preparations; preliminary arrangements; spade work; mise en place; groundwork
personal history; background; career
to stop talking; to break off; to pause
new rice; first rice crop of the year; novice; beginner; newcomer
aid; help; assistance; assistant; counselor; counsellor
change of schedule; schedule change
half; 50%; 5 parts; 5%; equality; equal footing
with a click; with a snap; ornamental clip (hair, obi, etc.)
faithful; devoted; loyal; honest; true
reappearance; reemergence; return; reproduction; reenactment; recreation
to use up all one's strength; to die
meandering; snaking; zigzagging
light and darkness; light and shade
to be exhausted; to be worn out
in one's own way or style
each time; every time; whenever (something happens); on the occasion of
impertinent; saucy; cheeky; impudent; audacious; cocky
completely exhausted; dog-tired; dreadfully weary; terribly frustrated; limp; weak
always having a comeback; fast-talking
to stick (into); to pierce; to enter at full speed; to hit (e.g. the catcher's mitt) at speed
that sort of; that kind of; like that; such; so
(unpleasant) state of affairs; predicament; mess
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am
running; gliding; first (harvest) of the season; beginning; start; kitchen sink
light (of movements); nimble; light-hearted; cheerful; taking a turn for the better (of an illness); receding of symptoms
to run into (room, building, etc.); to go for long training runs
to chide; to rebuke; to reprove
pitcher; water jug; watering can; container of fresh water for replenishing the kettle and rinsing bowls (tea ceremony)
hierarchical relationship; superior-subordinate relationship; senior-junior relationship
to teach thoroughly; to instill (into); to instil; to inculcate; to drum (into); to drill (into)
unable to speak; inarticulate; mute; speechless; tongue-tied
what's the matter?; what's wrong?; what happened (to) ...?; what have you done (with) ...?; where is ...?
vacantly; blankly; openmouthed; with one's mouth wide-open; with a whack; with a thump
semicircle; hemicycle; half globe; to go halfway round (e.g. the earth)
head (of a household, etc.); leader; owner; proprietor; subject (of a rumour, etc.); doer (of a deed); guardian spirit (e.g. long-resident beast, usu. with mystical powers)
to go pale; to grow pale; to lose color; to turn white
drumming (noise); beating; rapidly; quickly; continuously; one after the other
lower reaches (of a river); bottom; lower part; lower half (of the body, esp. the privates); feces (faeces); end
cloth to wipe the sweat off
course; route; course (of study); program; lane (in running, swimming, etc.); course (of action); policy
going the wrong way; traveling in the opposite direction; going against the wind; running in reverse (of a motor, engine, etc.)
brisk and efficient; diligent; devoted; spirited
clearly (standing out); distinctly; sharply; boldly; in sharp relief