substitute (e.g. actor); substitution; stand-in; double
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
yes; that is correct; um; errr; huh?; grrr
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
somehow; how; in what way; why; what kind of
state of affairs (around you); situation; circumstances
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to read; to recite (e.g. a sutra); to chant; to predict; to guess; to decipher; to count
that being the case; because of ...; the reason is ...; given that ...
here; this place; this point; here; these past ... (e.g. three years); these last ...
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 be separated; to be apart; to leave; to go away; to leave (a job, etc.); to quit
to receive; to take; to get somebody to do something; to have in one's pocket (a fight, match); to contract (a disease); to catch
why?; what for?; how?; by what means?
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; the explanation is that ...; it is that ...
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
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.)
essential; important; crucial; vital; main
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
fellow; guy; thing; object; he; she
to be sufficient; to be enough; to be worth doing; to be worthy of; to do (the job); to serve
adds force or indicates command
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
now; the present time; just now; another; more
man; male; fellow; guy; male lover; boyfriend
if; when; and; with; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); promoted pawn; indicates a question
female; woman; female sex; female lover; girlfriend; mistress
two persons; two people; pair; couple
end; finish; bounds; limits; delivery date (of a futures contract); finale (of a noh song); end of an act (in jōruri or kabuki)
to raise; to elevate; to do up (one's hair); to fly (a kite, etc.); to launch (fireworks, etc.); to land (a boat); to deep-fry
good; advantage; sake; purpose; consequence; result
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
ah!; oh!; yes; indeed; aah; gah
is that so? (generally rhetorical)
hey; you; hey; hey; hold on; yo
petty underling; small fry
actor; actress; man of wits; clever person; cunning fellow
insufficiency; deficiency; shortage; dissatisfaction; discontent; complaint
stone; jewel; precious stone; flint (in a lighter); stone (in go); stone (in the bladder, kidney etc.); calculus
to cover; to hide; to conceal; to wrap; to disguise