income; earnings; revenue; proceeds; takings; receipts
economic; financial; economical; thrifty; frugal
to narrow; to reduce; to contract
interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for)
competitive entrance examinations for prestigious kindergartens and elementary schools
state of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances
to advance (spatially); to go forward; to precede; to go ahead (of); to make progress; to move ahead (e.g. of work); to intensify
guarantee; security; assurance; warranty
smirkingly; broadly (grinning)
dot; spot; mark (in an exam, etc.); grade; point (in a game); score; point
putting one's life on the line; staking one's life (on); risking one's life; life and death situation
to do together; to put together; to lump together; to regard in the same light; to put in the same category; to arrange for (two people) to marry
strained back; slipped disk; lumbosacral strain
to fall down; to fall over; to turn out; to play out; to abandon Christianity (and convert to Buddhism); to apostatize
time; meter; beat; the moment (of doing); the instant
cane; walking stick; staff; wand
to prick; to stab; to poke; to prod; to use (a cane); to prop oneself up with
shopping; purchased goods
to go out (e.g. on an excursion or outing); to leave; to depart; to be about to leave; to be just going out
to jump; to leap; to splash (of oil, mud, etc.); to spatter; to burst; to crack open
crane (any bird of the family Gruidae, esp. the red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis)
to deliver; to forward; to send; to report; to notify; to file notice (to the authorities)
God; god; deity; ace; king; superior person
to grant (request, wish); to answer (prayer); to make come true (e.g. a dream); to realize; to fulfill
to get better; to get well; to recover (from an illness); to be cured; to be restored; to heal
going on and on (about inconsequential things); talking nonsense; idling away the time; dawdling
solid; robust; tight; taut; shrewd; calculating
to seize; to catch; to obtain; to acquire; to understand; to grasp
casual; doing something without taking it too seriously
apt to (do); liable to; predominantly; mostly; ... reaps the rewards; ... takes the prize
whim; caprice; fancy; capricious; fickle; whimsical
patience; perseverance; persistence; tenacity; energy
lower back; waist; hips; body (of hair, noodles, paper, etc.); resilience; spring
daily necessities; everyday item
suitable; proper; appropriate; perfunctory; half-minded; sloppy
will not do; do not; does not
to cause trouble (for someone); to annoy; to bother; to inconvenience
to cause someone to worry
anyhow; anyway; somehow or other; apart from ...; setting ... aside