needle-point holder (in ikebana); frog
to stand on end; to bristle up; to be ruffled
quite; very; 10^48; quindecillion
earrings (for pierced ears); ear piercing; body piercing
to colour; to color; to apply make-up; to decorate; to garnish
slant eyes; almond-shaped eyes; eyes that are turned up at the corners
single word; a few words; brief comment
school centred on preparing students to get into university; high-level school a person has entered
declining birth rates; decrease in the number of children
to reach an extreme; to reach a limit; extremely; to be stuck; to be in a dilemma; to be decided
to prepare; to provide; to set up; to establish; to organize
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
hardly any; almost nonexistent; very little
clique; group; (political) faction; wing; school; sect
comfort; ease; easy; simple; (economically) comfortable; raku pottery
hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
that kind; competition; match
to stop (in one's tracks); to come to a stop; to halt; to pause; to stand still
to lean over (someone); to bend over; to lean on; to weigh on one; to bear (heavily) on one; to lie on one
to freeze (in fear, surprise, etc.); to cower; to flinch; to shrink up; to shrink; to shrivel up
to look down on (someone); to make fun of; to put down; to treat with contempt; to underestimate
is not; am not; are not; isn't it?
departure; departing (from ...); sending; sent (by ...); engine; counter for gunshots, bursts of gas, etc.
menial; meanness; servility; abject
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
cool; refreshing; clear (e.g. eyes); bright; clear; distinct
natural voice (without a microphone)
intonation; accent; modulation; inflection
abundant; plentiful; rich; wealthy; open (mind); relaxed
to pass; to elapse; to pass through; to go through; to experience; to go through
to flatter; to curry favor with; to curry favour with; to flirt with (woman with a man); to make eyes at (a man)
name; given name; first name
to memorize; to memorise; to learn; to pick up; to feel; to think
happy; glad; pleased; joyful; delightful; gratifying
seeming ...; appearing ...; -ish; like a ...; typical of ...
astonished; shocked; amazed; astounded; aghast
talk; speech; topic; subject; discussions; negotiation; rumor
to make a mistake; to be incorrect; to be mistaken
jaw; chin; barb (of a fishhook)
trembling from fear; trembling all over
to blurt out; to let slip; to say inadvertently; to come out with (e.g. nonsense)