heat shimmer; heat haze; shimmering of hot air
gradually; slowly but steadily
to let go of; to release; to part with (e.g. a possession); to relinquish; to send away (e.g. one's child); to let go
slapping on (stamp, sticker); flopping down
poverty; penury; need; shortage; lack; want
if one is unlucky; if one is careless; if things don't go well
back (esp. of a building, etc.); rear; behind
slightly (of an action); (looking) small and quiet
severe; harsh; stringent; rigorous; strict; unfair
big; large; drastic; full-width cloth (approx. 72 cm wide for traditional Japanese clothing; approx. 140 cm wide for Western clothing)
suddenly; abruptly; impulsively
to deem acceptable; to approve of; to value; to consider a good thing
to follow (a road, path, etc.); to trace; to follow (a clue, scent, tracks, plot, etc.); to trace (a route, history, family tree, etc.); to head towards (of a situation); to go in the direction of
setsubun; last day of winter in the traditional Japanese calendar (usu. February 3 or 4) on which a bean scattering ceremony is held; last day of any season (according to the traditional Japanese calendar)
legume (esp. edible legumes or their seeds, e.g. beans, peas, pulses); bean; soya bean (Glycine max); soybean; female genitalia (esp. the clitoris); kidney; small
homely woman (esp. one with a small low nose, high flat forehead, and bulging cheeks); plain woman; humorous mask of a homely woman's face
mask; striking the head (kendo)
good fortune; happiness; blessing; good luck
sowing beans (or pulses, etc.); scattering parched beans (to drive out evil spirits)
unseasonable; out-of-season
(very) quick; rapid; swift; speedy; prompt; expeditious
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
area; vicinity; side; edge; circumstances
dead center; (right in the) middle; midst; midst (e.g. of a storm); heyday; (the) height (e.g. of a debate)
important person; influential figure; big shot; big thing; big one; big game
to be confused; to be in disorder; to be chaotic; to be crowded
departure (from a base); takeoff; launch; starting (to move; of a car); start; moving off
to start sliding; to begin to slide; to begin to slip; to make a start; to start (off); to get under way
airplane; aeroplane; plane; aircraft
pursuer; pursuing party; posse
to hold on to something (secret, lead in a race, etc.)
ennui; languishing; feeling of exhaustion; lassitude; lethargy
to lean (on, against); to rest (against); to recline; to rely on (someone); to depend on
ugly; unattractive; bad-looking; unsightly; unseemly; disgraceful