internal conditions; true state of affairs
source of information; intelligence source; message source
around there; near there; or thereabouts; or so; such a matter; such a thing
paying one's own expenses; going into business for oneself; working independently; person who earns their own living
a few minutes later; after a few minutes
desktop; desk-top; tabletop; after-dinner speech
avoiding the summer heat; beating the summer heat
plastic bottle (made of polyethylene terephthalate); PET bottle
rucksack; knapsack; backpack
edible chrysanthemum (Glebionis coronaria); crown daisy; garland chrysanthemum
konnyaku cut into fine threads; konjac noodles
chopping board; cutting board; flat chest; tiny breasts
individual plate; single individual's small dish on which food taken from shared serving dishes is placed
cooking stove; burner (gas, electric, etc.); range; cooktop; hob
feeling of relief (for the time being); peace of mind (for now)
what date?; what's the date?; when?
December; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
in turns; in series; in order; by rotation
unusual; unwonted; uncharacteristic
kombu (usu. Saccharina japonica); konbu; kelp; any edible species from the family Laminariaceae
boiling; seething; becoming heated (e.g. of a debate); excitement; soaring (of prices); shooting up
rice porridge made by simmering cooked rice in a seasoned broth, often containing vegetables, fish, etc. (usu. made from leftovers)
whenever necessary; as needed; as required; at any time; at all times
8th in rank; eighth sign of the Chinese calendar
sukiyaki; thin slices of beef, cooked with various vegetables in a table-top cast-iron pan
dislike of very hot food or drink; inability to take hot food; (lit.) cat tongue
juice; sap; soup; broth; (dipping) sauce
blowing repeatedly (e.g. to cool something down); huffing and puffing; puffing and panting; struggling (with work, studies, etc.); having difficulty
consultation on career, university, etc. choices
single; simple; singles (tennis, badminton, etc.); win bet (bet which predicts the winner of a race)
to partition; to divide; to direct; to manage; to settle accounts; to assume a crouching posture (at the start of a bout)
the point of ...; the place where ...; a place called ...; places known as ...; I would say ...; ... is how I'd put it
sea level; (surface of) sea