lately; recently; these days
to work too hard; to try too hard; to strain oneself; to overdo it; to go too far
to be absent; to take a day off; to rest; to have a break; to go to bed; to (lie down to) sleep
what; how; what (a) ...!; how ...!; surprisingly; to my amazement
futon; Japanese bedding consisting of a mattress and a duvet; round cushion used for Zen meditation (traditionally made of woven bulrush leaves)
(not) even once; (not) ever
to slip into; to crawl into (under); to conceal oneself (under); to sneak into; to infiltrate
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
narrow; confined; small; limited; narrow-minded; confining
gap; opening; spare moment; interval; unguarded moment; carelessness
comfortable (to live in); snug; cosy; cozy
to give up; to abandon (hope, plans); to resign oneself (to)
self-confidence; confidence (in oneself)
to have an ulterior motive; to have an axe to grind
disorder; chaos; confusion; mayhem
exceedingly; extremely; exceptionally; unexpectedly
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
turn; turn (melodic ornament); turn (in a game)
have to (do, be); must (do, be); is indispensable; is absolutely necessary
to hold between (e.g. one's fingers, chopsticks); to grip (from both sides); to put between; to sandwich between; to catch (e.g. a finger in a door); to trap; to insert (e.g. a break into proceedings)
abnormal; unusual; extraordinary; remarkable; uncommon
something to think about; one's thoughts; concern; thinking about something; being absorbed in one's thoughts
to be worried; to be troubled
truth; reality; sincerity; honesty; content; substance
obedient; meek; honest; frank; straight (e.g. hair); without peculiarity
to come off (of a button, handle, lid, etc.); to go away (of a fever, pain, swelling, etc.); to disappear; to be harvested; to be picked; to be interpreted (as); to be taken (as)
what's the best thing to do?; what to do?
denial; negation; negation; NOT operation
simple; easy; uncomplicated; brief; quick; light
criticizing; lambasting; pointing out faults; calling for a retake; ordering (someone) to redo something
to mix; to stir; to blend
to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to be tough on (e.g. one's body); to treat harshly
to make fun of; to look down on; to make light of
self-awareness; awareness (of one's position, abilities, duty, etc.); perceiving (something); taking in (a sensation); self-consciousness
what; so-and-so; such and such; what?; wait; well, well
stand-offish; distant; not frank; watery (alcohol, coffee, etc.)