thirst; craving; thirst (for love, knowledge, etc.); hunger
as if ...; as if to say ...; as though ...
to sink (into); to get depressed
point in question (at issue)
deviation; departure; (accidental) omission
speech; address; curtain speech; prologue; way of speaking; manner of speech
some; few; a number of; somewhat; to a certain extent; a bit
self-examination; reflection
to show signs of ...; to have the appearance of ...
look; appearance; spectacle; sight; observation meditation; outlook on ...
dimension; perspective; point of reference; level (of something)
to continue to hold; to hold on to (for a long period); to maintain; to keep
setting the table; laying the table; setting up; getting one's ducks in a row; running interference
environment; surroundings; circumstances
legless chair (used in a room with tatami flooring)
to rest; to suspend; to give relief
to take up one's chopsticks (to begin a meal); to start to eat; to eat
cooking; cookery; cuisine; dealing with (skillfully); handling (well); managing
starting; inauguration; launch; founding; establishment; start-up
knowing; being aware (of); (an) acquaintance
not long has passed since ...
admission (to a society, club, etc.); joining; entrance; enrollment; enrolment; becoming a member
Osaka-Kobe; Hanshin (company name: railway, dept. store, baseball team, etc.)
host (of a party, summit, etc.); host (of male host club)
curtain; act (in a play); falling of the curtain; end (of a scene); end; close; case
as you are aware; as you know
underwater; behind closed doors; behind the scenes; below the surface
to suit; to match; to become; to be like
establishment; settlement
people (of a country); nation; citizen; Democratic Party for the People
to get; to secure; to learn; to master; to complete
this country; our country
event; affair; incident; case; plot; trouble
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
purification ceremony (performed with water); ritual purification; ablutions
public opinion; popular voice; public sentiment; consensus
to mind (negative nuance); to care about; to worry; to pay undue (amount of) attention to (something)
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
to be cut out for (e.g. a job); to be suited (to)
iridescent colour; equivocal (reply, statement, etc.); ambiguous; vague
approval; license; licence; permission
locked up feeling; cooped up feeling; feeling of entrapment; feeling of hopelessness; being in a bind
to squeeze; to wring out; to narrow down; to refine
yes; yea; aye; (arch.) to be so
to be started; to get underway