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
entrance; entry; gate; approach; mouth
to; for; in order to; for; as for; regarding
this world; this life; world of the living
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.
good; goodness; right; virtue
light; illumination; ray; happiness; hope; influence
at; in; at; when; by; with; and then
to shine on; to illuminate; to compare (with); to refer to
should; must; -able; probably; likely
Buddha; Shakyamuni; Buddhist image; figure of Buddha; the dead; dead person
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
cruel; merciless; atrocious; pitiful; tragic; horrible
figure; form; appearance; dress; state; condition
to rise (of a building, mountain, etc.); to tower; to soar
that; the; part (as in "part two"); um ...; er ...
inner part; inside; interior; depths (e.g. of a forest); back (of a house, drawer, etc.); bottom (e.g. of one's heart)
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
to crouch; to squat; to cower
corruption; immorality; lapse from virtue; fall from virtue
to enter; to go into; to break into; to join; to enroll; to contain; to hold
town; block; downtown; main street; street; road
good; advantage; sake; purpose; consequence; result
thing; object; one's things; possessions; things; something; quality
that's the way it is; yes; is that so?; is it?
indicates a question; or; whether or not; some- (e.g. something, someone); hmm; huh; very
always; all the time; never; usual; regular
one long cylindrical thing; one film, TV show, etc.; one version; one book; a certain book; ippon; one point
beyond that point; after that
to stand (still) a while; to loiter; to stop
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
office worker; company employee; company man; salaryman (stereotypical Japanese office worker)
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.)
this; last (couple of years, etc.); these; you (as in "you liar")
ah!; oh!; yes; indeed; aah; gah
to beat to death; to kill