collecting; accumulating; gathering; collection (of art, stamps, insects, etc.)
earth science; geoscience
world-class; (of) high global reputation
southern country; southern provinces; southern lands
flowers; beautiful; spectacular
here and there; in twos and threes; sporadically; now and then; from time to time; occasionally
parasol (esp. one carried in the hand); sunshade
intellectual curiosity; out of curiosity; inquisitiveness
goods on display; (an) exhibit; exhibition (of goods)
old friend; familiar face
to grow thickly; to be in full leaf; to be rampant; to luxuriate; to be luxurious
(a) Buddha; deceased person
futon (laid on the floor); (Japanese) mattress; underquilt; sleeping mat
generous; soft-hearted; having a good personality
development; growth; progress; development; expansion (of a typhoon, low-pressure area, etc.); developmental disability
feel uncomfortable; ill at ease; not feel at home
adds light emphasis or insistence to a statement; gives a statement a threatening or condescending tone
manner of speaking; mode of expression; way of saying something; at the same time as speaking; as one speaks
to sew; to stitch; to weave one's way (e.g. through a crowd)
close; intimate; on good terms
soft and lacking firmness; weak; weak-willed; spineless; weak (market); bearish
to establish a lead; to distinguish (between); to ascertain or tell the difference (between); to discriminate
if only there were ...; if (it) actually existed; there's not even ...; completely lacking ...
to stamp one's feet (in frustration, impatience, etc.)
competition; rivalry; feeling that something is worth the effort; motivation; enthusiasm
involuntarily; reluctantly; against one's inclination; against one's will; as a matter of unpleasant necessity; despite oneself
palm tree (any tree of family Arecaceae)
cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior); baran; green plastic garnish (orig. made from leaves) used in lunch boxes, with sushi, etc.
to reflect; to throw back light
wrong (guess or estimate); misdirected; irrelevant; off the point
to be caught; to be arrested; to hold on to; to grasp; to find (e.g. proof); to get (e.g. a taxi)
common front; united front
to place persons opposite; to come face to face with; to compare (with); to check (against); to match
in order; in turn; one by one
romance (e.g. Arthurian romances); heroic tale; (nigh) impossible dream; adventurous spirit; (full-length) novel; romance