preface; introduction; preamble
meaningfully (smiling, grinning, etc.); suggestively; broadly; sneeringly
sensitive; alert; aware; susceptible
withering; shrivelling; shrinking; contraction; atrophy
first-person plural (or singular); second or third person plural (implies speaker is of higher status than those referred to)
front and rear; front and back; before and after; around; about; order; context
mistake; error; accident; mishap; improper conduct (e.g. between man and woman); indiscretion
so what!; who gives a damn?
carefree; relaxed; comfortable; at one's ease
muzzling (someone); gagging; forcing (someone) to keep quiet (about something); silencing (someone); killing (someone) to prevent them from revealing something
implication; nuance; shade of meaning; connotation
unconfirmed; indeterminate; undetermined; uncertain; undecided; unsettled
pair; the two; both persons; both things
difference; variation; difference
not insignificant; not to be sneezed at
fondly; admiringly; with fascination; with adoration; with enchantment
to beg forgiveness; to ask for someone's pardon; to ask for permission
clearly; plainly; distinctly; to be clear; to be definite; to be certain
no matter how you look at it; no matter how you slice it; clearly; obviously; surely; without a doubt
inside of a store (restaurant, café, etc.); store interior; on the premises
to gape; to open one's mouth wide
to let out a cry; to break forth
establishment; creation; posing (a problem); options setting; preference settings; configuration
pile; heap; counter for things that are stacked, piled up (or layered, etc.); layers of clothing worn under one's overcoat; combination of colors created by layering of garments (colours)
accomplice; conspirator; cohort
to glare at; to scowl at; to glower at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
impatience; irritation; frustration; fretfulness
fear; dread; dismay; terror; horror; scare
transforming oneself; taking on another form; disguising oneself; artificial fly (for fishing)
we are of equal status in this regard; we are in the same boat; the same to you; the feeling is mutual
to torment; to harass; to tease; to extort; to shake down; to demand money
unfortunately; sorry, but ...
short sword; dagger; stiletto; hour hand (of a clock)
throat; important part; vital area
crime; criminal act; offence; offense
crisis; critical situation; emergency; pinch
earth; ground; place; territory; bottom (of a package, book, etc.); earth (one of the five elements)
prison gate; decapitation (of a criminal) and exposure of the head to public view (Edo-period punishment)