indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
Izumi (former province located in the southwest of present-day Osaka Prefecture)
famous sword; sword blade by Masamune; sake; Japanese rice wine; brand of sake from Nada region during Tenpō era (1830-1844)
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
senior high school; high school
second-year student; biennial
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
to go to and from (a place); to go back and forth between; to go to (school, work, etc.); to attend; to circulate (e.g. blood, electricity); to be communicated (e.g. thought)
while; during; while; although; all; both
light novel; young-adult illustrated fiction
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 write; to compose; to pen; to draw; to paint
perusing as a side business; doing in addition to one's main work; running (businesses) simultaneously; side business; job on the side
author; writer; novelist; artist
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
to be; to exist; to have; to be located; to be equipped with; to happen
just (now); quite (near); unintentionally; subconsciously
the other day; a few days ago
until (a time); till; to (a place or person); as far as; to (an extent); up to
shut-in; stay-at-home; hikikomori; social withdrawal; shunning other people
if; when; and; with; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); promoted pawn; indicates a question
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)
at; in; at; when; by; with; and then
to live; to get along; to spend (time)
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
family; members of a family
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to add; to add up; to increase; to gather (e.g. speed); to include; to count in
truth; reality; proper; right; genuine; authentic
meaning; significance; sense
(way of) life; living; livelihood; life circumstances
to begin; to start; to happen (again); to begin (anew); to date (from); to originate (in)
too; also; both A and B; A as well as B; even; as much as
to become better; to improve
to come (spatially or temporally); to approach; to come back; to do ... and come back; to come to be; to become
story; tale; narrative; account; fable; legend
secret; secrecy; mystery; secret (e.g. to success); esoteric teachings
to be aware of; to know; to notice; to feel; to understand; to comprehend; to remember