imitation; copy; make-believe; doing something in a way that only superficially resembles the real thing
results; record; grades; marks
to fall; to drop; to set (of the sun or moon); to sink; to decrease (of popularity, quality, speed, sales, etc.); to fall; to be inferior (to)
to take out; to produce; to pick out; to fetch; to retrieve
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
travel; trip; journey; excursion; tour
rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
to drop in; to go see (someone); to come to hang out
to be accepted by a university
I'm off (and will be back later); see you later; to go (and then come back)
buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum); soba; Japanese buckwheat noodles; Chinese-style wheat noodles
family a woman has married into
carefree; buoyant; lighthearted; ease
having a high threshold (for entry); difficult to approach; feeling awkward to go to (of someone's home)
blood; blood; ancestry; (the) blood; feelings
plot of land; lot; soil; locality; region; place
mental fatigue; worry; boredom
to recommend (someone to do); to advise; to recommend (a book, someone for a position, etc.); to suggest; to offer (a drink, cigarette, seat, etc.)
thereupon; shortly thereafter
to go on a trip; to go out to play; to go and visit (a friend)
saving (e.g. time, money, resources); economising; economizing
year; age; years; past one's prime; old age
stoic; stoical; self-disciplined; abstemious; Stoic (philosopher)
poor; pitiful; piteous; pitiable
to lead; to take the initiative; to take precedence (e.g. sadness taking precedence over anger); to be most essential
waste (of money, time, etc.); squandering; frittering away
selfish; egoist; (arch.) self-indulgent; (arch.) wilful; (arch.) willful
style; way; shape; dress; attire; clothing
on closer reflection; on second thought; come to think of it; actually
underground; below the ground; world of the dead; the grave; underground (activities, movement, etc.); secret
labyrinth; maze; mystery; dungeon
capture (of enemy territory); taking (by storm); defeating (an opponent); attacking (a problem) strategically; strategy; tactics
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow (i.e. bending of the body); bowing; reward
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
to blink (one's eyes) repeatedly