to use as a pretext; to use as an excuse for doing something
talented; gifted; prodigious; virtuoso; masterful
evil; wickedness; (role of) the villain (in theatre, etc.); the bad guy
wisdom; wit; sagacity; prajna (insight leading to enlightenment)
with trouble; at great pains; rare; valuable; kind; generous
to open up to someone else; to divulge one's true feelings; to be openhearted
having not the slightest idea
to get tired of; to tire of; to lose interest in; to become sated; to become satiated; to have one's fill
spare time; free time; time (it takes to do something); time required; time off; leave; dismissal
huge sum (esp. of money); enormous sum; massive amount
to accomplish; to achieve; to carry out; to arrive at (a certain outcome); to come to; to end with
December; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
way; manner; (for) the first time in (e.g. ten years); after ...; ...-sized; amount (equivalent to ...)
roots of grass; grassroots (e.g. of a political party); rank and file; places hidden from sight
to surround; to encircle; to enclose; to fawn over (someone); to play up to; to curry favor with
the front; honest; upright; decent
comment; criticism; critique; review
to line up; to stand in a line; to rival; to match; to equal
October; tenth month of the lunar calendar
Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
dining room; dining hall; cafeteria; restaurant; eatery; snack bar
prosperous; flourishing; popular; widespread; active; lively
(piece of) type; movable type; moveable type; printed word; printed matter; print
babies born on October 10, supposedly conceived on New Year's Day; normal gestation time (i.e. 9 months)
to sing; to sing of (love, beauty, etc.) in a poem; to express in the form of a poem; to recite (a poem)
slanting; tilted; sloping; distorted (feeling); slanted (e.g. view of the world); bad (mood)
to shiver; to shake; to quake; to tremble; to quaver; to quiver
ticktock; chinking (e.g. of a hammer against rock); knocking; dry and hard; (frozen) stiff; hidebound
mostly; almost; nearly; roughly; approximately; about
to spill over and fall; to scatter (petals, leaves, etc.)
to gather (attract, receive) attention; to have a high profile; to gain prominence; to become popular
to discuss; to talk about; to argue; to dispute; to take into consideration; to make an issue of