contemplation; meditation
sentence; composition; text; the literary arts (as opposed to the military arts); academia; statement
being absorbed (in); immersion; sinking (into)
with trouble; at great pains; rare; valuable; kind; generous
to interrupt (with frivolous remarks, silly jokes, etc.); to butt in; to make teasing remarks
low Japanese-style desk (for reading and writing)
to run counter to; to go against; to disobey; to infringe
not a little; not a few; considerable
pornography; obscene book
extreme; extraordinary; rare; brilliant
good handwriting; skillful penmanship; speedy writing; vigorous writing
rate; ratio; comparatively; contrary to expectations
reading; reading (of a kanji, esp. kun reading); reading (e.g. of a situation); insight
knowledge (of a skill, art, etc.); proficiency; essentials; know-how; preparedness; readiness
your letter; excellent composition
(precious) letter; love letter
historical document; archives; old manuscript; pre-Meiji era document addressed to someone in particular
to dent; to indent; to depress; to humiliate
staring-out (down) game; game in which two children looking at each other try to make the opponents laugh first; constant looking at something (e.g. the computer screen, the clock)
break; pause; halt; (temporary) stop
feminine handwriting; woman's hand
to be nervous; to be sensitive; to worry; to be fussy; to be precise
impossible; incapable (of doing); incompetence; inability; impotence; having no solution (of an equation)
digestion (of food); digestion (of information); assimilation; consumption; absorption; (arch.) losing one's form and turning into something else
to be manageable; to be able to handle
document; writing; letter; document addressed to someone
deep knowledge; attainments; scholarship
molding; moulding; shaping; forming; modelling (i.e. plastic arts); modeling
going back to the beginning (in a discussion, argument, etc.); returning to the fundamental points (of the issue at hand); discussion of how things began (in the first place)
outside ...; beyond ...; not included in ...
cause for headaches; pain in the neck; source of worry
images drawn or painted on fusuma
to paste; to stick; to affix
foil; (gold, etc.) leaf; prestige
the past; old times; bygone times; days of yore
shade; tone; tinge; hue; colour; color
light and shade; shade (of colour, color); depth (of flavor); complexity; strength and weakness (of flavor)
astringency; tartness; austere elegance; elegant simplicity; subdued style
office workers; office staff; clerical staff
with a tap; with a knock; smoothly (proceed); without a hitch; even; equal