preface; foreword; introduction; beginning; start
past days; bygone days; days of yore; while still alive; during one's lifetime
indicates possessive; nominalizes verbs and adjectives; substitutes for "ga" in subordinate phrases; indicates a confident conclusion; indicates emotional emphasis; indicates question
sublime; noble; high-minded
fox (esp. the red fox, Vulpes vulpes); fox (i.e. a sly person); soba or udon topped with deep-fried tofu; light brown; golden brown
subhuman; demi-human; Argentinian (person); (arch.) American (person)
tribe; race; group (of people who share a common feature); gang; tribe (taxonomic rank); group (in the periodic table)
pluralizing suffix (esp. for people and animals; formerly honorific)
country; state; region; national government; central government; home (i.e. hometown, home country); province (of Japan)
continent; continental Asia (esp. mainland China); continental Europe
eastern direction; the Orient; eastern fighter in a match (e.g. sumo wrestling)
at; in; to; toward; to; for; because of
existence; being; presence
but; however; (and) yet; nevertheless; still; for all that
abundant; plentiful; rich; wealthy; open (mind); relaxed
nature; natural; spontaneous; naturally; spontaneously
to be blessed with; to be rich in; to abound in
for generations; from generation to generation; generation after generation; through the ages
wise; sensible; well-advised; intelligent; sagacious; prudent
to become; to get; to result in; to turn out; to consist of; to be composed of; to be completed
emperor (of Japan); mikado
rule; reign; government; governing
under (guidance, supervision, rules, the law, etc.); under (a flag, the sun, etc.); beneath; with (e.g. one blow); on (the promise, condition, assumption, etc. that ...); (someone's) side
original; unique; distinctive; independent; one's own; personal
culture; civilization; civilisation; Bunka era (1804.2.11-1818.4.22)
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 build; to construct; to put up; to build up (a fortune, reputation, enterprise, etc.); to establish (a relationship, system, etc.); to create
flax (Linum usitatissimum); linseed
Moon; month; moonlight; (a) moon; natural satellite
celestial fox; fox with supernatural powers (sometimes said to live in the heavens)
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
such; that sort of; that kind of; no way!; never!
great; grand; magnificent; outstanding; mighty
Mr; Mrs; makes a word more polite (usu. in fixed expressions); state; situation
if; when; and; as well as; with; together with; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.)
this; last (couple of years, etc.); these; you (as in "you liar")
protection; safeguard; shugo (Kamakura or Muromachi period military governor)
samurai family; samurai class; samurai stock; samurai; warrior
daughter; girl (i.e. a young, unmarried woman)
swordsman; swordswoman; fencer
to extol; to sing the praises of; to celebrate; to declare; to stipulate; to express
sky; heaven; God; svarga (heaven-like realm visited as a stage of death and rebirth); deva (divine being of Buddhism); top (of a book); sole (of a Japanese sandal)
6th in rank; sixth sign of the Chinese calendar
teaching the basics; initiation; introduction