indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
fool; blockhead; idiot; dunce
as (i.e. in the role of); for (i.e. from the viewpoint of); apart from... (used to change the topic); even (e.g. "not even a single person"); thinking that...; trying to...
be; is; did; (have) done; please; do
indicates word or phrase being defined; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); with; (not) as much as; (not) so much as; the fact that
what; you-know-what; that thing; whatsit; whachamacallit; (not) at all; (not) in the slightest
(those) who are; (that) which is; in the capacity of
indicates a question; or; whether or not; some- (e.g. something, someone); hmm; huh; very
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 unravel; to untie; to break into small pieces (of fish, meat, etc.); to relax; to ease
study; research; investigation
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
to be infatuated (with); to be hooked (on); to lose one's heart (on)
queer fellow; odd fellow; eccentric person; crank; oddball; freak
eccentric; crank; oddball
opinion; point of view; visual point
to change; to alter; to transform; to reform; to revise; to amend
to see; to look; to examine; to look over; to look after; to attend to; to experience
how; in what way; how about
don't you think?; indicates question
concrete; definite; specific; material; substantial
to say; to utter; to name; to call; to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
people; citizens; subjects; folk
from (e.g. time, place, numerical quantity); since; from (originator); by; because; since; out of (constituent, part)
what kind of; what sort of; what; no matter what (kind of); whatever; any
statue; picture; picture revealing character
that's the way it is; yes; is that so?; is it?
called; named; as many as; as much as; all ...; every single ...
big; large; loud; extensive; spacious; important
change; alteration; difference; distinction; something wrong; abnormality
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.)
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
habit (often a bad habit, i.e. vice); tendency; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; crease; wrinkle
castle town; city in Japan that developed around the castle of a feudal lord
carefree; buoyant; lighthearted; ease
to descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to step down; to retire; to be granted
to come (spatially or temporally); to approach; to come back; to do ... and come back; to come to be; to become
banter; teasing; chaffing; merely asking the price; just looking at goods; window-shopping
store; shop; establishment; restaurant
to turn; to revolve; to visit several places; to function well; to pass a certain time
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to sell (well); to be well known; to be popular; to be famous
what; how many; many; a lot of; several; a few
to change; to be transformed; to move to; to be different; to be uncommon