to work as the backbone (of); to bear responsibility (for); to be the mainstay (of); to be the central part (of)
clever; bright; sharp; wise; intelligent; sagacious
caller; visitor; company; guest
tightly; tautly; (springing, straightening) up; suddenly; intuitively; instinctively
time (three times, each time, etc.); times
trouble; bother; annoyance
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while traveling (travelling); present brought by a visitor; something unpleasant that one is given (e.g. an illness while on vacation); unwelcome gift
manjū; steamed yeast bun with filling
under one's arm; (in) the armpit
et cetera; etc.; and the like; the likes of; something like
to excel; to surpass; to exceed; to outweigh; to preponderate
repeatedly; over and over again; fully (e.g. understand); very much; very well
to curry favour (with); to play up (to); to cozy up (to); to butter up
good-naturedness; good-natured person; credulous person; easy mark
cheerful; merry; sunny; bright (sky, day, etc.); fine; clear
to send (someone) back; to send (someone) home
to make a slip of the tongue; to let something slip
with; by; because of; on account of; on (a day, date); at (a time); adds emphasis to preceding word
to make sense; to be meaningful
to cool down; to get cold; to cool off (excitement, temper, etc.); to subside; to be cold (eyes, expression, etc.); to be composed
home; household; family; hearth
to go out to meet; to receive; to call for; to summon; to accept (e.g. as a member of a group or family); to take (e.g. a wife)
adjacency; contiguity; being adjoined
conspicuously; noticeably; remarkably; strikingly; outstandingly; especially
taking the lead; leadership; leader; chorus leader
bamboo grass; generally smaller species of running bamboo that do not shed their sheaths (e.g. Sasa spp.)
to relax; to feel at home
seiza; kneeling with the tops of the feet flat on the floor, and sitting on the soles
well aware of; know thoroughly; being familiar with (and thus feeling no need for restraint)
(land) with a thump; slumping (of something heavy); (lying down) with a flop; effortlessly (throw onto); roundishly (shaped; of something large)
absorption; suction; aspiration; attraction; draw
soft (and fluffy) (e.g. bed, bread, baked potato); (arch.) absent-mindedly
to invest in; to sink money into; to put into; to lay out (funds); to inject; to impregnate
mattress; mattress pad (under a futon)
comfort when sleeping; feel (of a bed, futon, etc.)
going to bed; retiring (for the night)
free and uncontrolled; behaving with abandon; freewheeling
gathering; meeting; assembly; collection; attendance
don't worry about it; forget about it
to be overcome with emotion