indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
superior; excellent; brilliant; outstanding
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
as a matter of fact; by the way; to tell you the truth; to be honest; frankly
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
just a minute; small quantity
to weigh on one's mind; to bother one; to be interested (in); to be curious (about); to feel like (doing); to feel inclined to
woman; female; feminine gender
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to be (of animate objects); to exist; to stay; to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; the explanation is that ...; it is that ...
The Tale of Genji (Heian period classic)
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
creator (of a work); author; writer; artist; composer; playwright
wisteria (esp. Japanese wisteria, Wisteria floribunda); wistaria
(Meiji era) official responsible for court ceremonies
hey; you; hey; hey; hold on; yo
dark-natured; gloomy; dour; moody; insular; glum
as you were; return to your original position!; er, rather
ennui; boredom; listlessness; languor
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
to be effective; to be fruitful; to be worthwhile; to be worth; to be rewarded; to pay off
good; excellent; sufficient; enough; profitable (deal, business offer, etc.); beneficial
here; this place; this point; here; these past ... (e.g. three years); these last ...
Hikaru Genji; The Shining Genji
wife; (arch.) my dear; (arch.) dear; garnish (esp. one served with sashimi); embellishment
purple; violet; Lithospermum erythrorhizon (species of gromwell); type of soy sauce
above; up; top; summit; surface; before; previous
named after; associated with; connected with
don't; do; hey; listen; now, ...; well, ...
such things as ...; and ... and; the minute (that) ...; no sooner than ...; be; is; o
suffix for familiar person
it is not (like that) either
and yet; though; when; in spite of
such; that sort of; that kind of; no way!; never!
to do; to carry out; to cause to become; to make (into); to serve as; to act as; to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
please (give me); please (do for me)
(fictional) character; character; personality; persona
is not; am not; are not; isn't it?