negative (result); gloomy; negative (e.g. attitude); pessimistic
lapis lazuli blue; bright blue; azure
sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages; ritual exchange of cups (to seal a bond or pledge)
groundwater; underground water
(being) face to face; facing each other
to peep (through); to peek; to await (one's chance); to guess; to infer
last night; yesterday evening
grand; magnificent; lavish; forceful; powerful; vigorous
recall (esp. of an envoy or an ambassador); calling someone back; summons (home)
customary; conventional; usual
talk; dialogue; conversation
you can never be too careful; you can't be too cautious; better safe than sorry
unexpectedly; surprisingly
to start the debate; to get the ball rolling; to fire the first shot; to start a conversation
to show appreciation for (efforts, esp. by someone of equal or lower status); to thank for; to reward for
to be contrary (to); to go against; to infringe; to violate; to disobey (an order, teachings, etc.); to defy
naughty; mischievous; unruly
weakening; emaciation; decline
to lead; to take the lead (in doing something); to precede; to go before; to die before (esp. one's spouse, parents, etc.); to be a prerequisite
homeland; motherland; fatherland; native country
all people; the whole nation
to make (somewhere) one's final home; to make (a place) one's final resting place; to do (something) for the rest of one's life; to devote (the rest of) one's life to (something)
to come; to go; to participate; to perform Zen meditation
clapper; noisemaker; bird rattle; naruko; wooden clapper (held in both hands and shaken)
watchdog; chaperone; watcher
sense of duty; sense of purpose; vocation
soft; tender; gentle; mild; light (topic, book, etc.); informal
return to one's country; return to one's hometown
to worry; to fret; to get anxious
reason; cause; history; origin
any bird of family Motacillidae (excluding the pipits); wagtail; longclaw
unbecoming; unsuitable; disgraceful; wrong for one's age; unworthy of one's years; thoughtless for one's age
notice of personnel change (appointment, dismissal, etc.); wording; choice of language; phraseology
(waiting) impatiently; (spending) many a weary day; each moment seeming like an eternity
appetizer; later date; post-dating (e.g. a letter or cheque)
hors d'oeuvre; appetizer; appetiser; starter
(another's) spirit; God's heart or spirit; Lord's will