your body; your health; yourself; you
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow; reward
errand; mission; messenger; bearer; familiar spirit
attending (upon); keeping another company; being a confidant; fairy tale
princess; spoiled girl; hothouse flower; glue
hand; arm; handwriting; penmanship; paw!; shake!
your home; your family; their home; (my) home
(your) words; what you say; what you have said; a few words (of welcome, advice, etc.)
shelving (a play, movie, etc.); closing down; cancelling; rice storehouse (of the Edo shogunate)
errand; mission; messenger; bearer; familiar spirit
you (when referring to one's equals or inferiors)
your native country; your hometown; my home country (i.e. Japan); countryside; country; (arch.) daimyo's territory (Edo period)
babysitting; babysitter; nanny; taking care of; looking after; accompanying
babysitting; babysitter; nanny; taking care of; looking after; accompanying
you; before (a god, nobleman, etc.); in front of
elder sister; effeminate man
story; tale; talk; discussion
request; favour (to ask); wish; please
head; brains; intelligence
grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); assistance; help; effects; influence
grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); assistance; help; effects; influence
father; dad; husband; you (of an elderly person older than the speaker); he
mother; mom; wife; you (of an elderly person older than the speaker); she
confections; sweets; candy; cake
tea (esp. green or barley); tea break; teatime; tea ceremony
(another's) daughter; young lady
near; close; beside; attendant; retainer; vassal
spy working for the Edo shogunate; oniwaban
retainer; attendant; escort
the Emperor; His Majesty; the government; the authorities; proprietress; hostess
sacred wine; sacred sake; sake offered to the gods; sake
thanks to ...; owing to ...; because of ...
amulet or talisman issued by a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple
bento; Japanese box lunch
eye; eyes; sight; vision; looking
(another's) daughter; young lady
to meet (someone of higher status); (arch.) to be recognized (esp. by someone of higher status); (arch.) to be visible; (arch.) to be seen
I am sorry (to hear, to say, etc.); a pity
noble family; lord's family; large organization; large company; head family (of a school of traditional performing arts); parlour
your house; your home; your husband; your organization; you
story; tale; talk; discussion
place where the sacred palanquin is lodged during a festival
to receive favor; to receive assistance; to receive help; to be looked after; to be taken care of; to become dependent (on)
audience (with someone of high standing)
audience (with a lord, dignitary, etc.); interview; first (public) appearance; debut; trial service (of a servant); probation
exorcism rite; purification
declining; refusal; rejection; announcement; notice
mikoshi; portable Shinto shrine carried through the streets during festivals; lower back; waist; hips
taking leave (of a visited place); leaving; going home; leaving one's employment; quitting one's job; being dismissed
going out (of a noble, shogun, royalty, etc.); visit; attendance
touching a wrong card (in karuta); buzzing too early (in a quiz); making a mistress of a servant; mistress (who is one's servant); foul (comp. karuta); touching a card which is not in the same territory as the correct card
money; coin; dough; moolah; brass
(formal) announcement; unveiling; introduction; debut
leader; chief; head; (another person's) head
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while traveling (travelling); present brought by a visitor; something unpleasant that one is given (e.g. an illness while on vacation); unwelcome gift
return gift; return favour; revenge; change (in a cash transaction)
chaperoning; monitoring someone's behaviour; watchdog; chaperone; watcher
congratulation; congratulations; celebration; congratulatory gift; present
visit (to someone affected by illness or misfortune); call; letter of inquiry; letter of sympathy; dealing (a hit); striking (a blow)
promise; agreement; arrangement; something expected or predictable (e.g. running gag); typical or clichéd development (in a story); something considered obligatory or guaranteed (in a certain situation)
tatami room; dinner party in a tatami room with a geisha or maiko
princess; spoiled girl; hothouse flower; glue
ahead; before; the future; pardon me for leaving (first)
superiors; big shots; higher-ups; VIPs; dignitaries
(your) judgment; discernment
near; close; beside; attendant; retainer; vassal
exorcism rite; purification
another helping; second helping; seconds; other paw!
