tear; tears; lachrymal secretion; sympathy
severe; harsh; stringent; rigorous; strict; unfair
to be noticeable; to notice; to catch one's eye
be considered; be deemed; be thought to be
protection; defense; providence; amulet; charm
possibly; apparently; (seem) likely; somehow or other; with difficulty; barely
one long straight object (e.g. strand of hair, beam of light, wisp of smoke); a single bloodline; earnest; resolute; (arch.) ordinary; (arch.) common
lover; sweetheart; mistress
(a) step; one step; level; stage; small degree; small amount
a step; short distance; short time
to step forward; to step forth; to advance; to start; to embark on; to set forth on
quite; entirely; completely; as if; as though; just like
fat; tallow; lard; grease
fat; tallow; lard; grease
advantage; benefit; profit; interest
embarrassing; embarrassed; ashamed; disgraceful; shameful
by choice; of one's own free will; on one's own initiative; off one's own bat
suffering; distress; hardship; trial
to master (e.g. a skill); to become accustomed to (e.g. a lifestyle); to acquire (e.g. a habit); to retain
action; behavior; behaviour; (arch.) recommendation (of a person for a position)
first (of all); firstly; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
pouring alcohol; person pouring alcohol (esp. a woman)
hearsay; learning by hearsay
towards; against; regarding; in contrast with
have to (verb); must (verb); is indispensable; absolutely necessary
luckily; blessedly; fortunately
approval; agreement; support; favour; favor
to muster (e.g. one's courage); to call forth; to rouse up; to be enlivened; to be invigorated
Japanese apricot (Prunus mume); Japanese plum; ume; lowest (of a three-tier ranking system)
to begin to bloom; to come out
outline; main points; generally; on the whole; general; rough
policy; course; plan (of action); magnetic needle