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Japanese Versatility List

By English word

The English word you’d reach for, and the verb each noun really takes in Japanese.

“have”

  1. kami ga nagaihave long hair · Stage 1
  2. jikan ga naihave no time · Stage 1
  3. hima ga naihave no free time · Stage 1
  4. okane ga naihave no money, be broke · Stage 1
  5. shitsumon ga aruhave a question · Stage 1
  6. atama ga itaihave a headache · Stage 1
  7. onaka ga itaihave a stomachache · Stage 1
  8. jugyou ga aruhave class · Stage 1
  9. kaigi ga aruhave a meeting · Stage 1
  10. shiken ga aruhave an exam · Stage 1
  11. ocha o nomuhave tea, drink tea · Stage 2
  12. kodomo ga iruhave children, have kids · Stage 2
  13. kodomo ga umareruhave a baby · Stage 2
  14. netsu ga aruhave a fever · Stage 2
  15. yume o miruhave a dream (while asleep) · Stage 2
  16. yotei ga aruhave plans · Stage 3
  17. youji ga aruhave something to do · Stage 3
  18. sen'yaku ga aruhave prior plans · Stage 3
  19. keiken ga aruhave experience · Stage 4
  20. inu o kauhave / keep a dog · Stage 4
  21. nayami ga aruhave something on your mind · Stage 4
  22. aidea ga ukabuan idea comes to mind · Stage 4
  23. me ga waruihave poor eyesight · Stage 4

“take”

  1. densha ni noruride / get on the train · Stage 1
  2. basu ni norutake the bus · Stage 1
  3. shawaa o abirutake a shower · Stage 1
  4. ofuro ni hairutake a bath · Stage 1
  5. sanpo ni ikugo for a walk · Stage 1
  6. shashin o torutake a photo · Stage 2
  7. kusuri o nomutake medicine · Stage 2
  8. jikan ga kakarutake time · Stage 2
  9. tema ga kakarutake work, be a hassle · Stage 2
  10. ie made okurusee or drive someone home · Stage 3
  11. kaado o tsukaupay by card · Stage 3
  12. yasumi o torutake time off · Stage 3
  13. kyuukei o torutake a break · Stage 3
  14. satou o ireruput sugar in, add sugar · Stage 4
  15. shiken o ukerutake an exam · Stage 4
  16. atsusa ni yowaican't take the heat · Stage 4
  17. jikan o toruset aside time, take up time · Stage 4
  18. memo o torutake notes, write it down · Stage 4

“get”

  1. kaze ni ataruget some (fresh) air · Stage 1
  2. kami o kiruget a haircut · Stage 1
  3. byouki ni naruget sick, fall ill · Stage 2
  4. taichou o kuzusuget run down, fall ill · Stage 2
  5. netsu ga deruget a fever · Stage 2
  6. meeru ga kuruget an email · Stage 3
  7. chiketto o toruget hold of tickets · Stage 3
  8. seiseki ga iihave good grades, do well at school · Stage 3
  9. ten o toruscore, get marks (on a test) · Stage 4
  10. toshi o toruget older, age · Stage 4
  11. apuri o ireruinstall an app, get an app · Stage 4
  12. kekka o dasuget results, deliver results · Stage 4
  13. torihada ga tatsuget goosebumps · Stage 4

“go”

  1. uchi ni kaerugo home, get home · Stage 1
  2. kaimono ni ikugo shopping · Stage 1
  3. gakkou ni ikugo to school · Stage 1
  4. shigoto ni ikugo to work · Stage 1
  5. toire ni ikugo to the toilet · Stage 1
  6. eiga ni ikugo to the movies · Stage 1
  7. karaoke ni ikugo to karaoke · Stage 1
  8. jikka ni kaerugo home to your parents' · Stage 3
  9. ryokou ni ikugo on a trip · Stage 3
  10. michi o machigaerugo the wrong way · Stage 3
  11. tsuri ni ikugo fishing · Stage 4
  12. kyanpu ni ikugo camping · Stage 4
  13. ohanami ni ikugo cherry-blossom viewing · Stage 4

“wear”

