to step forward; to volunteer
becoming a pupil (of); becoming an apprentice
to begin talking; to open up
mud; slush; (wet) dirt; thief
grass; weed; (arch.) ninja; not genuine; substandard; LOL
casting; cast-metal object
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
to come of age; to become an adult; to become fully qualified; to stand on one's own
kneading; gloss; paste (e.g. bean paste, mustard paste); parading of portable shrines and floats at festivals
century; hundred years; (fig.) a long time
tired; frazzled; tiresome; tiring; draining
conscious; deliberate; intentional
to desire; to wish for; to expect; to see; to command (a view of)
to make; to produce; to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol); to raise; to grow; to till
up through; up until; down to; from ... to ... (e.g. from head to toe); everything from ... to ...
huge; vast; enormous; swelling; expansion
independence from parents
character (esp. kanji); letter; handwriting; penmanship; the ... word (e.g. "the L word" = "love")
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
to grow up; to become an adult; to become big; to grow in size
(if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that; (unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario)
hasty; rash; rushed; hurried; impatient; impetuous
exhibition; display; putting on show
when it comes to the cause; when you get right down to it; as for what started it; as for the reason; originally
spirituality; spiritual nature
to long for; to yearn after; to admire; to be attracted by
nodding (in agreement, with approval, etc.); repeatedly nodding and dozing off; suddenly (dying); deep (flavor, flavour, color, colour, etc.); rich
admiration; being impressed (by)
monastery; convent; cloister; abbey
Buddhist priest; monk; son (of others)
glance; look; glimpse; complete view; bird's-eye view
with a start; in surprise; suddenly (realize, remember, etc.); all of a sudden; puffing (air); with a puff
phew; whew; huff; whoo; wohoo
to leave the nest; to go out into the world; to become independent (of one's parents); to graduate (and become a member of society)
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am; older girl
hmmm; uh-huh; murmur indicating approval, comprehension, etc.
due form; official; formality
to put to bed; to lay down lengthwise; to put a thing on its side; to set something aside unused; to let lie idle; to ferment
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)