call; visit; inquiry; enquiry; question
shelving (a play, movie, etc.); closing down; cancelling; rice storehouse (of the Edo shogunate)
bill (e.g. at a restaurant); check
the end; closing; being done for; that's it; that's enough; that's all
dignitaries; very important persons; luminaries; big shots; VIPs
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
maid; helper; help; assistance
meddling; meddlesomeness; nosiness; meddler; buttinsky; busybody
holiday; day off; sleep; rest; good night
to meet (someone of higher status); (arch.) to be recognized (esp. by someone of higher status); (arch.) to be visible; (arch.) to be seen
notice or order handed down from above; announcement; notification; Edo-period proclamation issued by the shogunate (or a daimyo, etc.) to the concerned parties
dismissal (from one's post); firing; being relieved from one's post; discarding; throwing away; becoming useless
cold (drinking) water; (glass of) cold water; cold boiled rice
grandmother; old woman; female senior citizen
inquiry; enquiry; question; searching; looking for
skill; proficiency; dexterity; flattery
one's business; reading of scriptures before a (statue of) Buddha; bargain; discount; (arch.) money paid to a prostitute or geisha
Edo-period proclamation issued by the shogunate (or a daimyo, etc.) usu. to the general populace
fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine); omikuji
(giving) birth; childbirth; delivery
visit (to someone affected by illness or misfortune); call; letter of inquiry; letter of sympathy; dealing (a hit); striking (a blow)
punishment (of children); spanking; smacking; criminal punishment (esp. execution; Edo period)
seeing through (a trick, someone's mind, etc.)
good-value; economical; advantageous (price, deal, etc.); useful; helpful
setting the table; laying the table; setting up; getting one's ducks in a row; running interference
lowest-ranking guest at tea ceremony; tea master
receiving; welcoming; going to meet; final call; call of fate; approach of death
familiar; well-known; regular (e.g. customer); old acquaintance; old friend; (a) regular
toilet; restroom; lavatory; bathroom
merchant's home (esp. used by apprentices, etc.); (your) rental home
by any standard; (not) even as flattery
breakup (of a ceremony, wedding, party, meeting, etc.); closure
charge (for admission, a meal, etc.); fee; price
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
(geisha) teahouse; establishment where patrons are entertained by geisha
leaving (a decision, job, etc.) to someone else; entrusting; leaving the choice of a meal to the chef; omakase
festival; feast; carnival; matsuri
festival; feast; carnival; matsuri
treasure; precious article; picture of a treasure ship; money; cash
(matter) for congratulations; worthy of celebration; happy (occasion, ending, etc.); naive; too good-natured; gullible
perfect (for); ideal; just right; most suitable; tailor-made
rice ball coated with sweetened red beans, soybean flour or sesame
Nichiren chant; (an empty) slogan
your home; your family; their home; (my) home
being together; going together; matching (clothing); going together
certificate; certified document; (the) thumbs up; seal of approval; paper with signature of the shogun or lord
tea-ceremony procedures; skill at serving tea
making a person, pet, etc. wait (before being permitted to do something); postponement; putting on hold
manners; behavior; behaviour
hand-me-down; food offering to the gods; leftovers; trip from Kyoto to the provinces
next; next person; (arch.) room adjoining a noble's parlor
pouring alcohol; person pouring alcohol for guests or customers (typically a woman); (apprentice) geisha; dancing girl
round, wooden container for cooked rice
New Year's sake; spiced sake
to like; to prefer; to be pleased by
travelling incognito (of a person of high rank); special palanquin for carrying a daimyo or his wife incognito
visit (to a shrine, grave, etc.); worship
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
summoning; calling; riding; (high-quality) silk crepe (fabric)
perfunctory; apathetic; makeshift; slapdash; routine; usual
year-end gift; end of the year; year end
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am; older girl
the end; closing; being done for; that's it; that's enough; that's all
lunch; noon; midday; daytime; waking up; getting up
Obon; Bon Festival; Buddhist festival for honouring the spirits of one's ancestors, held in mid-August or in some regions, mid-July; tray
sharing with others what has been given to you; sharing a portion of the profit with others
change (for a purchase); toilet splashback
appetizer; starter; hors d'oeuvre
person who gets easily elated (when praised, etc.); person who readily chimes in with others; person who gets carried away easily
cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes
cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes
court of law in the Edo period, in which the parties sat on white sand
mutually; with each other; reciprocally; together; both
congratulation; congratulations; celebration; congratulatory gift; present
telephone call; telephone (device)
alms-giving; charity; offerings (usu. money) to a priest (for reading sutras, etc.); financially supporting one's favorite celebrity (by buying merchandise, attending events, etc.)
