(not) in any way; (not) at all; (none) whatsoever; what kind of
surprise; astonishment; wonder; amazement
pillow word; decorative word used prefixally in classical Japanese literature; preface; introduction
core; heart (of the matter); point; crux; kernel
vague; ambiguous; shady; disreputable; fuzzy
to get between; to be caught in
to stretch; to extend; to straighten out; to be flattened; to spread (of paint, cream, etc.); to stretch out (e.g. of a hand); to extend
to make (someone) understand (a fault, mistake, etc.); to reason with; to advise; to try to persuade; to exhort; to admonish
charge; duty; person in charge; official; clerk
catastrophe; cataclysm; collapse (of a relationship); breakup; split (friends, lovers, etc.)
after all is said and done; no matter what people say; in the end; definitely; undeniably
to be cut out for (e.g. a job); to be suited (to)
one turn; spinning around; complete change; reversal; (an) about-face
stabbing (repeatedly); piercing; (words) cutting to the heart; striking home; loose; sloppy
to stick (into); to pierce; to enter at full speed; to hit (e.g. the catcher's mitt) at speed
relation of cause and effect; causal relationship; causal link; causality
peaceful; tranquil; calm; restful
puffer fish; blow fish; fugu; globefish; swellfish
to backfire; to produce a result opposite to what was expected or intended
to jump at the chance; to accept an offer; to show interest in; to accept a proposal
ceasing to think; refusing to think critically; giving up thinking (for oneself); going blank; mental block; inability to think clearly
often; again and again; frequently; repeatedly
passing through (a tunnel, station, town, etc.); passing by (e.g. of a typhoon); passage (of a bill, e.g. through parliament); carriage; passing (an examination, inspection, etc.); clearing
to struggle in the water; to be drowning; to sink below the surface and become unable to breathe; to indulge in; to lose one's head over something; to be addicted
what action to take; what to do with oneself
when one was a very young child; very early in one's life
to measure; to weigh; to survey; to conjecture; to infer; to surmise
based on; built on; made from
careful; cautious; prudent; discreet; deliberate
smirkingly; broadly (grinning)
being deeply moved emotionally; excitement; passion; inspiration; deep emotion; strong impression
to be mentally slow; to be befuddled; to become engrossed in; to become absorbed in; to become frayed and dishevelled (of hair, grass, etc.); to be fluffy
senior (at school, work, etc.); superior; elder; older person; predecessor
to sharpen; to grind; to whet; to hone; to make keen
self-respect; prudence; not acting rashly; taking care of oneself; being careful with one's health
bright; cheerful; in high spirits; clear (sky); cloudless; sunny
to go to extremes; to go to excess; to go too far
flapping (of a flag, fan, etc.); fluttering; pitter-patter (of footsteps); quickly (making progress); in quick succession
to start to move; to get going; to come alive
to give an answer; to find an answer to a question; to work out a solution