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 open; to undo; to bloom; to unfold; to open (for business, e.g. in the morning); to be wide (gap, etc.); to widen
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
sound; noise; note; fame; Chinese-derived character reading
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to shine; to glitter; to be bright
to float; to rise to the surface; to stand out; to be visible; to be alienated
road; path; route; way; distance; journey; road (e.g. to victory)
to make; to produce; to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol); to raise; to grow; to till
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
that; the; part (as in "part two"); um ...; er ...
light; illumination; ray; happiness; hope; influence
in accordance with; according to; as X, then Y (e.g. as we age we gain wisdom, as wine matures it becomes more valuable, etc.)
ordinary; common; free of charge; unaffected; as is; only
to advance; to go forward; to precede; to go ahead (of); to make progress; to improve; to deepen
only; just; merely; as much as; to the extent of; enough to
to be disconnected; to get out of place; to miss the mark; to get it wrong (e.g. guess, expectation); to be removed; to be excluded
darkness; the dark; bewilderment; despair; hidden place; secrecy
to gulp down; to swallow deeply; to understand; to take in; to engulf; to swallow up
appearing ...; looking ...; way to ...; method of ...ing; form; style
faithful; devoted; loyal; honest; true
to play (a stringed or keyboard instrument)
direction; way; person; lady; method of; manner of; care of ...
still; as yet; (not) yet; more; (more) still; at least
to be aware of; to know; to notice; to feel; to understand; to comprehend; to remember
department (in an organization); division; club; part; component; category
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
adviser; advisor; consultant
year; counter for years (e.g. of an era), grades (e.g. school); period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years)
last (i.e. immediately preceding); previous; pre- (e.g. premodern); before; before; earlier
new graduate; recent graduate
eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; look; stare; notice
one's heart's desire; one's dearest wish
to become; to get; to result in; to turn out; to consist of; to be composed of; to be completed
abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden; without warning
to hear; to listen (e.g. to music); to ask; to enquire; to hear about; to hear of; to follow (advice, order, etc.)
thing; matter; incident; occurrence; circumstances; situation; work
too; also; both A and B; A as well as B; even; as much as
nonexistent; not being (there); unowned; not had; unique; not; impossible