declining; refusal; rejection; announcement; notice
running about; making every effort; being busily engaged (in something); good offices
to give; to confer; to bestow; to kindly do for one; to oblige; to favour
graduate school entrance examination
deadline; closing; cofferdam; closed (door, window, etc.)
to request; to beg; to call; to order; to entrust to; to rely on
to be conspicuous; to stand out
fatigue; weariness; exhaustion; tiredness
gloss; luster; mellowness (of a voice); youthfulness (e.g. of skin); interest; appeal
to ask a question; to begin to ask a question
thinly; slightly; vaguely; a little
unpleasant; uncomfortable; creepy; spooky
to lie in wait (for); to be on the watch (for); to wait (for); to watch (for)
as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
perfect; complete; flawless
make-up; making food (in a delivery-only restaurant); cooking
early summer; fourth month of the lunar calendar
make-up; makeup; cosmetics
crumbling; collapse; ruin; has-been; wannabe
at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
news coverage; collecting data (e.g. for an article); covering (something for media); interview
to sum up; to summarize; to summarise
yes; that is correct; um; errr; huh?; grrr
shape; form; appearance; state; situation; suitable
isn't it?; don't you think?; right?; surely; come on
to bend backwards; to bend oneself back; to be taken aback
billboard; advertising sign
to cut apart (cloth, paper, etc.); to sever (ties); to break off (relationship); to cut off (enemy's retreat); to block (road, etc.)
to declare; to assert; to say bluntly; to say straight out
notice; attention; observation
publicity; advertisement; advertising; propaganda
gradually; steadily; slowly; little by little; step by step; by degrees
fast-talking; rapid talking
irritation; annoyance; frustration
to be handed down; to be introduced; to be transmitted; to be circulated; to go along; to walk along
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
to cover; to hide; to conceal; to wrap; to disguise
that's enough!; cut it out!; get a life!