indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
to melt; to thaw; to fuse; to dissolve
to disappear; to vanish; to go out (of a fire, light, etc.); to die; to fade (of a feeling, impression, etc.); to vanish (e.g. of hope); to go away (e.g. of a smell, itchiness, sleepiness)
to be (of animate objects); to exist; to stay; to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
too; also; both A and B; A as well as B; even; as much as
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
and yet; despite this; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless
counter for the ichi-ni-san counting system (usu. directly preceding the item being counted); noun read using its on-yomi; counter for articles; indicates possessive (esp. in place names)
to; for; in order to; for; as for; regarding
still; as yet; (not) yet; more; (more) still; at least
whole area; surrounding area; all around; everywhere; all over the place
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
to pile up; to accumulate; to estimate
this; last (couple of years, etc.); these; you (as in "you liar")
to change; to be transformed; to move to; to be different; to be uncommon
to rise; to go up; to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade; to get out (of water)
(something) has never occurred; to have never done (something); such a thing has not happened; never happens; there is never a time when
certain; unmistaken; evident; obvious; beyond doubt
this; this one; this person; now; this point (in time); here; used to stress the subject of a sentence
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
inhabitant; resident; citizen; population
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to make noise; to make racket; to rustle; to swoosh; to make merry; to clamor; to clamour
indication; sign; hint; tone (of the market)
nonexistent; not being (there); unowned; not had; unique; not; impossible
that; it; then; that point (in time); (arch.) there; (arch.) you
influence; effect; to influence; to affect; to have an influence on
don't you think?; indicates question
here; this place; this point; here; these past ... (e.g. three years); these last ...
year; counter for years (e.g. of an era), grades (e.g. school); period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years)
through; throughout; through (the good offices of); by way of
to fall (of rain, snow, ash, etc.); to come down; to form (of frost); to beam down (of sunlight or moonlight); to pour in; to visit (of luck, misfortune, etc.)
funny; amusing; strange; odd; improper; unsuitable
if; when; and; with; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); promoted pawn; indicates a question