nagging; critical; talkative; gossipy
watchdog; chaperone; watcher
monitoring; watching; observation; surveillance; guarding; supervision
at last; finally; barely; narrowly; just
life story; personal narrative; story of one's life
details (of an incident, event, etc.); whole story; course of events; facts; circumstances; particulars
pillow; bolster; introduction (e.g. to a rakugo story); lead-in
to flutter down (of leaves, petals, etc.); to fall as if dancing
to compare (something) to; to liken; to speak figuratively; to use a simile; to use a metaphor
to tell; to inform; to announce; to indicate; to signal; to mark
to calm down; to compose oneself; to calm down; to settle down; to settle down (in a location, job, etc.); to settle in; to be settled (of an arrangement, conclusion, etc.)
to read and understand; to take in; to sense from external cues; to read (someone's) mind; to read (calibration, tape, etc.); to scan (bar code)
to feel relieved of one's burden; to have a weight removed from one's mind
simple; artless; naive; unsophisticated
placid; composed; serene; big-hearted; broad-minded; magnanimous
distinction; differentiation; discrimination; discrimination (against people)
if; in case; supposing; worst (case); unexpected (occurence); unforeseen
on good terms (with); on friendly terms (with); (getting along) well; in harmony; happily; peacefully
to desire; to wish; to beg; to request; to have something done for oneself
alone; by oneself; on one's own
immediately; at once; soon; before long; easily; readily
near; neighbourhood; nearly (e.g. "it took nearly one year"); close to; shortly; soon
family restaurant (i.e. a restaurant with varied and inexpensive menu options); casual dining restaurant
meal (e.g. lunch, dinner); diet
to conclude; to decide; to determine; to judge
flat; even; level; plain (language, words, etc.); simple
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
one way or another; in many ways; in various ways
good humour (humor); good mood
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
management; dealing with; course of events; circumstances; end result (usu. bad); outcome
why; how come; unfortunately; alas
invitation; introduction; temptation
polite; courteous; hospitable; careful; handled with great care; treated with attention
and; moreover; besides; as well as; and on top of that; at the same time
declining; refusal; rejection; announcement; notice
eating quickly; speed-eating
giving and taking; exchange (of letters); arguing back and forth; (conversational) exchange
confluence (of rivers); flowing together; joining; joining (of people, groups, parties, etc.); union; linking up
great success; roaring business; busy; packed-out
grown-up (manner, etc.); mature; adult