赤ん坊を膝の上であやした。

baby; infant

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.

knee; lap; knee and thigh (while sitting)

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

above; up; over; elder (e.g. daughter); top; summit; surface; on; before; previous; superiority; one's superior (i.e. one's elder); on top of that; besides; what's more; upon (further inspection, etc.); based on (and occurring after); matters concerning...; as concerns ...; since (i.e. "for that reason"); suffix indicating higher social standing; place of one's superior (i.e. the throne); emperor; sovereign; shogun; daimyo; noblewoman (esp. the wife of a nobleman)

indicates location of action; at; in; indicates time of action; indicates means of action; cause of effect; by; and then; so; indicates continuing action; indicates certainty, emphasis, etc.

to cuddle; to comfort; to rock; to soothe; to dandle; to humor; to humour; to lull