  1. fuku o kiruput on / wear clothes · Stage 2
  2. kutsu o hakuput on / wear shoes · Stage 2
  3. zubon o hakuput on / wear trousers · Stage 3
  4. masuku o suruwear a mask · Stage 4
  5. megane o kakeruwear / put on glasses · Stage 4
  6. boushi o kaburuwear / put on a hat · Stage 4
  7. yubiwa o suruwear a ring · Stage 4
  8. nekutai o suruwear a tie · Stage 4
  9. kousui o tsukeruwear / put on perfume · Stage 4

“close”

  1. doa o shimeruclose the door · Stage 2
  2. doa ga shimaruthe door closes (shimatteru = is shut) · Stage 2
  3. mado o shimeruclose the window · Stage 2
  4. kaaten o shimeruclose the curtains · Stage 2
  5. mise ga shimarua shop closes (shimatteru = is closed) · Stage 4
  6. me o tojiruclose your eyes · Stage 4

“feel”

  1. kimochi ga iifeels good, feels nice · Stage 1
  2. kibun ga iibe in a good mood; feel well · Stage 1
  3. guai ga waruifeel unwell · Stage 1
  4. choushi ga waruifeel off; act up (devices) · Stage 1
  5. choushi ga iibe in good shape, going well · Stage 1
  6. kibun ga waruifeel sick (queasy or faint); feel put off · Stage 1

“make”

  1. tomodachi ga dekirumake a friend, make friends · Stage 1
  2. tomodachi ni narubecome friends (with someone) · Stage 1
  3. joudan o iujoke, kid around · Stage 2
  4. ocha o irerumake tea · Stage 4
  5. keikaku o taterumake a plan · Stage 4
  6. jikan o tsukurumake time · Stage 4

“open”

  1. kasa o sasuput up (open) an umbrella; have an umbrella up · Stage 1
  2. doa o akeruopen the door · Stage 2
  3. doa ga akuthe door opens (aiteru = is open) · Stage 2
  4. mado o akeruopen the window · Stage 2
  5. mise ga akua shop opens (aiteru = is open) · Stage 4

“take off”

  1. kutsu o nugutake off shoes · Stage 2
  2. fuku o nugutake off clothes, get undressed · Stage 2
  3. shigoto o yasumutake time off work, miss work · Stage 3
  4. masuku o hazusutake off a mask · Stage 4
  5. megane o hazusutake off glasses · Stage 4

“go out”

  1. soto ni derugo outside, step out · Stage 1
  2. asobi ni ikugo out for fun; go visit · Stage 1
  3. gohan ni ikugo out to eat · Stage 2
  4. nomi ni ikugo out for drinks · Stage 3

“play”

  1. geemu o suruplay games (video games, cards and the like) · Stage 1
  2. sakkaa o suruplay soccer · Stage 1
  3. piano o hikuplay the piano · Stage 1
  4. ongaku o kakeruput on music · Stage 2

“call”

  1. denwa o kakerumake a phone call · Stage 3
  2. denwa ga aru(someone) called, there was a call from X · Stage 3
  3. denwa ga kakaruget a phone call · Stage 3

“catch”

  1. kaze o hikucatch a cold · Stage 2
  2. kaze ga utsurucatch someone's cold · Stage 2
  3. densha ni maniaumake the train in time · Stage 2

“do”

  1. osara o arauwash the dishes, wash up · Stage 3
  2. shukudai o surudo homework · Stage 3
  3. kaji o surudo the housework · Stage 4

“drink”

  1. mizu o nomudrink water · Stage 2
  2. koohii o nomudrink coffee · Stage 2
  3. osake o nomudrink (alcohol) · Stage 2

“nice”

  1. tenki ga iithe weather is nice · Stage 1
  2. seikaku ga iibe a nice person · Stage 2
  3. kanji ga iibe pleasant, nice (person or place) · Stage 2

“tell”

  1. namae o oshierutell someone your name · Stage 1
  2. chigai ga wakarutell the difference · Stage 2
  3. uso o tsukutell a lie · Stage 2

“wash”

  1. te o arauwash your hands · Stage 1
  2. kao o arauwash your face · Stage 1
  3. kami o arauwash your hair · Stage 1

“watch”

  1. eiga o miruwatch a movie · Stage 1
  2. terebi o miruwatch TV · Stage 2
  3. nyuusu o miruwatch or check the news · Stage 2

“work”

