half; 50%; tie; 5 parts; 5%
surplus; margin; leeway; composure; placidity; complacency
lateness; tardiness; arriving late
embarrassing; embarrassed; ashamed; disgraceful; shameful
to wake up; to rouse out of bed; to knock on the door and wake someone
useless; no future in it; doesn't make sense; having no point
to catch (someone's words); to make out; to follow; to ask about (a situation, circumstances, etc.); to inquire
that sort of; that kind of; like that; such; so
joy; delight; rapture; pleasure; gratification; rejoicing
how much; something over; and something; however (much); no matter how
physical contact (between friends, mother and child, etc.); physical intimacy
to re-think; to think back upon; to change one's mind
to approach; to draw near
paper patch; paper backing; poster; sticker; label
sidelong glance; short grain (paper)
immediately; at once; soon; before long; easily; readily
consultation on career, university, etc. choices
preface; introduction; preamble
one; 1; best; first; foremost; beginning; start
just a minute; small quantity
not mince matters; not mince one's words
type; kind; type (of person); (ideal) type; typewriter; typing
person with a lot of experience; old hand; veteran (in a particular field)
roundabout (e.g. expression); indirect (reference, criticism, etc.); oblique
more than most people; more than other people; compared with other people; more than others
clearly; plainly; distinctly; to be clear; to be definite; to be certain
to straighten up one's back (e.g. stand up straight, sit up straight); to hold one's head high
to change; to alter; to reform; to correct; to examine; to check
subject; theme; homework; assignment; task; challenge
national language; Japanese language (often as a school subject in Japan); native Japanese words (as opposed to loanwords)
too much; excessively; too
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
to give a warning; to remind (a person) of
smartly dressed; stylish; someone smartly dressed; to dress up; to be fashionable
to watch over; to watch attentively
daughter; girl (i.e. a young, unmarried woman)
clearly; plainly; distinctly; decisively; flatly; definitely
to spread; to extend; to unfold; to open; to scatter about; to spread around
school of one's (first, second) choice