once; before; formerly; never yet; never before; first time
indicates sentence topic; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis
childhood friend; old playmate
now; the present time; just now; another; more
breaking off a relationship; permanent breach of friendship; rupture
father (esp. used in samurai families prior to the Meiji period)
in order to (e.g. meet goal); so that; take care (so as); hoping or wishing for something
honorific/polite/humble prefix; honorific suffix
chief retainer; daimyo's minister
Mr.; Mrs.; makes a word more polite (usu. in fixed expressions); state; situation
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 kill (a human) using a blade (sword, machete, knife, etc.); to slice (off); to lop (off); to cut (off)
to receive; to get; to eat; to drink; to be crowned with; to wear (on one's head)
indicates a question; or; whether or not; some- (e.g. something, someone); hmm; huh; very
husband; master (of a house, shop, etc.)
haori (Japanese formal coat)
to hold (in one's hand); to take; to possess; to have; to maintain; to keep; to last
to be (animate); to be; to be ..ing; to (have the audacity to) do
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; the explanation is that ...; it is that ...
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
giant butterbur (Petasites japonicus); Japanese sweet coltsfoot
natural; reasonable; obvious; usual; common; ordinary
it seems; I think; I guess; right?; don't you agree?
honorific/polite/humble prefix
samurai; warrior; military family
indicate reason; infers some protest
very; extremely; terrible; horrid; remarkable; extraordinary
if; when; and; with; used for quoting (thoughts, speech, etc.); promoted pawn; indicates a question
insect; bug; worm; roundworm; one's emotions; one's feelings; nervousness
indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; regardless of; whether (or not)
to eat; to live; to make a living; to bite; to sting (as insects do); to tease; to torment
truth; reality; proper; right; genuine; authentic
next; following; subsequent; stage; station
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
ration; stipend; allowance
only; just; merely; as much as; to the extent of; enough to
but; however; even; however; no matter how; ... or something; either ... or ...
making (a new suit, dress, etc.); having (something) made; buying new; new tune; new melody; new composition
countryside; country; 50-home township (comprised of 2-3 neighbourhoods)
inside; interior; among; within; middle; center; during
to make one's rounds; to patrol
at (place, time); in; to (direction, state); toward; for (purpose); because of (reason); for
to finish; to end; to merely result in something less severe than expected; to feel at ease; to feel unease or guilt for troubling someone; to be sorry
what with this and that; for a number of reasons
coming and going; traffic; road; street; association; socializing
at; in; at; when; by; with; and then
that kind of; of the sort; of the kind; such