opening; start; opening credits; title sequence; theme song (played during the opening credits of a TV show, etc.)
theme; topic; subject matter; motif; project; slogan
today; this day; these days; recently; nowadays
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
special; particular; extraordinary; exceptional; especial
hot; warm; passionate; impassioned; on everybody's mind; on the radar
don't; do; hey; listen; now, ...; well, ...
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
cold (to the touch); chilly; icy; (emotionally) cold; coldhearted; unfeeling
juice; soft drink (usu. fruit-based); sweetened drink
to drink; to gulp; to smoke (tobacco); to engulf; to overwhelm; to keep down; to suppress
you said; he said; if ... then; do you seriously think that; I already told you; you should know by now that; the said ...
surplus; margin; leeway; composure; placidity; complacency
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
war; battle; match; game; competition
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
companion; partner; other party; addressee; opponent (sports, etc.)
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
overwhelming strength; extremely strong person; powerhouse; very strong player; very strong team
emperor (of Japan); mikado
benevolence (esp. as a virtue of Confucianism); consideration; human; kernel; nucleolus
senior high school; high school
after all; because; but; even; too; as well
to understand; to comprehend; to become clear; to be known; I know!; I think so too!
at leisure; in a relaxed manner; in a carefree manner; quietly; peacefully
rest; break; recess; intermission
indicates a question; or; whether or not; some- (e.g. something, someone); hmm; huh; very
no; nay; well; er; you're welcome; not at all
once; one time; one round; one game; one bout; one heat
at; in; at; when; by; with; and then
to match (rhythm, speed, etc.); to join together; to unite; to face; to be opposite (someone); to compare; to check with
that; that thing; that person; then; that time; that place (over there); down there (i.e. one's genitals)
on purpose; deliberately; intentionally
measuring by feel; adjusting by feel; doing by feel; adapting to the situation (one's strength, strictness, etc.); making allowances; using discretion
thing; matter; incident; occurrence; circumstances; situation; work
what; how many; many; a lot of; several; a few
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); still; all the same; even ... (e.g. "even a genius")
senior (at work or school); superior; elder; older graduate; progenitor; old-timer
come; come now; well; who knows; well now; let's see
one's nature; one's feelings; plain; unadorned; mere; poor
style; manner; way; after (period of time) again (e.g. meeting again after a year); for the first time in (period of time)
continuation; rest (of the story, work, etc.); flow (e.g. of a piece of writing); pacing (of a story); succession (of); sequence