老(ろう)人(じん) roujinは wa子(こ)供(ども)た()ち() kodomotachiに ni囲(かこ)ま()れ()て() kakomarete座(すわ)っ()て()い()た() suwatteita。 The old man was sitting surrounded by children. Literal Old-man [topic-は] children [by-に] surrounded sat-was. 囲まれて is the passive て-form of 囲む ('to surround'). The passive marks the old man as the one being surrounded. A warm image of intergenerational connection. familypassive voice (~れる/~られる)~ていた (past progressive/state)
老(ろう)人(じん) roujinは wa子(こ)供(ども)た()ち() kodomotachiに ni囲(かこ)ま()れ()て() kakomarete座(すわ)っ()て()い()た() suwatteita。 The old man was sitting surrounded by children. Literal Old-man [topic-は] children [by-に] surrounded sat-was. 囲まれて is the passive て-form of 囲む ('to surround'). The passive marks the old man as the one being surrounded. A warm image of intergenerational connection. familypassive voice (~れる/~られる)~ていた (past progressive/state)