indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
explosion; detonation; eruption; eruption (of discontent, etc.); outburst; outpouring
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
(camera) shutter; shutter (for a door, window, etc.)
sound; noise; note; fame; Chinese-derived character reading
year; counter for years (e.g. of an era), grades (e.g. school); period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years)
December; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
to forget; to leave carelessly; to be forgetful of; to forget about; to forget (an article)
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 search for; to look for; to hunt for; to search (a house, pocket, etc.); to search through; to rummage in (e.g. a drawer)
Okinawa (city, prefecture)
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
to come (spatially or temporally); to approach; to come back; to do ... and come back; to come to be; to become
here; this place; this point; here; these past ... (e.g. three years); these last ...
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
(Okinawa) sacred site; sacred grove
mainland; the country proper; native country; country where one was born; pure land; Buddha realm
at; in; at; when; by; with; and then
to say; to utter; to name; to call; to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
like this; this sort; this way
place; spot; address; district; area; one's house; point
god; deity; incredible; fantastic; (arch.) Emperor (of Japan); (arch.) thunder
to descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to step down; to retire; to be granted
air; atmosphere; mood; situation; someone with no presence; someone who doesn't stand out at all
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
inside; interior; among; within; middle; center; during
human being; human; person; character (of a person)
if; when; and; with; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); promoted pawn; indicates a question
to be opposite; to face each other; to confront (an issue); to face
thing; matter; incident; occurrence; circumstances; situation; work
being deeply moved emotionally; excitement; passion; inspiration; deep emotion; strong impression
what!; oh; what the heck; what the; damn
this; last (couple of years, etc.); these; you (as in "you liar")
(sense of) cleanliness; (sense of) freshness
female; woman; female sex; female lover; girlfriend; mistress
pluralizing suffix (esp. for people and animals; formerly honorific)
to rule; to govern; to administer
island; one's territory (e.g. of a sex worker, organized crime gang); one's turf