middle class; bourgeoisie
middle; midway; middle position; moderate position; interim; intermediary
showy but worthless; impressive-looking but without substance; all show and no substance; not as good as it looks; deceptive
to keep up (appearances); to put up (a good front); to smooth over (a mistake, fault, etc.); to gloss over; to mend; to repair
base (of a plant, tree, pillar, etc.); (part near the) root; roots (of one's hair); root (e.g. of a problem); source
force (bulldoze) one's way through
to turn (one's face) away; to avert (one's eyes)
restoration to life; coming to life again; reformation; rehabilitation; recycling; reclamation; playback
hasty; rash; rushed; hurried; impatient; impetuous
passion; enthusiasm; zeal
to rise; to swell; to intensify; to increase; to grow stronger; to get higher
bust (sculpture); half-length portrait
every evening; every night
to be absorbed in reading; to get lost in reading; to be immersed in (a book)
because; the reason is; if you want to know why
in good order; in perfect order; orderly; well-organized
to destroy; to break (by striking); to smash; to ruin (a plan, atmosphere, etc.); to spoil; to wreck
double-edged (e.g. sword blade); double-beveled (e.g. kitchen knife); double-edged blade
to be settled; to be brought to an end
the defensive; passive attitude; passivity; the passive; passive voice; ukemi (the art of falling safely)
pattern; figure; state; condition; conjecture of the current situation; the way it seems; model
pre-war days; before the war
to be dyed; to be tainted; to be infected; to be stained
pseudo; quasi; false; suspected (case, e.g. of disease)
to seclude oneself; to shut oneself away
primary school; elementary school; grade school
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
labor; labour; work; Labour Party
industry; (arch.) livelihood; (arch.) occupation
last century; previous century; ancient times; old times
vice; immorality; corruption
racial or national characteristics
trivial matter; trifling thing; something ordinary