to stare (at); to gaze (at); to look hard (at); to watch intently; to fix one's eyes (on)
whether one likes it or not; inevitably; unavoidably; compulsorily; by force
to recall; to remember; to recollect
to match; to be a match for; to rival; to equal; to compare with
(time of) one's childhood; when one was a child
at every opportunity; for each and every thing that crops up; with every little thing; whenever possible; whenever the chance arises; at every turn
to compete with; to vie for
study; diligence; working hard; experience; knowledge; discount
which (of three or more); well; now; c'mon
to take; to pick up; to pass; to hand; to get; to obtain; to adopt (a method, proposal, etc.)
(a) step; one step; level; stage; small degree; small amount
to reach; to touch; to be delivered; to arrive; to be attentive; to be scrupulous
rival; competitor; competition
feeling; sense; impression
servile; subservient; obsequious; slavish; self-abasing; grovelling
elementary school student; primary school student; grade school student
upper grades of primary school (sixth, fifth, and sometimes fourth grades)
men and women; man and woman; both sexes; both genders
difference; variation; difference
simply put; putting it simply; in short
womanly; ladylike; feminine
obedient; meek; honest; frank; straight (e.g. hair); without peculiarity
to touch; to come in contact with; to receive (e.g. visitor); to attend to; to receive (news); to get; to encounter
estrangement; alienation; neglecting to stay in contact
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
year; counter for years (e.g. of an era), grades (e.g. school); period of an apprentice's contract (usu. ten years)
thing; matter; incident; occurrence; circumstances; situation; work
to visit; to call on; to arrive (of a season, situation, etc.); to come; to appear
at that time; in those days; at that moment; then
girl; daughter; baby girl; young woman
seeming ...; appearing ...; -ish; like a ...; typical of ...
same generation; one's generation
to compare; to make a comparison (between); to compete (on); to measure (one's strength, ability, etc. against another's)
plump; fleshy; well-rounded; pleasant (fragrance); rich
to be raised (e.g. child); to be brought up; to grow (up)
breasts; buttocks; (lit.) two hills
anyway; anyhow; setting aside ...; regardless of ...; really; truly
pretty; lovely; clean; clear; completely; entirely
the past; bygone days; one's past (that one would prefer remained secret); past (tense); preterit; previous life
to pass through; to pass by; to pass (of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to exceed
correspondence (to); equivalence; suitability; coordination; dealing with; coping with