January; first month of the lunar calendar
striking; remarkable; considerable
with the exception of; excepting; excluding
experienced; seasoned; veteran
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
painful; difficult; distressing; (psychologically) difficult; straitened (circumstances); tight (financial situation)
when it comes to ...; where ... is concerned; if it's the case that ...; if it turns out that ...; if it's true that ...
to sit; to squat; to assume (a position); to hold steady; to hold still
shaking one's legs (usu. unconsciously); tapping one's foot; fidgeting (of the legs)
to seize; to catch; to obtain; to acquire; to understand; to grasp
sky; the air; weather; far-off place; distant place; state of mind; feeling
dispersion; scattering; spreading out; diffusion
to warn against; to caution against; to admonish; to scold; to prohibit; to forbid; (arch.) to be cautious
reading aloud; recitation
tone (of voice); manner of talking
head of a ward; mayor of a ward; chief administrator of a ward
attention; notice; care; caution; advice; warning
crisply; with a crunch; refreshingly; sharply; candidly; frankly
essentially the same with only minor differences
not feeling like doing ...; having no mind to ...; being in no mood for ...; indifferent; half-hearted; dispirited
student; student who performs housework in exchange for meals and lodging; houseboy (attending school or university)
to hit; to run into; to light on; to strike into; to come against; to deadlock
(mental) attitude; way of thinking; attention; care; prudence; intention
to stop (an activity); to cease; to discontinue; to cancel; to abandon; to give up
to stand firm; to hold out
after all; in the end; conclusion; end; end of a game of go, shogi, etc.
concession; conciliation; compromise
ear; hearing; edge; crust; selvedge (non-fray machined edge of fabrics); selvage
resting one's chin in one's hands; brace (in construction); angle brace
thanks (for coming, helping, etc.); glad you could make it; tiredness; fatigue
from the beginning; from the first; all along; of course
gradually; by degrees; little by little; step by step
hey!; wait a minute!; whoa!; boohoo; waaaa
trust; confidence; credence
order (for an item); request; demand; condition
to show appreciation for (efforts, esp. by someone of equal or lower status); to thank for; to reward for
dictation; verbal statement
covering; filled in; complete; total; cliched; clichéd; plaintext