lately; recently; nowadays
position; job; employment; opening
hospital; infirmary; ward
cleaning; sweeping; dusting; scrubbing
to soak into; to permeate; to penetrate
kind; sort; type; similar example; parallel; the like
dirt; filth; stain; blot; spot
affliction; hardship; difficulty; suffering; trouble
patience; perseverance; persistence; tenacity; energy
to finish washing; to wash well; to investigate thoroughly
national character; regional character
housewife; mistress (of the house); homemaker
all; wholly; entirely; completely; without exception
to dump (e.g. onto the floor); to empty by overturning; to throw out (contents); to tell everything; to reveal everything; to open one's heart
delightful; satisfying; gratifying; brisk; piquant
talk; recital; narration; topic
to use abusive language; to curse; to call someone names
quite indifferent; looking blank; looking as though one has nothing at all to do with what is going on
comfortable; easy; calm; loose; spacious
member; participant; attendee; lineup (sport)
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while travelling; present brought by a visitor; something unpleasant that one is given (e.g. an illness while on vacation); unwelcome gift
preface; introduction; preamble
actually; really; truly; in practice; practically
envious; jealous; enviable (position, etc.)
even if not; even without
above anything else; above all; more than anything; best; greatest; excellent
trouble; hardship; difficulty; anxiety; worry; concern
labor; labour; toil; trouble; pains; work
grandfather; old man; kyogen mask used for the role of an old man
letter (of alphabet); character; writing
study; pursuit of knowledge
yearning; longing; aspiration; adoration; admiration
(much) more than others; exceedingly; extremely; unusually
reciting (to oneself); repeating (e.g. an order, to confirm one heard it correctly)
holiness; sacredness; sanctity; dignity
to concentrate; to devote; to apply; to strain; to rack
living in rented quarters; rented house