Meanings
Prefix
Honorific
Humble
Polite
Usually written in kana
1. honorific/polite/humble prefix
usu. before a term with an on-yomi reading
Suffix
Honorific
2. honorific suffix
after a noun indicating a person
Pitch accent
Top 32100
Used in vocabulary (143 in total)
I'm sorry; my apologies; may I come in?; permission; leave; dismissal
humour; humor; safety; health; in a good mood; in high spirits
your husband; her husband
talisman; amulet; charm
elder sister
feast; treating (someone); to treat (someone, e.g. to a meal)
trouble (I have put you through); (your) hard work; thank you for your hard work; I appreciate your efforts
alcohol; sake
to be; to exist
greeting; a fine thing to say
talisman; amulet; charm
presence (of a nobleman, the emperor, etc.); outrider (person riding horseback in the lead position of a cavalcade); My Lord; My Lady
misfortune; calamity
not writing or contacting for a while; neglecting (failing) to write (call, visit, etc.); long silence
you are quite right; reasonable; natural; just
trouble; bother; annoyance
contraband; taboo; strictly forbidden
bride; one's daughter-in-law
(somebody else's) parents; both parents
(your) daughter; young woman
polite; courteous; careful; close; overly courteous; overly careful
inviting another to one's home, office, etc.; (lit.) the trouble of coming (going)
grace (of God); divine favour; benefit; efficacy
worry; care; consideration
mausoleum; shrine; the (imperial) court
knowing; (an) acquaintance
emperor (of Japan); mikado; (the gates of an) imperial residence
(your) business; (your) concern; (customer's) order; official business (of the government, Imperial Court, etc.); arrest; capture
going together
guidance; leading (the way); information; notice; announcement (of one's arrival); invitation
himself; yourself; herself
cooperation; collaboration
don't worry; no worries; never mind
contacting; getting in touch; communication; call; message
splendid; fine; handsome; elegant; imposing; prominent
personage; person (deserving of respect)
purveyor (to the Imperial Household, etc.); company (or restaurant, place, etc.) that caters to or is popular with a specific clientele
purveyor (to the Imperial Household, etc.); company (or restaurant, place, etc.) that caters to or is popular with a specific clientele
(received) favor, kindness or blessing (favour)
imperial palace (esp. Kyoto Imperial Palace); imperial residence; residence of a shogun, minister, etc.; emperor; ex-emperor; empress
fate; chance; relationship; tie
shintai; object of worship believed to contain the spirit of a deity, typically housed in a shrine
acknowledgement; acknowledgment; understanding (e.g. "please be understanding of the mess during our renovation"); noting
attention; notice; care; caution; advice; warning
three branch Tokugawa families (Owari, Kii, and Mito); big three; top three
opportunism; double standards; timeserving; expediency
entertainment; amusement; fun
exaggerated; extravagant; overdone
don't worry about it; there is nothing to fear; there is no need for anxiety; everything is under control
how kind of you; that's very nice of you; kindly
how kind of you; that's very nice of you; kindly
siblings; brothers and sisters
lower-ranking vassal in the Kamakura and Edo periods
starting afresh; going back to square one; abandoning (e.g. a plan); clearing an abacus
this place; where one comes from; here
wife (esp. of a prominent, recently married man)
wife (esp. of a prominent, recently married man)
meal; Emperor's meal; meal of a noble; high-quality (of a food or drink); premium
girl; young (unmarried) woman
imperial tomb
please refrain (from)
courtesy call; courtesy visit
(another person's) younger sister
principal object of worship at a temple (usu. a buddha or bodhisattva); principal image; idol; the man himself; the person at the heart of the matter
encouragement; urging; spurring on
(another person's) niece
as is usual with; in common with
imperial visit; imperial outing
staff with plaited paper streamers
mother
(imperial) words
temple; monk's quarters; monk
Meiji Restoration
imperial property
abode (of a nobleman or emperor); Imperial chamber
mistress; madam
gentlemen
please take care of yourself; please be careful not to... (concerning one's health or well-being)
uncle
your younger brother
(another person's) nephew
(another's respected) father
(another's respected) father
lord's command
frightful face
letter bearing the shogun's scarlet seal; seal stamp given to worshippers and visitors to shrines and temples
another's parent; another's parents
new customer
advisor; adviser (to a lord, etc.); wise counselor allowed to speak to a lord without restraint
advisor; adviser (to a lord, etc.); wise counselor allowed to speak to a lord without restraint
a question from the emperor
manager; steward; person next in rank to the chief retainer and in charge of general management and accounting in a samurai family (Edo period)
three secondary Tokugawa branch families (Tayasu, Shimizu, and Hitotsubashi)
crest of a noble family
pilgrim's song; pilgrim's hymn; song in praise of the Buddha
deified volcano or volcanic eruption
sunrise viewed from the top of a high mountain; the rising sun
light used as a religious offering; paper lantern (hung up near the door of performers and geishas)
light used as a religious offering; paper lantern (hung up near the door of performers and geishas)
lighted lamp (or candle, etc.) provided as a religious offering
your success
common; in the usual course
imperial portrait; photograph of the incumbent Emperor and Empress distributed to schools between 1890 and the end of the Second World War; portrait or photo of a person of high rank
land under the control of the imperial household or the shogunate
upaya (skillful means, methods of teaching); convenience; suitability; availability
pent roof built atop the stairs of a shrine or temple
imperial estate
excuse me for interrupting you when you are so busy
excuse me for interrupting you when you are so busy
please accept (this)
Formulary of Adjudications (51-article Joei legal code)
before the spirit of the deceased
Brocken spectre; Brocken bow
you are unquestionably right
worship by the emperor at a shrine
Charter Oath (of the Meiji Emperor); Five-Point Imperial Covenant; Imperial Oath of Five Articles
birth (regal); nativity
before a Buddha or a mortuary tablet; offerings made to Buddha or placed on a mortuary tablet
those who want it
frequently asked questions; FAQ
Goryū Shinto (sect of amalgamated Shinto)
within the town limits of Edo
to be; to exist
older lady
another's wife or daughter