no matter what; whatever you say; in the end
to sigh; to breathe a sigh
pitch-dark; pitch-black; completely dark; very bleak (future); utterly hopeless
safe; secure; certainly; surely; no thanks; I'm good
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
arranged; taken care of; settled; completed; finished
absurdity; contradiction; incoherence; irrelevance
to pity; to feel sympathy for; to sympathize with; to enjoy the beauty of; to appreciate; to admire
distinction; differentiation; discrimination; difference
reflection (of light); reflection (of society, attitudes, etc.); application (of an update, changes, etc.); taking effect
calmness; composure; coolness; serenity; presence of mind
far away; far off; far; long ago; long before
by far; by a long way; much; a few levels; several grades
aesthetic sense; sense of beauty; eye for the beautiful
to become serious; to take something seriously (e.g. a joke, teasing); to become irritated or angry (esp. at something trivial); to get worked up
unpleasant; awkward; embarrassing; uneasy
tendency; trend; inclination
overserious; deeply sincere; very earnest
elder brother; big brother; one's senior; one's elder; old ingredients; stale ingredients
fan; enthusiast; lover (of); (electric) fan
poor (at); weak (in); not very good (at); not one's cup of tea; not one's favorite
morning star lily (Lilium concolor); star lily
common gull (Larus canus); gull (Laridae spp.); seagull
recitation; reciting from memory
to line up; to set up; to enumerate; to itemize; to be equal (to); to compare well (with)
knowing; being aware (of); (an) acquaintance
to be second to none (in)
deep emotion; being filled with emotion
to be flustered; to lose one's presence of mind
small; fine; detailed; stingy
to approach; to draw near; to be imminent; to press (someone for something); to urge; to compel
lower floor; downstairs; bottom of the stairs; foot of the stairs
to exchange glances; to look at each other; to postpone; to put off; to contrast; to compare
program (e.g. TV); programme
main attraction; special feature; big draw
two-part chorus; vocal duet
girl (usu. between 7 and 17); young lady; (arch.) female between 17 and 20 years old (ritsuryō period)
to prick; to stab; to poke; to prod; to use (a cane); to prop oneself up with
appearance; air; condition; state; form
(time of) one's childhood; when one was a child