only; merely; approximately; about; just (finished, etc.); as if to; (as though) about to
junior high school student; middle school pupil
before; prior to; ago; the past; before; previously
continuously; the whole time; much (more); (by) far; far (away); long (ago, before, after)
because; as; since; because of that; therefore; accordingly
a long time (since the last time); first in a long time; it's been a long time; long time no see
base of the throat; bottom of the neck
(a) little; somewhat; somehow
to calm down; to compose oneself; to calm down; to settle down; to settle down (in a location, job, etc.); to settle in; to be settled (of an arrangement, conclusion, etc.)
yes; yeah; hum; hmmm; oof
that's the way it is; such is life
what!; oh; what the heck; what the; damn
in the meanwhile; during the time
to suit; to match; to become; to be like
to speak distinctly; to speak clearly; to put it bluntly; to get to the point; to be frank
good; excellent; sufficient; enough; profitable (deal, business offer, etc.); beneficial
now; the present time; just now; another; more
to; for; in order to; for; as for; regarding
big; large; loud; extensive; spacious; important
to become; to get; to result in; to turn out; to consist of; to be composed of; to be completed
surely; undoubtedly; sternly; severely; having no slack; rigid
to reach the point where ...; to come to ...; to come to be that ...; to start to ...; to begin to ...
indicates emotion or admiration; indicates emphasis; I; me; wah!; boo!
time; hour; occasion; case; chance; opportunity
to measure; to weigh; to survey; to conjecture; to infer; to surmise
height (of a person); stature
third year of junior high school; third-year junior high school student
to compare; to make a comparison (between); to compete (on); to measure (one's strength, ability, etc. against another's)
(not even) an inch; (not even) a little bit; (lit.) one millimeter
to shrink; to contract; to diminish (in size)
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; the explanation is that ...; it is that ...
(not) very; (not) so; (not) very much; (not) particularly; (not) especially
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
and yet; though; when; in spite of
precocity; early ripening; premature development
type; style; mold; mould; kata (set sequence of positions and movements in martial arts); style (in kabuki, noh, etc.); convention
to believe; to believe in; to place trust in; to confide in; to have faith in
state of affairs; situation; conditions; circumstances
as one would expect; naturally; indeed; still; all the same; after all
too terrible to look at; unbearable to look at
worry; concern; anxiety; care; help; aid