to be annoyed (by); to be offended (at); to be irritated (with)
long time; long interval; for quite some time
general; popular; common; typical
to blur; to shade off; to gradate; to obscure; to make ambiguous
it is ... that ...; precisely; although; while; it is precisely because ... that ...; only because ...
by all means; at any cost; whether (one is) willing or not; willingly or unwillingly; on no account; by no means
to be suspicious of (someone's motives); to suspect (that)
manner of speaking; verbal argument; objection; protesting a decision (esp. that of a sumo referee); rumor; rumour
to follow around; to shadow; to tag along; to haunt one (e.g. feeling, failure); to follow one
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
incomprehensible; nonsensical; puzzling; I don't get it; I'm confused; I'm lost
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
vacantly; blankly; openmouthed; with one's mouth wide-open; with a whack; with a thump
to measure; to weigh; to survey; to conjecture; to infer; to surmise
plot; scheme; trick; design; intrigue; artifice
to deem acceptable; to approve of; to value; to consider a good thing
moreover; furthermore; nevertheless; and yet
to be visible; to be clear; to be evident; to be certain
mixed with; mingled with; interspersed with; dashed with; sprinkled with
two-digit number; "tens" column; two digits; double figures
regrettable; unfortunate; disappointing; vexing
to close one's eyes partly; to squint; to smile with one's whole face; to smile sweetly (at); to look fondly (at)
hazy; dim; faint; minced fish or meat that is seasoned and fried
easy; simple; there's no way that ...
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
what kind of; what sort of; what
equality (esp. of status); equal footing; equal terms
breaking a commandment (usually religious); offense against the Buddhist commandments (offence)
pudding (esp. custard); black hair dyed blond but where the roots have again turned black
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)
double suicide; lovers' suicide; group suicide; family suicide; dedication to the point of self-sacrifice
cheap; inexpensive; calm; peaceful; quiet
besides; in addition; also; moreover
explanation (e.g. for one's actions); excuse; justification; defense; defence
love at first sight; being taken with someone at the first meeting
sound (of a sentence); euphony; wordplay; play on words; pun
feeling refreshed; feeling relieved; neat; tidy; frank; open-hearted; completely
large amount of money; great cost
to pile up; to stack; to load (car, ship, etc.); to pack; to acquire; to accumulate
every second month; every other month
to paint a picture; to draw a picture
and; thereupon; because of that
painter; artist; drawing pictures; doodling; painting