  1. kusuri ga kikumedicine works, takes effect · Stage 2
  2. oto ga derusound comes out (of a TV, speaker, phone) · Stage 4
  3. netto ga tsunagaruthe internet connects, works · Stage 4

“answer”

  1. shitsumon ni kotaeruanswer a question · Stage 1
  2. denwa ni deruanswer the phone · Stage 3

“arrive”

  1. eki ni tsukuget to the station · Stage 3
  2. nimotsu ga todokua package arrives, gets delivered · Stage 4

“ask”

  1. onegai ga aruhave a favour to ask · Stage 3
  2. soudan ga aruwant to ask your advice · Stage 4

“be ready”

  1. gohan ga dekiruthe meal gets ready (dekita = it's ready) · Stage 2
  2. junbi ga dekirube ready · Stage 2

“busy”

  1. shigoto ga isogashiibe busy with work · Stage 1
  2. michi ga komuthe traffic is heavy · Stage 3

“change”

  1. channeru o kaeruchange the channel · Stage 2
  2. fuku o kigaeruchange clothes, get changed · Stage 3

“cheer up”

  1. genki o dasucheer up · Stage 3
  2. genki ga deruperk up, get a lift · Stage 4

“come out”

  1. tsuki ga deruthe moon comes out · Stage 3
  2. kekka ga deruthe results come out · Stage 4

“come up”

  1. shigoto ga hairuwork comes up · Stage 1
  2. yotei ga hairuhave plans, get booked · Stage 3

“complain”

  1. monku o iucomplain · Stage 2
  2. guchi o iugrumble, vent · Stage 2

“cost”

  1. okane ga kakarucost money · Stage 3
  2. ikura suruhow much it costs (price + suru) · Stage 3

“crowded”

  1. mise ga komu(a place) gets crowded (konderu = is packed) · Stage 2
  2. hito ga ooibe crowded, lots of people · Stage 3

“draw”

  1. e o kakudraw or paint a picture · Stage 1
  2. omikuji o hikudraw a fortune slip · Stage 4

“fit”

  1. saizu ga aube the right size, fit · Stage 3
  2. tairyoku ga aruhave stamina, be fit · Stage 4

“free”

  1. jikan ga akube free (have time) · Stage 3
  2. seki ga akua seat frees up (aiteru = a seat is free) · Stage 3

“get along”

  1. naka ga iiget along well, be close · Stage 2
  2. naka ga waruibe on bad terms · Stage 2

“get off”

  1. densha o oriruget off the train · Stage 1
  2. shigoto ga owaruget off work · Stage 1

“give”

  1. bangou o oshierugive someone your number · Stage 3
  2. kuruma ni noserugive someone a lift · Stage 3

“good at”

  1. nihongo ga jouzube good at Japanese · Stage 1
  2. shigoto ga dekirube capable, good at one's job · Stage 1

“hear”

  1. oto ga suruhear a noise, there's a sound · Stage 2
  2. koe ga kikoeruhear a voice; (on a call) can hear someone · Stage 2

“heavy”

  1. ame ga tsuyoithe rain is heavy · Stage 1
  2. nimotsu ga omoithe bags are heavy · Stage 3

“hit”

  1. taifuu ga kurua typhoon comes (hits) · Stage 2
  2. jishin ga okiruan earthquake happens, hits · Stage 2

“hold”

  1. osake ga yowaican't hold one's drink · Stage 3
  2. osake ga tsuyoican hold one's drink · Stage 3

“hungry”

  1. onaka ga sukuget hungry · Stage 1
  2. onaka ga heruget hungry (blunter, casual) · Stage 1

“hurt”

  1. koshi ga itaihave lower back pain · Stage 1
  2. kega o suruget hurt, get injured · Stage 4

“keep”

  1. naisho ni surukeep it secret · Stage 2
  2. yakusoku o mamorukeep a promise · Stage 4

“learn”

  1. benkyou ni narube instructive; learn a lot · Stage 1
  2. piano o narautake piano lessons · Stage 1

“leave”

  1. uchi o deruleave the house · Stage 1
  2. densha ga deruthe train leaves · Stage 2

“listen”

  1. hanashi o kikulisten to someone, hear someone out · Stage 1
  2. ongaku o kikulisten to music · Stage 2

“lose”

  1. shiai ni makerulose a match · Stage 3
  2. michi ni mayouget lost · Stage 3

“meet”