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
water; (drinking) water; night entertainment business; nightlife worker; racy; titillating
sitting down; sitting up; sit!
hospitality; reception; treatment; (light) refreshment; entertaining with food and drink; treat
baggage; luggage; burden; albatross around one's neck; excess baggage
presence; appearance; attendance; visit; going out
field of flowers; flower garden; field of alpine flowers; fantasy; delusion
barking up the wrong tree; calling at the wrong house
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
being shelved (of a movie, project, etc.); being postponed; being put on hold; putting in storage
soup containing rice cakes and vegetables (New Year's dish)
the end; closing; being done for; that's it; that's enough; that's all
stylish; fashionable; dressing (oneself) up; dressing smartly; fashionable dresser; smartly dressed person
favorite; favourite; pet (e.g. teacher's pet); bookmark (in a web browser)
good-naturedness; good-natured person; credulous person; easy mark
graceful; ladylike; modest; gentle; polite; quiet
decorations; offerings; mere window dressing
cake or snack served with tea
chopsticks; (something) at hand; (in) one's possession; (near) one's hands
compliments; civilities; hospitality; special treatment; bill (at a restaurant); check
compliments; civilities; hospitality; special treatment; bill (at a restaurant); check
visiting a shrine or temple to give thanks; settling scores
sword tester (Edo period); executioner
store; shop; establishment; restaurant
thanks (for coming, helping, etc.); good work; see you; goodbye; tiredness; fatigue
another helping; second helping; seconds; other paw!
charm; incantation; spell; code that is not (yet) necessary to understand; required boilerplate code
(overnight) stay; lodging
thin rice porridge; watery cooked rice; rice gruel; congee
(for the) first time; something used (worn, etc.) for the first time; new item; first of the season (crop, fruit, etc.)
comical (story, song); comic; the comedy business (rakugo, manzai, etc.); something laughable
broth; soup (esp. miso soup)
uniforms provided for workers (by the employer); something forced upon one; something imposed on one
beanbag; beanbag juggling game; bobbling the ball
to evade (questions); to reply evasively; to beat around the bush; to throw up a smoke screen
the sun; Sol; providence; heaven; god
departure; leaving; starting; standing
chopsticks; (something) at hand; (in) one's possession; (near) one's hands
one's parents' home; one's origins; one's upbringing; one's past
ochazuke; rice with tea poured on it
self-interested show of kindness; acting selfishly under the guise of kindness
honorific or polite prefix
annual New Year's poetry reading (held at the Imperial Court)
bottom; buttocks; bidet function (for anal cleansing)
onigiri; rice ball (often triangular, sometimes with a filling and wrapped in nori)
well-matched (esp. of a couple); becoming; suitable
delivery (of a package, goods, etc.)
