percussion; tapping; examining by percussion; sounding out (someone's intentions); making an approach (about)
the point just before; the point of doing; the verge of happening
(period of) a year; during an era
two-digit number; "tens" column; two digits; double figures
unofficial offer (esp. job offer); tentative decision
to help; to assist; to aid; to contribute to; to be a factor in
dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; (far) better; exceptional
elevation; rise; improvement; advancement; progress
seeing things in a favourable light (favorable)
commerce; trade; business
to be open (to traffic); to lead to; to flow (liquid, current); to pass; to be understood; to be comprehended; to be honored
ability; capacity; capability; physical strength
(a matter of) chance; fortune (of a given time); force of the times
to entangle; to entwine; to pick a quarrel; to find fault; to be involved with; to be influenced by
to surpass; to outstrip; to excel
to be lucky; to be in luck; to be attached; to have; to be included
kindness; intimacy; friendship
proposal; offer; request; application
backdoor; rear entrance; rear exit; unauthorized; illicit; illegal
way (of doing); manner; method; means
sentimental; on an emotional level; in one's heart
on and after; as from; hereafter; thereafter; since
the year end; end of the year; last days of the year
congratulation; congratulations; celebration; congratulatory gift; present
to be unable to; to find difficult (unpleasant, awkward, painful) to do; to serve two or more functions or roles simultaneously; to contain (or combine) two or more features; to work in two or more jobs simultaneously (positions, etc.); to do alongside
to include (in a group or scope); to instruct; to make one understand; to include (a nuance); to put in (an implication); to put in (someone's) mouth
New Year's Eve; December 31
New Year's Eve; end of the year
special radio or television programme; television special
to see; to look; to examine; to look over; to look after; to attend to; to experience
narrow; confined; small; limited; narrow-minded; confining
to talk the night away; to talk all night
to digest; to break down; to break to pieces; to be able to use; to be good at; to finish; to complete
highball; whisky and soda
to cheer; to jeer; to mock
middle-aged man; Buddhist priest
(heavy) drinker; drunkard; tippler; boozer
first shrine visit of New Year
congratulation; congratulations; celebration; congratulatory gift; present
non-alcoholic; alcohol-free
sweet half sake; sweet drink made from fermented rice
little by little; bit by bit; sparingly