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
life; life force; lifetime; lifespan; most important thing; foundation
if; when; and; with; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); promoted pawn; indicates a question
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
please; somehow or other; one way or another
this; last (couple of years, etc.); these; you (as in "you liar")
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.
honorific/polite/humble prefix
to miss; to overlook; to let pass (a matter); to overlook (e.g. a wrongdoing); to pass up (e.g. an opportunity); to let (a good ball) go by
to give; to confer; to bestow; to kindly do for one; to oblige; to favour
(arch.) offering (to the gods, emperor, etc.); gift; sacrifice
when it becomes; when it comes to
to say; to be called; to do
indicates a question; or; whether or not; some- (e.g. something, someone); hmm; huh; very
yes; that is correct; understood; I see; present; here; pardon?
meddling; interfering; choosing to keep the drawn tile and discarding a different one
useless; futile; unnecessary; needless; not on business; unrelated
oh; ho; exclamation of surprise, admiration, etc.; hoo (owl call); toot (sound of a flute)
that; the; part (as in "part two"); um ...; er ...
spirit; heart; disposition
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
yes; indeed; ha!; what?; huh?; sigh
rapid increase; proliferation; surge; explosion
mountain-dwelling robber; brigand
vital part (of the body); tender spot; key point; essential point; male crotch (as a target in fighting)
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
chest; breast; breasts; bosom; heart; lungs; stomach
warrior (esp. of military retainers of daimyos in the Edo period); samurai
indeed; really; very; extremely; absolutely; certainly
safe; secure; certainly; surely; no thanks; I'm good
this; this one; this person; now; this point (in time); here; used to stress the subject of a sentence
at; in; at; when; by; with; and then
no good; not serving its purpose; hopeless; wasted; cannot; must not
(any) particular; special; material; perceptible; noticeable
wound; injury; chip; crack; flaw; defect
to be used to; to get accustomed to; to train; to discipline; to tack (in needlework); to baste
eh?; what?; yes; that's correct; (arch.) strengthens a question, assertion, etc.; (arch.) hey
nonexistent; not being (there); not having; not
hey; you; hey; hey; hold on; yo
Mr.; Mrs.; makes a word more polite (usu. in fixed expressions); state; situation