question; inquiry; enquiry
monastery; convent; cloister; abbey
being attached (to); being affiliated (to); belonging (to); attached school; affiliated school
facility; facilities; institution; home (for the elderly, orphans, etc.)
to work; to labor; to function; to operate; to commit (e.g. a crime); to perpetrate
to fall behind; to lag behind; to be outdistanced; to be beaten
to be brought forward (e.g. by three hours); to be moved up; to be hasty; to be rash; to quicken; to speed up
resolute; firm; dauntless; undaunted
not only ... (but also); not just; as well as
accurate; correct; precise; exact
pinch; tough spot; bind; clothespin; clothes peg
transmission (e.g. news, chemical signals, electricity); communication; delivery; conveyance; transfer; relay
speed; velocity; pace; velocity
very; considerably; by no means; not readily; middle; half-way point
oh; right; I see; OK; gotcha
house; greenhouse; house music; go to your kennel (cage, bed, etc.)!
to wound; to injure; to hurt someone's feelings (pride, etc.); to damage; to chip
to give shelter to; to lodge; to put up; to accommodate
bursting with youth and energy (esp. young woman); vivaciously young; (fish) jumping around energetically (e.g. when caught in a net); bursting (e.g. seams); tight; splattering (e.g. cooking oil)
to say something is all right; to give the all-clear (e.g. to do something)
to blurt out; to let slip; to say inadvertently; to come out with (e.g. nonsense)
even at the best of times; already; (even) under normal circumstances; in addition to; as it is
being obtrusive; being conspicuous (in a bad way)
just now; at this moment; at this point of time
lunch; noon; midday; daytime; waking up; getting up
goods; merchandise; commercial items
kapow; bang; bulging; filled to bursting; prostitute (catering to Occupation soldiers in Japan after WWII)
temporary; transitory; short-lived
to transfer (to a different place, group, etc.); to change; to move to the next stage (of a plan, etc.); to divert (one's attention) to; to focus on (something different); to spend (time); to let (time) pass
to open (e.g. doors); to open (e.g. business, etc.); to be empty; to be vacant; to be available; to be open (e.g. neckline, etc.); to have been opened (of one's eyes, mouth, etc.)
space; room; space (between letters, words, etc.); space (piece of type); (outer) space
to spread out (e.g. a futon); to lay out; to lay down (e.g. a cushion); to impose widely (e.g. martial law); to promulgate; to pin down; to hold down
futon; Japanese bedding consisting of a mattress and a duvet; round cushion used for Zen meditation (traditionally made of woven bulrush leaves)
when it comes to ...; where ... is concerned; if it's the case that ...; if it turns out that ...; if it's true that ...
business slump; slowdown in business activity
gust (of wind); blast; influence; impact; instigation; agitation
nothing but; except; no more than
April; fourth month in the lunar calendar
distinction; difference; separate; different; exception; exclusion
opening (a new store, golf course, runway, etc.); open; frank; open (car, collar, tournament, etc.)
very; extremely; terrible; horrid; remarkable; extraordinary
prosperity; flourishing; thriving
busy; occupied; hectic; restless; hurried; fidgety
grasp (of the situation, meaning, etc.); understanding; control; hold; grip
busiest and most profitable business period; peak season
Golden Week (early-May holiday season in Japan)