good-value; economical; advantageous (price, deal, etc.); useful; helpful
personal (employee); employed; retained
pot; (volcanic) crater; buttocks; gay man; queer; faggot
let's see what you've got; show me what you've got
scolding; telling-off; rebuke; lecture
regular customer; valued client
lord; nobleman; daimyo; dignitary; master
all-night vigil over a body; wake
little something; reward; tip
poorly made article; defective article; Gautama Buddha
tearjerker; sob story; maudlin tale
mid-year gift; summer gift
usual; normal; stereotyped
hundred times worship (e.g. walking back and forth a hundred times before a shrine offering a prayer each time)
passing away; dying; death
easy task; piece of cake; cakewalk; cake served with tea; light snack
memorial service for Nichiren (13th day of the 10th month; in Nichiren Buddhism)
shrine ritual held within the first two months of the year to forecast or pray for a successful harvest; seasonal planting of rice on a field affiliated with a shrine
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
brow; forehead; prominent forehead; beetle brow; not catching anything
being done for; giving up; being in a hopeless situation; not knowing what to do; being brought to one's knees; (lit.) throwing up (one's) hands
toilet; restroom; lavatory; bathroom
going out (of a noble, shogun, royalty, etc.); visit; attendance
pot; (volcanic) crater; buttocks; gay man; queer; faggot
one's speciality; one's forte; one's strong point
bedpan; chamber pot; potty
one's favourite party trick (favorite); one's specialty; one's forte
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
let's see what you've got; show me what you've got
(another's) son; boy; young master; green young man from a well-to-do family; young man innocent of the ways of the world
pity; sympathy; compassion; affection; love
used article (esp. clothes)
one person; one customer; unmarried and childless older woman
poor; unsatisfactory; inadequate; cold; chilly
display of dolls during Hinamatsuri; Hinamatsuri (March 3); Girls' Festival; Dolls' Festival
bureaucratic routine; red tape
very common way of tying a woman's kimono sash
the founder of our sect (esp. in reference to Nichiren)
sitting between the host and guest of honour at a drinking party (honor); companion
Kyoto area festival held on the 11th lunar month (wherein bonfires are burned at shrines)
Kyoto area festival held on the 11th lunar month (wherein bonfires are burned at shrines)
older brother; elder brother; young man; buddy; fella
grandfather; male senior-citizen; old man
grandfather; male senior-citizen; old man
recommendation; advice; suggestion; encouragement
grandmother; old woman; female senior citizen
association; socializing; socialising; fellowship
enjoyment; pleasure; amusement; anticipation; looking forward to; something to look forward to
something thrown in (with a purchase); something extra; (giving a) discount; price reduction; addition; embellishment (e.g. to a story)
about to start out; just about to leave or go out; outing; trip
missus; missis; proprietress (of a shop, restaurant, etc.); landlady; hostess
(formal) meeting with a view to marriage; interview with a prospective spouse
(formal) meeting with a view to marriage; interview with a prospective spouse
change (for a purchase); toilet splashback
pan; pot; transgender man (female-to-male); butch lesbian; (arch.) maidservant; (arch.) housemaid
theme; subject; motif; theme for the Imperial New Year's Poetry Contest
one's speciality; one's forte; one's strong point
son (of others); boy; young master; young man innocent of the ways of the world; man of pampered upbringing; greenhorn (from a well-off family)
police officer; cop; walking in a circle (dog trick); (arch.) side dish (eaten with rice)
the sun; Sol; providence; heaven; god
acquaintance; making someone's acquaintance
policeman's rope; arresting (a criminal)
sorry; too bad (for you)!; tough luck!
tea-ceremony procedures; skill at serving tea
house across the street; neighbor across the street
Inari (god of harvests, wealth, fertility, etc.); Inari shrine; inarizushi (sushi wrapped in fried tofu); scrotum; testicle sack
changing one's clothes; change of clothes
moxibustion; chastisement; scolding
pickled vegetables; pickles
buttocks; lower back; waist; kimono underskirt
northern groundcone (Boschniakia rossica)
needlework; sewing; seamstress
to be recognized (by someone of higher status); to be noticed; to get attention
one's forte; strong point; specialty; speciality
ceased patronage (of a client, customer, etc.); discontinued attendance
(arch.) court lady with her own private chamber or office; low-class prostitute (Edo period)
privy purse; money used for private purposes by the members of the Imperial family
making arbitrary decisions which benefit oneself; self-approved plan
annual ceremony of reciting the names of the Buddhas
(one's) older brother; lad; sonny
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am; older girl
it's been a long time; long time no see
it's been a long time; long time no see
another helping; second helping; seconds; other paw!
another helping; second helping; seconds; other paw!
another helping; second helping; seconds; other paw!
