sharp; harsh; stinging; thorny; snappy
warm; mild; (pleasantly) hot; considerate; kind; genial
life story; personal narrative; story of one's life
family structure; family composition; family makeup
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
to let (someone) hear; to tell (e.g. a story); to make (someone) listen; to make (someone) understand; to grip (someone) with skilful singing, storytelling, etc.; to hold (someone) enchanted by
day after day; day in and day out; every single day
state of things; state of affairs; condition; situation; circumstances
to have a talk; to tell a story
first-person plural (or singular); second or third person plural (implies speaker is of higher status than those referred to)
leadership; initiative; spearhead
passage (of time); elapsing; progress; development; transit
to die; to lay down life's burden
union; alliance; combination; RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
row of houses; every house; each house; all; totally
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into
to infuriate one's superior; to incur the anger of one's boss; to bring (a superior's) wrath down upon one; to incur the Imperial wrath; to offend the Emperor
to stop; to abort; to discontinue; to close
however; having said that; but
one end; an end; part; fragment
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
expressly; especially; taking the trouble (to do); intentionally; deliberately
to dress (oneself in); to attire oneself in; to adorn; to pretend; to feign; to affect
detestable; despicable; abhorrent
negative emotions; negative feelings
to become muddy; to become cloudy; to become dull (of a sound, color, etc.); to become hoarse; to become impure (of a heart, society, etc.); to be corrupted
anyhow; in any case; at any rate; at best; at most
et cetera; etc.; and the like; and so forth
consideration; thoughtfulness; sympathy; compassion; feeling; kindness
to trample underfoot; to tread on; to crush with a foot
sludge; slime; dregs; hopeless situation; hell; despair
to accomplish; to finish; to carry through; to follow through
to put to use; to make use of; to turn to account
moment by moment; hour by hour
eyes sparkling; with shining eyes; for one's eyes to gleam