futon; Japanese bedding consisting of a mattress and a duvet; round cushion used for Zen meditation (traditionally made of woven bulrush leaves)
dirty-looking; filthy; disgusting; squalid
to find fault (with); to cavil (at); to carp (about); to throw a wet blanket (on); to throw cold water (on); to jinx
reality; actuality; hard fact
(female) beauty; beautiful woman
to become familiar with; to get used to; to become accustomed to; to come to fit; to go (well) with; to suit
I-novel; novel narrated in the first person
to move along; to go alongside; to walk along; to follow; to run down (one's cheek, leg, etc.); to trickle down
even if not; even without
to produce; to yield; to cause; to result from; to arise; to be generated
rude; outspoken; presumptuous; cheeky
for a short while; for a while; for some time; for the time being
insect; bug; worm; roundworm; thing inside one's body believed to influence one's thoughts and feelings; (one's) unconscious; nervousness
(verbal) abuse; speaking ill of people; bad-mouthing; name-calling; slander; abusive language
meritorious deed; services
cheers; applause; ovation; acclamation
to win; to gain; to earn; to spread (one's name, etc.)
Bungeishunju (publishing company); Bungei Shunjū (magazine)
to lie on top of each other; to overlap; to pile up
pressure; oppression; suppression
boorish; unsophisticated; unrefined; uncouth; tasteless; insensitive
rustic; unsophisticated; provincial; hick; cornball
to abuse (verbally); to curse at; to shout abuse at; to speak ill of
to sit (down); to have a seat; to be seated; to assume (a position); to take on (a duty); to occupy (a post)
valuation; appraisal; evaluation; appreciation; recognition; acknowledgement
to incline one's head to the side (in doubt); to tilt one's head to the side (in confusion); to be puzzled
stimulus; stimulation; impetus; impulse; excitement; thrill
recommendation; endorsement
one school; one sect; one denomination; one party; one faction; one group
United Kingdom; UK; Britain; England
dregs; sediment; lees (esp. sake); leftovers; by-product; worthless item; junk
to be mixed; to be blended with; to be combined; to associate with; to mingle with; to interest
clever; intelligent; bright; well-behaved (esp. of children and pets); obedient; good
moderate (view, politics, etc.); temperate; sensible; sober; non-radical
of late; lately; this part; this point; here
literary history; history of literature
thoughtless; reckless; rash; excessive; unreasonable; immoderate
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about
to discuss; to talk about; to argue; to dispute; to take into consideration; to make an issue of