dreary; bleak; monotonous; tasteless; unrefined
corridor; hallway; passageway
to slurp; to sip (loudly); to sniffle; to sniff
nth son; lang; official title in ancient China; (arch.) man; (arch.) young man; (arch.) my husband
single word; a few words; brief comment
interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for)
official name; formal name
female; woman; female sex; female lover; girlfriend; mistress
Oki (former province located on Oki Island in present-day Shimane Prefecture); Oki (island)
district; county; district (of 2-20 50-home neighbourhoods or townships, in the ritsuryo period)
anchorage; anchoring; mooring
place; spot; grounds; arena; stadium; range
construction; establishment
area of a piece of land; acreage
considerable; great; important; significant; a big deal
nonsense; no meaning; meaningless
returning alive; surviving; reaching the home plate
to fix (a time, date, etc.); to set; to expect; to hope for; to resolve (to do); to decide upon
suicidal act; self-destroying action; suicidal action
foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
to turn one's hand to; to reach out one's hand; to get involved in; to make a move on; to strike; to beat
body; torso; trunk; build; physique; health
sudden; abrupt; unexpected; unforeseen
live-in domestic service; live-in apprenticeship; public duty; public service
trial of strength; test of one's strength (stamina)
commander; general; leader
being extremely busy; being swamped with work
last position; previous job; predecessor
a long time ago; long before now
job; work; duties; trade; skill
tangent point; point of contact; contact (electrical, etc.); point of agreement; common ground
deputy head; deputy director; vice chief (of something); executive officer (navy)
no exception; without exception; always the same
abstaining from smoking; quitting smoking; No Smoking!; Smoking Prohibited!
habit; (social) custom; practice; convention
very; considerably; by no means; not readily; middle; half-way point