a few years ago; some years back
use; application; employment; utilization; utilisation
prohibition; inhibition; ban
but then; although; though; reasonable; natural; just
vice; immorality; corruption
merchant; trader; tradesman; dealer; shopkeeper
low-lying part of a city (usu. containing shops, factories, etc.); Shitamachi (low-lying area of eastern Tokyo near Tokyo Bay, incl. Asakusa, Shitaya, Kanda, Fukugawa, Honjo, Nihonbashi, Kyobashi and surrounds)
to spread (out); to extend; to stretch; to reach to; to get around; to fill (e.g. a space)
Your Majesty; His Majesty; Her Majesty
dumbfounded; overcome with surprise; in blank amazement; in a daze
how (beautiful, tasty, etc.); what a ...; nothing worth mentioning; nothing special; of what name
there is no need to ...; never happens; there is never a time when
(lucky) find; bargain; good buy; treasure trove
cheap; inexpensive; calm; peaceful; quiet
article; item; quality; flirtatiousness; coquetry
to press against; to push against; to force against; to foist on (task, responsibility); to impose (one's will)
surprise; astonishment; wonder; amazement
quick; swift; nimble; quick (understanding, judgement, etc.); alert; prompt
to make a fool of (someone)
opposite side; bottom; rear; back; lining; inside; in the shadows
to laugh mockingly; to smile with contempt; to jeer; to sneer
ignorance; innocence; stupidity
worm; insect; insignificant person; pathetic person
-like; sort of; similar to; resembling
first-person plural (or singular); second or third person plural (implies speaker is of higher status than those referred to)
to (happen to) see; to notice; to catch sight of
to burn; to roast; to broil; to heat; to heat up; to make (charcoal, pottery, bricks, etc.); to bake
no; you're welcome; not at all; don't mention it
steam; vapour; vapor; steamboat; steam locomotive
number one; first; best; most; game; round
danger; peril; hazard; risk
confusion; complications; being gripped by strong feelings; fit (e.g. of anger); moment (e.g. of frustration)
beyond expectations; beyond what one expected; not foreseen; exceeding assumptions
direction; orientation; bearing; course (e.g. of action)
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)
control; check; restraint; inhibition
cheating; deception; trickery; manipulation; juggling; falsifying
tough; hard; determined; strong-minded; strong (e.g. sunlight, alcohol); severe
(confronting a problem, etc.) head-on; directly; outright; (lit.) from the front
denial; negation; negation; NOT operation