well-matched (esp. of a couple); becoming; suitable
between-meal snack; mid-afternoon (around 3 o'clock) snack; afternoon refreshment; afternoon tea
call; visit; inquiry; enquiry; question
rich person; wealthy person
sitting down; sitting up; sit!
standard; set; routine; decided
standard; set; routine; decided
hospitality; reception; treatment; (light) refreshment; entertaining with food and drink; treat
okonomiyaki; savoury pancake fried on an iron griddle with vegetables, meat and/or seafood and topped with various sauces and condiments
okonomiyaki; savoury pancake fried on an iron griddle with vegetables, meat and/or seafood and topped with various sauces and condiments
(next-door) neighbour; neighbor
long-awaited; long-waited-for; someone who has waited a long time; something that one has waited impatiently for
long-awaited; long-waited-for; someone who has waited a long time; something that one has waited impatiently for
silly person; dumb-bunny; dope
festival merrymaking; revelry
son (of others); boy; young master; young man innocent of the ways of the world; man of pampered upbringing; greenhorn (from a well-off family)
bill (at a restaurant); check
drawing; painting; doodling; sketching
drawing; painting; doodling; sketching
person sought by the police; wanted person; fugitive from justice
osechi; food eaten during the New Year's Holidays
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
police officer; cop; walking in a circle (dog trick); (arch.) side dish (eaten with rice)
Buddhist priest; monk; son (of others)
having a crush on someone
cold (drinking) water; (glass of) cold water; cold boiled rice
dignitaries; very important persons; luminaries; big shots; VIPs
wheat gluten (usu. steamed or baked)
wheat gluten (usu. steamed or baked)
to assume an air of importance; to be self-important; to put on airs
bargain; good buy; budget
bargain; good buy; budget
ochazuke; rice with tea poured on it
house across the street; neighbor across the street
serving tea (esp. at a company); tea server; tea lady
cancellation; abandonment
changing one's clothing (of a bride or groom during a wedding reception)
fish served whole (complete with head and tail)
scorched rice (at the bottom of the pot); crispy rice; crunchy rice; woman who enjoys the company of gay men
tooth blackening; tooth-blackening dye
dashi; Japanese soup stock made from fish and kelp
dashi; Japanese soup stock made from fish and kelp
bowl (ceramic, porcelain)
abura-age; thin deep-fried slices of tofu
trip story; vacation story
recommendation (of an influential person); order
bargain; good buy; (good) value for one's money
bargain; good buy; (good) value for one's money
white makeup powder; (face) powder
(bowel) movement; evacuation; defecation
court of law in the Edo period, in which the parties sat on white sand
ikebana; Japanese art of flower arrangement; flower
poem by the emperor or a member of the imperial family; poem; song
lowest-ranking guest at tea ceremony; tea master
work; job; labor; labour; business; task
boasting of one's hometown
local dialect; vernacular; provincialism
miyamairi; newborn child's first visit to a shrine (within about 30 days of being born); visiting a shrine
scolding; telling-off; talking-to; dressing-down
your address; your place of residence
your address; your place of residence
head prostitute (of a brothel); leader of a group of friends; best of its kind; something without rival
okuizome; weaning ceremony; ritual meal for a 100-day old infant
the founder of our sect (esp. in reference to Nichiren)
honorarium (to cover transportation costs); travel expenses (customarily given by wedding hosts to guests who have travelled from afar)
please understand (that ...); please bear in mind (that ...)
please understand (that ...); please bear in mind (that ...)
