renovation (e.g. a house); redecoration; makeover; updating
being about to cry; the verge of tears
stealthy steps; spurt to overtake a leading horse just before the finish line
stimulus; impetus; incentive; encouragement; motivation; provocation
selfish; self-centred; egotistical
to sit cross-legged; to rest on one's laurels
shivering; feeling chilly; shuddering (with fear); feeling creepy; thrilled; excited
rustic; country bumpkin; ruffian; unrefined person; non-politician; non-government person
trouble; troubles; worry; distress; sorrows; anguish
here and there; all around; everywhere; to get things in the wrong order (back to front); to become muddled up
from here; from this place
narrow-minded; intolerant; petty
calculation; computation; bill; check; consideration; allowance
money monger; money-happy person; person who is money-mad; money-grubber
one sen; one-hundredth of a yen; small amount of money
field of vision; view; one's outlook (e.g. on life); one's horizons
carefree; buoyant; lighthearted; ease
even if; even though; however; no matter how
raising (a question); bringing up (a problem); instituting (a lawsuit); (arch.) lifting up
clear insight; resignation (to one's fate); acceptance
production (e.g. play); direction
taste (in fashion, music, etc.); sense (e.g. of humour); flair
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair
brittle; fragile; weak; tender-hearted; sentimental; easily moved
to unravel; to untie; to break into small pieces (of fish, meat, etc.); to relax; to ease
forcefulness of speech; influential voice
camp (supporters of a doctrine, party, etc.); faction (of a party); military camp; encampment; cantonment
change of heart; change of mind; change in love interest
if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle
to get hold of; to take possession of; to seize
to triumph; to be elated with success
shellfish removed from the shell; shucked shellfish
kneeling down on the ground; prostrate oneself
to show contempt for; to look down upon; to have a low opinion of; to cause to fall; to make decline
sounds good; sure thing; no problem
to ask; to enquire; to query
vote of censure; vote of no confidence
to have a cramp; to twitch; to stiffen (of a face, expression); to freeze; to shrink (of skin, due to a scar); to tauten