head; chief; merit; strong point; superiority; major
to be temperate in; to refrain; to make notes; to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for; to be in waiting for
stiff (atmosphere, manner, etc.); cold; unfriendly; thin and bony; scrawny
mother; mom; wife; you (of an elderly person older than the speaker); she
one (esp. of two); the other; on the one hand; on the other hand; whereas; although
to come together; to merge; to fit; to match; to be profitable; to be equitable
to begin to say; to start talking; to broach (a matter); to be the first to say; to suggest (doing); to propose
to decide to; to pretend that; to make a practice of doing; to make it a rule to
major company; big company; front castle gate; force attacking the front of a castle
to gain fame; to make one's name
just before; just prior to; right in front of; just in front of
enrolling at a cram school
procedure; process; proceedings; formalities
putting money aside; savings; deposit (e.g. in a bank); accumulated surplus of wins; wins in the bank
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
prefectural; managed by a prefectural government
double; twice (as much); times (as much); -fold; 1-nth; 1 to n
another helping; second helping; seconds; other paw!
sake cup; cup for alcoholic beverages; counter for cupfuls, bowlfuls, spoonfuls, etc.; counter for boats; counter for octopuses and squid; cup
rice bowl; tea cup; teacup
what one has a mind to do; what one feels like (doing); being so minded; (with) that in mind
stepping (in place); stamping (up and down); stomping; standstill; stalemate
stealthily; secretly; in secret
to peek (through a keyhole, gap, etc.); to look down into (a ravine, etc.); to peek into (a shop, bookstore, etc.); to sneak a look at; to take a quick look at; to peep (through a telescope, microscope, etc.); to stick out (a scarf from a collar, etc.)
to sit at a desk (to study); to be at one's desk; to set to work on revision, homework, etc.
concentration (on a task); focusing one's attention; concentration (of population, buildings, power, etc.); centralization; within a collection of works
to hold one's breath; to bate one's breath
machine; mechanism; instrument; appliance; apparatus
nervous; highly strung; sensitive; fussy; worried about petty things
to pressure; to put pressure (on); to press
neurosis; nervous breakdown; mental problem; identity crisis; obsession
consent; agreement; acceptance; understanding; satisfaction (e.g. with an explanation); being convinced
denial; negation; negation; NOT operation
besides; in addition; also; moreover
doubt; suspicion; misgivings; scruples
intuition; instinct; hunch
to become better; to improve
classmate; friend in the same class
more than anything; above all else
in any case; at any rate; anyhow; anyway; as you know; for you see