  1. deai ga arumeet someone new · Stage 1
  2. tomodachi ni ausee a friend, meet up · Stage 3

“miss”

  1. shuuden ga nakunaruthe last train is gone (no way home) · Stage 2
  2. eki o norisugosumiss your stop · Stage 3

“motivated”

  1. yaruki ga naihave no motivation, can't be bothered · Stage 4
  2. yaruki ga deruget motivated · Stage 4

“pass”

  1. jikan ga tatsutime passes · Stage 2
  2. shiken ni ukarupass an exam · Stage 4

“quit”

  1. kaisha o yameruquit one's job · Stage 3
  2. tabako o yameruquit smoking · Stage 4

“raise”

  1. kodomo o sodateruraise children, bring up kids · Stage 2
  2. te o ageruraise your hand · Stage 4

“send”

  1. shashin o okurusend a photo · Stage 2
  2. meeru o okurusend an email · Stage 3

“set”

  1. mezamashi o kakeruset an alarm · Stage 2
  2. hi ga shizumuthe sun sets, goes down · Stage 3

“short”

  1. se ga hikuibe short (height) · Stage 1
  2. okane ga tarinaibe short of money · Stage 1

“sing”

  1. uta o utausing a song · Stage 1
  2. semi ga nakucicadas sing, buzz · Stage 4

“speak”

  1. eigo o hanasuspeak English · Stage 1
  2. keigo o tsukauspeak politely, use honorifics · Stage 3

“spend”

  1. okane o tsukauspend money · Stage 3
  2. jikan o kakeruput time into, take time over · Stage 4

“stop”

  1. ame ga yamuthe rain stops · Stage 1
  2. konbini ni yorustop by the convenience store · Stage 3

“talk”

  1. hanashi o surutalk, have a talk · Stage 1
  2. koe o kakeruspeak to, call out to; ask along · Stage 1

“taste”

  1. sensu ga iihave good taste, a good eye · Stage 1
  2. aji ga surutaste (like something) · Stage 3

“treat”

  1. gohan o ogorutreat someone to a meal · Stage 2
  2. gochisou ni narube treated (to a meal) · Stage 3

“turn”

  1. hidari ni magaruturn left · Stage 3
  2. kado o magaruturn at the corner · Stage 3

“turn off”

  1. denki o kesuturn off the light · Stage 2
  2. dengen o kiruturn off (a phone or device) · Stage 4

“turn on”

  1. denki o tsukeruturn on the light · Stage 2
  2. dengen o ireruturn on (a phone or device) · Stage 4

“use”

  1. sumaho o ijirube on your phone · Stage 2
  2. atama o tsukauuse your head; make you think · Stage 4

“useful”

  1. yaku ni tatsube useful, helpful · Stage 1
  2. tame ni narube worthwhile, do you good · Stage 1

“wait”

  1. junban o matsuwait your turn · Stage 4
  2. yousu o miruwait and see; check on (someone) · Stage 4

