beginning; outset; first; onset
to approach; to draw near
each; respectively; individually; separately
to stuff one's cheeks; to fill one's mouth (with food)
restlessly; aimlessly; to loiter; to drift; to be restless; to fuss
normal school (pre-war Japan); teachers' training college
origin; source; history; originally; from the start; by nature
prefecture (Japan); county (China, Taiwan, Norway, etc.); department (France); province (Italy, Spain, etc.)
free-loader; hanger-on; parasite; house guest
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
sponging off one's parents
to take flight; to disappear
life; living; I; me; student
leading; guiding; commanding
idly; lazily; evasively; elusively; laziness; fooling around
squeak; cheep; slurp; sucking noisily; mouse
strange; weird; wonder; mystery; cleverness; adroitness
joint; knuckle; tune; melody; knot (in wood); node in a bamboo stem
indicates means of action; cause of effect; by
to break into song; to burst into song; to begin singing
fighting back; returning fire; counter-attack; responding to an attack; accepting a challenge
pitiful; unfortunate; poor; unpardonable; regrettable
red bean paste; red bean jam; filling (e.g. of a manjū); stuffing; padding
occasionally; once in a while; now and then; rarely; seldom
at once; immediately; without delay; promptly
solemn (ceremony, atmosphere, etc.); austere; grave; majestic; dignified; stately
retreat; withdrawal; retirement
to order; to command; to appoint
how; in what way; how (much); to what extent; however (much); no matter how
being afraid of; being fearful; being timid; trembling; shivering
with a feeling of relief; with a sigh of relief; deeply (sigh)
immediately; right away; at once; instantly
dozens; scores of; decades
splendid; nice; sufficient; fine (in the sense of "I'm fine"); well enough; OK
to collect; to assemble; to gather
severe punishment; rigorous measures