hearsay; rumor; grapevine
discouraged; dispirited; despondent
to take into account; to bear in mind; to consider; to learn from; to take as a lesson
after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years
reluctant to; not inclined to; disinclined; unwilling
serving tea (esp. at a company); tea server; tea lady
duplicate key; master key; passkey; skeleton key
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
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
skill; ability; dexterity; performance; workmanship; craftsmanship
to watch to the end; to ascertain; to determine; to know thoroughly; to obtain a deep understanding of
cutter; cutting tool; box cutter; utility knife; (tailor's) cutter; cutter (boat)
to be caught in; to be stuck in; to stop by; to drop in for a short visit; to get mixed up in (trouble); to get entangled in (a problem); to fall for (a trick)
groundless fear; thinking too much; making too much of
somehow; how; in what way; why; what kind of
it's no big deal; it's no problem; it's nothing to worry about; safe (and sound); all right
to mend; to patch up; to fix (hair, clothes, appearance, etc.); to adjust; to keep up appearances; to cover up (e.g. a mistake)
to be softened; to calm down
to be bound (by feelings); to be fettered (by); to be overcome (by); to be moved (by); to be touched (by)
to mediate; to intervene; to smooth
next-door neighbors; (living, sitting) next to each other
first thing after rising; as soon as getting up
course (of a road, moving object, etc.); way; course (of events, action, etc.); direction (e.g. an argument is heading in); reasoning; logic
battle formation; camp; encampment; group; gang; war
fiscal year (usu. April 1 to March 31 in Japan); financial year; academic year; school year; product year
consequently; as a result
half and half; fifty-fifty
fragment; splinter; wane (of the Moon)
benefit; use; good; profit; gains
to put on (lower-body clothing, e.g. pants, skirt, footwear); to wear; to affix (a sword to one's hip); (arch.) to affix (a bowstring to a bow)
feature (e.g. newspaper); special edition; report
ryokan; traditional Japanese inn
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
lodging; inn; house; home; home of a servant's parents (or guarantor, etc.)
to prosper; to flourish; to thrive
sign; indication; omen; symptom