One each

  1. soudan ni noru“advise” · give advice, hear someone out
  2. yoyuu ga nai“afford” · have nothing to spare
  3. arerugii ga aru“allergic” · be allergic (to something)
  4. undou shinkei ga ii“athletic” · be athletic
  5. denpa ga warui“bad” · bad signal, poor reception
  6. onsen ni hairu“bathe” · bathe in a hot spring
  7. kibun tenkan ni naru“be” · be a nice change of pace, do someone good
  8. honne o iu“be honest” · say what you really think
  9. geemu ni hamaru“be into” · be hooked on games; be really into games
  10. densha ni okureru“be late” · be late for the train (and so miss it)
  11. kagi ga kakaru“be locked” · (a door) locks, gets locked (kakatteru = is locked)
  12. tenki yohou ga hazureru“be wrong” · the forecast is wrong
  13. ryou ga ooi“big” · it's a big portion
  14. chi ga deru“bleed” · bleed, be bleeding
  15. hana ga saku“bloom” · flowers bloom, come out
  16. kaze ga fuku“blow” · the wind blows
  17. kao ga akai“blush” · be red in the face
  18. oyu o wakasu“boil” · boil water
  19. ki o tsukau“bother” · be considerate, go to trouble
  20. ha o migaku“brush” · brush your teeth
  21. omiyage o kau“buy” · buy gifts to take back
  22. chuushi ni naru“cancel” · be called off
  23. nimotsu o motsu“carry” · carry the bags
  24. meiwaku o kakeru“cause” · cause someone trouble
  25. tanjoubi o iwau“celebrate” · celebrate a birthday
  26. yama ni noboru“climb” · climb a mountain
  27. pointo o tameru“collect” · collect loyalty points
  28. denki ga tsuku“come on” · the light comes on (tsuiteru = is on)
  29. igokochi ga ii“comfortable” · comfortable to be in, cosy
  30. jishin ga aru“confident” · be confident (in yourself, your answer)
  31. tsugou ga ii“convenient” · suit someone, be convenient
  32. gohan o tsukuru“cook” · cook a meal, make dinner
  33. seki ga deru“cough” · have a cough
  34. namida ga deru“cry” · tear up, eyes water
  35. tsume o kiru“cut” · cut your nails
  36. densha ga okureru“delayed” · the train is delayed
  37. juuden ga kireru“die” · battery runs out, dies
  38. genki ga nai“down” · be down, low on energy
  39. sentakumono ga kawaku“dry” · the laundry dries
  40. asa ga hayai“early” · have an early start
  41. gohan o taberu“eat” · eat, have a meal
  42. haji o kaku“embarrass” · embarrass yourself, make a fool of yourself
  43. tenshon ga agaru“excited” · get excited, get hyped
  44. karada o ugokasu“exercise” · get some exercise, move your body
  45. kigen ga kireru“expire” · expire, be past its date
  46. shiken ni ochiru“fail” · fail an exam
  47. ashi ga hayai“fast” · be a fast runner
  48. sutairu ga ii“figure” · have a good figure
  49. shigoto ga mitsukaru“find” · find a job
  50. hikouki ni noru“fly” · fly, take a plane
  51. fuku o tatamu“fold” · fold clothes
  52. onaka ga ippai“full” · be full (after eating)
  53. ame ni furareru“get caught” · get caught in the rain
  54. gohan ga sameru“get cold” · the food gets cold
  55. hi ga kureru“get dark” · it gets dark (evening)
  56. kuruma ni noru“get in” · get in / ride in a car
  57. futon ni hairu“get into” · get into bed, get under the covers
  58. maigo ni naru“get lost” · get lost (wander off, like a lost child)
  59. kaze ga naoru“get over” · get over a cold
  60. kotatsu ni hairu“get under” · get under the kotatsu
  61. netsu ga sagaru“go down” · fever goes down
  62. kimochi ga warui“gross” · feel queasy, feel nauseous; gross, creepy
  63. otona ni naru“grow up” · grow up, become an adult
  64. shukudai o dasu“hand in” · hand in homework
  65. sentakumono o hosu“hang” · hang out the laundry
  66. denwa o kiru“hang up” · hang up the phone
  67. karada ni ii“healthy” · good for you, healthy
  68. renraku ga kuru“hear from” · hear from someone
  69. obentou o atatameru“heat up” · heat up a boxed lunch
  70. nedan ga takai“high” · the price is high
  71. tsugou ga warui“inconvenient” · not suit someone, can't make it (a time)
  72. kyoumi ga aru“interested” · be interested (in)
  73. kaisha ni hairu“join” · join a company
  74. renraku o toru“keep in touch” · get or stay in touch
  75. jikan o tsubusu“kill” · kill time
  76. kimochi ga wakaru“know” · know how someone feels
  77. kaeri ga osoi“late” · get home late
  78. yoko ni naru“lie” · lie down
  79. ki ni iru“like” · like, be pleased with
  80. kagi o kakeru“lock” · lock (a door, bike, locker)
