comparison", you're literally saying "it cannot be compared". It's
just a way of conveying this kind of meaning.

[code]

    お粗末なものでございます
    
[/code]

Is a modest thing.

More naturaly:

A knowledge like mine is a modest thing that can't even be compared to the
teacher's (knowledge).




That `など` does not mean etc. It means "things like" in the sense of "looking
down" at your own knowledge. It's a humble way of saying: "A knowledge like
mine (that is poor).

[code]

    先生のそれと
    
[/code]

That と is the comparison と. Therefore, it is `それ＋と`(comparison particle) and
not `それと`(additive conjunction). "When comparing to that (knowledge) of the
teacher" ... It's a way to avoid repeating 知識 again.

[code]

    比較にならないほど
    
[/code]

To the point it can't be compared. Virtually, when saying "Something does not
become a comparison", you're literally saying "it cannot be compared". It's
just a way of conveying this kind of meaning.

[code]

    お粗末なものでございます
    
[/code]

Is a modest thing.

More naturaly:

A knowledge like mine is a modest thing that can't even be compared to the
teacher's (knowledge).

