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
life; life force; lifetime; lifespan; most important thing; foundation
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.
to aim at (with a weapon, etc.); to be after (something or someone); to have an eye on; to aim for; to set up as a goal
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to be (of animate objects); to exist; to stay; to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
age; years; longevity; long life; congratulation; celebration
house of parliament (congress, diet, etc.); graduate school; postgraduate school; institution (often medical); institutional building; sub-temple; minor temple building
god; deity; incredible; fantastic; (arch.) Emperor (of Japan); (arch.) thunder
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
to request; to beg; to call; to order; to entrust to; to rely on
honorific/polite/humble prefix
to send; to dispatch; to despatch; to bestow (favour, etc.); to grant (e.g. pardon)
to give; to confer; to bestow; to kindly do for one; to oblige; to favour
indicates word or phrase being defined; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); with; (not) as much as; (not) so much as; the fact that
lower back; waist; hips; body (of hair, noodle, paper, etc.); resilience; spring
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
fat; thick; deep (of a voice); thick; daring; shameless
sword (esp. a large, double-edged one); blade; bayonet; swordsmanship; stinger; ovipositor
to hold (in one's hand); to take; to possess; to have; to maintain; to keep; to last
severe; intense; awe-inspiring; biting; bitter (cold); piercing
as (i.e. in the role of); for (i.e. from the viewpoint of); apart from... (used to change the topic); even (e.g. "not even a single person"); thinking that...; trying to...
to appear; to come in sight; to become visible; to be expressed (e.g. emotions); to become apparent (e.g. trends, effects)
ah!; oh!; yes; indeed; aah; gah
tea drinking; teahouse; tearoom; coffee lounge
refinement; elegance; grace
at; in; at; when; by; with; and then
to wait; to await; to look forward to; to depend on; to need
to say; to tell; to state; to do
very; extremely; terrible; horrid; remarkable; extraordinary
old-fashioned; archaic; antique; antiquated
application; entry; request; subscription; offer; proposal
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
hm; um; huh?; what?; nuh-uh; no
both (hands, parents, sides, etc.); counter for carriages (e.g. in a train); counter for vehicles; ryō; tael; ryō; pre-Meiji unit of currency, orig. the value of one ryō of gold
sweet-smelling; scentful; fragrant
aroma; fragrance; scent; smell