Japanese apricot (Prunus mume); Japanese plum; ume; lowest (of a three-tier ranking system)
to loosen; to slacken; to relax (attention, efforts, etc.); to let down (one's guard); to relax (a rule); to ease (e.g. restrictions)
to all appearances; no matter how you look at it
positive (e.g. thinking); positive; positive (pole); anode
envious; jealous; enviable (position, etc.)
hard-liners; diehards; (young) man with traditionally masculine interests; tough boy; hard news; reporter who covers political and economic affairs
complex; complicated; intricate; mixed (feelings)
bag; satchel; briefcase; basket
to throw down; to throw out; to abandon; to resign; to give freely; to give generously
side (of something, or taking someone's side); part; (watch) case
passage; pathway; roadway; avenue; aisle
metal sake jug; sake warmer
to taper to a point; to become pointed; to be on edge; to be nervous; to be sharp (of a voice, words, etc.); to be harsh
to lift (with a crane, ropes, etc.); to raise; to hoist; to manipulate (a price) upward; to (artificially) raise; to push up
to finger; to touch; to make changes to; to tinker with; to dabble in; to do as a hobby
touch; touching; being involved in; touch (of a painter, pianist, etc.); style (of writing, drawing, etc.); tag
under (guidance, supervision, rules, the law, etc.); under (a flag, the sun, etc.); beneath; with (e.g. one blow); on (the promise, condition, assumption, etc. that ...); (someone's) side
to brighten; to grow light
brown; light brown; tawny
(not) at all; (not) in the least; (none) whatsoever
to spill over and fall; to scatter (petals, leaves, etc.)
gloomy (e.g. mood); depressing; irritating; troublesome; heavy (weather); cloudy
in the meanwhile; during the time
to stop; to turn off; to park; to prevent; to suppress (a cough); to stop (someone from doing something); to dissuade
originally; from the start; from the beginning; none the worse (for); (coming out) even; in the same position (as before)
slanted eyes; upturned eyes; eyes that are turned up at the outer corners
stiff and slackless; tense without any looseness; cling tightly; pulled or stretched as far as possible; creaking of a door or oar
look (esp. an angry or upset look); expression
screen (of a TV, computer, etc.); image (on a screen); picture; surface of a painting (picture, drawing, etc.)
apathetic; indifferent; nonchalant; callous
to take an attitude; to take a stance; to commit oneself; to assume a position
in that case; (might not be what was expected or hoped for but) if that's the case
interesting; fascinating; amusing; funny; enjoyable; fun
far from; anything but; not at all ... but rather ...; let alone; to say nothing of; not to mention
calm; composed; cool; quiet
rare; uncommon; new; novel; fine; nice
impudent; brazen; shameless; bold
(facial) expression (esp. fierce, fearless, sinister, etc.); look
appropriate; adequate; suitable; fitting; worthy
owner; proprietor; possessor (e.g. of talent, beauty, etc.)
possibly; by some possibility; perhaps
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
to become known; to come to light; to be known; to be understood; to clearly not amount to much; to be insignificant