对动物来说这不是什么残酷的事情。

When it comes to animals, this can't be considered as being something cruel.

Source: Tatoeba

Sentence Composition

1 对 duì
  1. right; correct
  2. towards; at; for
  3. concerning; regarding
  4. to treat (sb a certain way)
  5. to face
  6. (bound form) opposite; facing; matching
  7. to match together; to adjust
  8. to fit; to suit
  9. to answer; to reply
  10. to add; to pour in (a fluid)
  11. to check; to compare
  12. classifier: couple; pair
2 动物 dòngwù animal

classifiers: 隻, 群, 個
3 来说 láishuō concerning; about
=4 这不 zhèbu (coll.) As a matter of fact, ... (used to introduce evidence for what one has just asserted)
=4 这不 zhèbù connects two clauses, emphasising how the following clause substantiates the preceding clause
=5 是 shì
  1. to be (followed by substantives only)
  2. correct; right; true
  3. (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well
  4. (adverb for emphatic assertion)
=5 是 shì variant of 是 shì
6 什么 shénme
  1. what?
  2. something; anything
7 残酷 cánkù
  1. cruel
  2. cruelty
=8 的 de
  1. of; ~'s (possessive particle)
  2. (used after an attribute when it modifies a noun)
  3. (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis)
  4. (used after a noun, verb or adjective to form a nominal expression, as in 皮革的 pígéde "one made of leather" or 跑堂兒的 pǎotángrde "a waiter (literally, one who runs back and forth in a restaurant)" or 新的 xīnde "new one")
  5. also pr. dì or di in poetry and songs
=8 的 dī a taxi; a cab (abbr. for 的士 dīshì)
=8 的 dí really and truly
=8 的 dì (bound form) bull's-eye; target
9 事情 shìqing affair; matter; thing; business

classifiers: 件, 樁