foreign country; foreign land; strange land; far-off land
in fact; as a matter of fact; actually; in reality; to tell the truth
period of time (usu. a period of approx. two hours corresponding to one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac); carving; engraving; strictness; cruelty
entry into port; arriving in harbor
nonexistent; not being (there); not having; not
perhaps; probably; generous; many; much
song; singing; classical Japanese poem (esp. tanka); modern poetry
to make; to produce; to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol); to raise; to grow; to till
eh?; what?; yes; that's correct; (arch.) strengthens a question, assertion, etc.; (arch.) hey
definitely; absolutely; absolute; unconditional; absoluteness
smallish; on the small side; somewhat small; short swing of a bat, racquet, etc.
to aim at (for, to do, to become); to try for; to have an eye on; to go toward; to head for
ease of use; user-friendliness; usability; utility; convenience
never mind that; don't worry about that; listen up
whole year; all year round; always; all the time; during an era; middle class (of a nursery school, etc.)
fellow; guy; thing; object; he; she
lone wolf; loner; self-reliant person
dwelling; house; residence; living; life
to parry; to sidestep; to dodge
to search for; to look for; to hunt for; to search (a house, pocket, etc.); to search through; to rummage in (e.g. a drawer)
abdomen; belly; womb; one's mind; one's real intentions; courage; nerve
hateful; detestable; loathsome
to track down; to locate; to find out; to smoke out; to ferret out; to chase up
guarantee; security; assurance; pledge; warranty
to keep in mind; to memorize
to take measures; to work out a plan; to lecture; to read aloud; to confer
(unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario); (lit.) 10000 to 1; (if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that
preparation; provision; guarding
stockpile rice (kept by the government to use as emergency provisions); reserved rice
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
to get (someone's) help; to ask for help
famine; crop failure; chronic shortage (e.g. of water)
painful; bitter; tough; difficult; cruel; harsh
to fold one's arms; to stand and watch (without interfering); to stand idly by; to lie in wait; to be ready and waiting
right away; without delay; as soon as possible; very soon
making do; getting by (somehow); managing
racking one's brains; worrying oneself; being anxious
appointed day of delivery; time for payment
to approach; to draw near; to be imminent; to press (someone for something); to urge; to compel
from the place (where); from the fact that ...; caused by the fact that ...; because
to be ruined; to fail; to undergo a break-up; to go bankrupt
to want something desperately; to want something (so badly one can taste it)
to make clear; to clarify; to disclose; to make public
quick-wittedness; having tact; being sensible