witty and knowing; not to be underestimated; smooth operator
since when; from when; how long
association; socializing; socialising; fellowship
by any chance; (should) it happen (that); by some chance
touché; you've got me there
being together; going together; matching (clothing); going together
to be sensible; to be smart; to be tasteful; to be thoughtful; to be tactful; to be sensitive
kotatsu; table over an electric heater, with a hanging quilt to retain heat (orig. over a charcoal brazier in a floor well)
New Year (esp. first three days); first month of the year; January
year; age; years; past one's prime; old age
New Year's gift (usu. money given to a child by relatives and visitors)
receiving; getting; eating; drinking; please (give me; do for me)
easy; simple; simple (way of thinking, etc.); simple-minded; soft; lax
zero; 0; nought; nothing; zilch
to be sufficient; to be enough; to be worth doing; to be worthy of; to do (the job); to serve
fight; fighting spirit; fight!; do your best
staying at home during the New Year's holiday
soup containing rice cakes and vegetables (New Year's dish)
osechi; food eaten during the New Year's Holidays
time; labour; payment (for labour); pay; tedious job; troublesome job
on closer reflection; on second thought; come to think of it; actually
to swell (out); to expand; to be inflated; to get cross; to get sulky; to pout
(afternoon) nap; sleeping during the day; siesta
labor; labour; work; Labour Party
joy; delight; rapture; pleasure; gratification; rejoicing
putting that aside; that said; apart from that; anyway; be that as it may
first shrine visit of the New Year
miko; shrine maiden; young girl or woman (trad. an unmarried virgin) who assists priests at shrines; medium; sorceress; shamaness
escape from reality; escapism; ostrichism
to open (a door, etc.); to unwrap (e.g. parcel, package); to open (for business, etc.); to empty; to remove; to move out; to clear out
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
deterioration; getting worse; worsening; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
to line up; to stand in a line; to rival; to match; to equal
kimono; Japanese traditional clothing (esp. full-length); clothing; clothes
ordinary clothes (i.e. non-uniform); plain clothes; civilian clothes; plainclothes police officer
part; portion; amount; worth (as in "two days' worth"); one's means; one's place; one's duty
origin; source; basis; base; cause; (raw) material; ingredient
worldly desires; evil passions; appetites of the flesh; klesha (polluting thoughts such as greed, hatred and delusion, which result in suffering)
to be smeared; to be covered