afternoon snack (eaten around 3 o'clock); afternoon tea
(private) geisha entertainment; being entertained by one or more geisha (in a tea house or traditional Japanese restaurant)
please make yourself comfortable; please relax your sitting position
dining table; (arch.) cooked rice
hired foreigner; foreign advisor hired by the Japanese government for their specialized knowledge to assist in the modernization of Japan at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji Era
hired foreigner; foreign advisor hired by the Japanese government for their specialized knowledge to assist in the modernization of Japan at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji Era
flunky; cat's-paw; tool; person whose services are at the disposal of another
used item (to be sold to a shop); unwanted goods
Gobunsho (The Epistles, a collection of letters written by Rennyo)
free service after one has finished one's apprenticeship
moody person; temperamental person; fickle person
(Japanese) rice cracker; senbei
to perform anal sex (between men); to bugger; to sodomize; to crash a car into the back of another; to rear-end
Kyoto area festival held on the 11th lunar month (wherein bonfires are burned at shrines)
Kyoto area festival held on the 11th lunar month (wherein bonfires are burned at shrines)
shrine ritual held within the first two months of the year to forecast or pray for a successful harvest; seasonal planting of rice on a field affiliated with a shrine
shrine ritual held within the first two months of the year to forecast or pray for a successful harvest; seasonal planting of rice on a field affiliated with a shrine
shrine ritual held within the first two months of the year to forecast or pray for a successful harvest; seasonal planting of rice on a field affiliated with a shrine
dango; rice dumpling; hair bun; chignon
(hand) towel; handkerchief; paper tissue; napkin; serviette
mid-morning snack (eaten around 10 AM); morning tea; elevenses
play; playing; game; lack of seriousness; half-hearted effort; just playing around
confectionery shop; candy store; sweet shop
ordering (online, mail); remote purchasing
broth; soup (esp. miso soup)
well-behaved child; obedient child; good child
old person; elderly person; senior citizen
to stand high in one's superior's favor and trust
to flatter a higher-up; (lit.) to brush the dirt from a beard
Omuro (sect of Shingon Buddhism)
portable shrine used to transport a sacred object
well-behaved child; obedient child; good child
last drink (of sake); last glass; last cup
last drink (of sake); last glass; last cup
dining table; (arch.) cooked rice
to flatter a higher-up; to suck up to; to curry favour; (lit.) to brush the dirt from a beard
chattering; talk; idle talk; chatty; talkative; chatterbox
recommendation; advice; suggestion; encouragement
wearing one's hair in braids
fortune slip (usu. bought at a shrine); omikuji
bedpan; chamber pot; potty
snack (to have with a drink); side dish
monetary offering (or gift) wrapped in paper
Kyoto-style side dish; meal of side dishes
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman
recommendation; advice; suggestion; encouragement
ghost; apparition; goblin; monster; something unusually large
begging; pestering; pleading; coaxing
small dish (usu. one of several accompanying rice); side dish; fill; fill-in (drumming); jack-off material; something to masturbate to
mochi; small rice cake made from glutinous rice
perfunctory; apathetic; makeshift; slapdash; routine; usual
wet towel (supplied at table); hot, moistened hand towel
snack (to have with a drink); side dish
snack (to have with a drink); side dish
snack (to have with a drink); side dish
boiled greens in bonito-flavoured soy sauce (vegetable side dish)
boiled greens in bonito-flavoured soy sauce (vegetable side dish)
please sit down; please have a seat
precocious; precocious child
okara; soy pulp; tofu dregs; edible pulp separated from soybean milk in the production of tofu
ohajiki; traditional children's game similar to marbles, played with coin-shaped pieces of coloured glass or plastic; gun; pistol
primness; putting on airs; prim person; clear soup
primness; putting on airs; prim person; clear soup
oyaki; fried round wheat or buckwheat flour cake with various fillings; imagawayaki; thick pancake containing bean jam, served hot
kitchen maid; kitchen duties; cooking
grandfather; old man; elderly man
grandfather; old man; elderly man
grandfather; old man; elderly man
grandfather; old man; elderly man
grandfather; old man; elderly man
pert; tomboyish; impudent; lively; boisterous
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng)
Kyoto-style side dish; meal of side dishes
otōri; drinking circle with a cup passed around and chugged (custom in the Miyako Islands, Okinawa)
(woman's) ugly or homely face; old bag
starchy solution formed during rice cooking
camel cricket (Diestrammena apicalis); camelback cricket; cave cricket; spider cricket
wet nurse (esp. for nobility)
nobleman; noblewoman; lord; master; dignitary
nobleman; noblewoman; lord; master; dignitary
nobleman; noblewoman; lord; master; dignitary
another's wife or daughter
nobleman; noblewoman; lord; master; dignitary
please allow me to introduce myself