  81. hanashi ga nagai“long-winded” · be long-winded, go on forever
  82. osewa ni naru“look after” · be looked after, be indebted
  83. shashin o miru“look at” · look at photos
  84. shigoto o sagasu“look for” · look for a job
  85. tanoshimi ni suru“look forward” · look forward to
  86. netto de shiraberu“look up” · look something up online
  87. koe ga ookii“loud” · have a loud voice, be loud
  88. un ga ii“lucky” · be lucky
  89. baka ni suru“make fun of” · make fun of, look down on
  90. imi ga wakaru“make sense” · understand what something means; (negative) make no sense
  91. seikaku ga warui“mean” · be mean, nasty
  92. heya ga chirakaru“messy” · (a room) gets messy, is a mess
  93. kigen ga warui“mood” · be in a bad mood, grumpy
  94. hanashi ga aru“need to talk” · need to talk (to you)
  95. ki ga tsuku“notice” · notice, realise
  96. kaoiro ga warui“pale” · look pale, look unwell
  97. kuruma o tomeru“park” · park the car
  98. okane o harau“pay” · pay (money)
  99. mukae ni iku“pick up” · go to pick someone up
  100. ninki ga aru“popular” · be popular
  101. enki ni naru“postpone” · be postponed
  102. botan o osu“press” · press the button
  103. reizouko ni ireru“put” · put in the fridge
  104. moto ni modosu“put back” · put back (as it was)
  105. futa o suru“put on” · put the lid on
  106. ame ga furu“rain” · it rains; rain falls
  107. hon o yomu“read” · read a book
  108. tsukare ga toreru“recover” · shake off tiredness, feel rested
  109. chikara o nuku“relax” · relax (your body), loosen up
  110. heya o kariru“rent” · rent a room or flat
  111. meeru o kaesu“reply” · reply to a message
  112. hyouban ga ii“reputation” · have a good reputation
  113. jitensha ni noru“ride” · ride a bike
  114. denwa ga naru“ring” · the phone rings
  115. hi ga noboru“rise” · the sun rises, comes up
  116. hanamizu ga deru“run” · have a runny nose
  117. okane o tameru“save” · save up money
  118. byouin ni iku“see” · see a doctor
  119. yuki ga tsumoru“settle” · snow settles, lies on the ground
  120. hige o soru“shave” · shave (your face)
  121. kakko tsukeru“show off” · show off, act cool
  122. taichou ga warui“sick” · not feel well, be under the weather (the safe phrase at work)
  123. jikkan ga waku“sink in” · it sinks in, feels real
  124. asagohan o nuku“skip” · skip breakfast
  125. semai heya“small” · a small, cramped room
  126. atama ga ii“smart” · be smart, clever
  127. nioi ga suru“smell” · smell something, there's a smell
  128. tabako o suu“smoke” · smoke (a cigarette)
  129. yuki ga furu“snow” · it snows
  130. mondai o toku“solve” · solve a question, do problems
  131. nodo ga itai“sore” · have a sore throat
  132. warikan ni suru“split” · split the bill
  133. hanko o osu“stamp” · stamp your seal
  134. daigaku ni hairu“start” · get into university, start university
  135. hoteru ni tomaru“stay” · stay at a hotel
  136. kata ga koru“stiff” · have stiff shoulders
  137. sutoresu ga tamaru“stressed” · get stressed, stress builds up
  138. aji ga koi“strong” · strongly seasoned, rich
  139. fuku ga niau“suit” · suit someone, look good on someone
  140. ase o kaku“sweat” · sweat, get sweaty
  141. mendou o miru“take care of” · look after, take care of
  142. gomi o dasu“take out” · take out the trash
  143. se ga takai“tall” · be tall
  144. orei o iu“thank” · thank someone, say thanks
  145. nodo ga kawaku“thirsty” · get thirsty
  146. gomi o suteru“throw away” · throw away rubbish
  147. kaminari ga naru“thunder” · it thunders; thunder rumbles
  148. heya o katazukeru“tidy” · tidy up one's room
  149. karada ga darui“tired” · feel heavy and sluggish
  150. pan o yaku“toast” · toast bread; bake bread
  151. un ga warui“unlucky” · be unlucky
  152. onaka o kowasu“upset” · get an upset stomach
  153. soujiki o kakeru“vacuum” · vacuum (the floor)
  154. ii fun'iki“vibe” · a nice atmosphere, good vibe
  155. hatsumoude ni iku“visit” · make the year's first shrine visit
  156. me ga sameru“wake up” · wake up (from sleep); feel wide awake (me ga sameta)
  157. aji ga usui“weak” · lightly seasoned; bland (needs more salt)
  158. shiai ni katsu“win” · win a match
  159. kaze ga tsuyoi“windy” · it's windy
  160. teeburu o fuku“wipe” · wipe the table
  161. okane o orosu“withdraw” · withdraw cash
  162. shinpai o kakeru“worry” · make someone worry