irresponsible; blithe; heedless; devil-may-care; sloppy; slipshod
bad example from which one can learn; good example of what not to do (esp. how not to behave); negative example
mother-in-law; foster mother; step mother
when; how soon; how long until
combination; arrangement; distribution; (arch.) marrying off
quickly adaptable; pro-active
long ago; a long time ago; already
father-in-law; foster father; stepfather
treating someone like a child
westering sun; setting sun; afternoon sun
one or two; a few; small number
minute; detailed; careful; scrupulous; thorough
to meddle (in someone's affairs); to poke one's nose into; to interfere; to make a pass (at someone); to hit on
taking one's children along (to an event, into a new marriage, etc.); parent with child
one in a million (chance, etc.); one in ten thousand; in the unlikely event that
to be away from home; to be out of the house
mismatched; odd; irregular; inconsistent; incoherent; confused
attachment; adhesion; insistence; tenacity; fixation; obsession
all; altogether; entirely; exactly alike (e.g. in appearance); spitting image of; identical
to be given the cold shoulder; to be jilted; to be rejected; to be dumped
traditional Japanese engagement ceremony involving ritual gift exchange between families; ceremonial engagement gifts
disastrous scene; terrible spectacle
the New Year begins; the New Year starts; to end (e.g. apprenticeship, service)
present (brought by a visitor); gift
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
sitting together in a circle; happy circle; harmony
jealousy; yakimochi (roasted rice cake)
great person; great figure; person of great character
to give the stamp of approval
to compete; to bid; to sell at auction
legal; lawful; legitimate
mental condition; state of mind; mentality
putting (a named suspect) on the wanted list
romance (e.g. Arthurian romances); heroic tale; (nigh) impossible dream; adventurous spirit; (full-length) novel; romance
anchorage (area); moorage; roadstead
famous scene (in a movie or play)