general idea; concept; notion
to be related; to be connected; to be joined together; to result in; to lead to; to bring about
indicates means of action; cause of effect; by
until now; so far; up to the present
vague; obscure; indistinct; hazy; ambiguous
to take out; to carry out; to bring out from where it belongs; to mention something; to broach a topic; to bring up (a subject)
puzzling; tangled; complicated; complex
to stop (an activity); to cease; to discontinue; to cancel; to abandon; to give up
what I want to say is ...; the fact of the matter is ...; none other than ...
to live; to exist; to make a living; to subsist; to be in effect; to be in use
to invite; to ask (someone to do); to tempt; to lure; to induce (tears, laughter, sleepiness, etc.); to arouse (e.g. sympathy)
not only ... (but also); not just; as well as
at first; in the beginning; originally
expresses incredulousness, disbelief, irony, etc.
waitress (in a ryokan or traditional restaurant); hostess
dark brown; colour of tanned skin
there it is; there it comes; got it; of course; it figures; I knew it
first words said (e.g. when meeting someone); first thing out of one's mouth; first speech; inaugural address
to return (something); to restore; to turn over; to turn upside down; to pay back; to retaliate; to respond (with)
poor; pitiable; pathetic; pitiful
to take on; to undertake; to take over; to inherit; to guarantee; to vouch for
being of unbounded energy; being with matchless vigor; having endless sexual stamina
beckoning cat; figure of a cat with one paw raised (usu. white porcelain)
manner of using one's hands
two by two; by twos; as a couple
strange; weird; wonder; mystery; cleverness; adroitness
small; little; slightly less than; just about; somewhat; somehow
manure; night soil; dung; fertiliser; fertilizer
bump; lump; protuberance; swelling
error; mistake; fault; sin; wrongdoing; offense
laugh; laughter; smile; sneer; sex aids (e.g. dildos, pornographic books, erotic woodblock prints, etc.)
rather; better; instead; if anything
to be pleased; to be in a good mood
to see through (a plot, lie, etc.); to penetrate into; to discover; to find out
factory worker; craftsman; artisan
I wonder; do you think?; I might; some kind; some stage; somehow
business conditions; the market; good (economic) times; prosperity; liveliness; energy
great numbers (of people); numerical superiority; masses; people; folk; clique
to refuse; to reject; to inform; to give notice; to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from)
originally; by nature; from the start
tea (usu. green); tea break (at work); tea ceremony
skillful; skilful; adroit; clever; shrewd; ingenious
to offer (a suggestion, etc.); to propose (an idea, etc.); to approach with (a proposal, etc.)