tatami mat; Japanese straw floor coverings
surely; clearly; without a doubt; in all probability; no matter how one slices it; no matter how one looks at it
while; during; while; although; all; both
to triumph; to be elated with success
wonderful; marvelous; strange; strangely enough; oddly enough; for some reason
right?; isn't it?; hey; say; you know; you see; will you?
to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
to open; to undo; to bloom; to unfold; to open (for business, e.g. in the morning); to be wide (gap, etc.); to widen
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
house; residence; family; household; lineage; family name
this; last (couple of years, etc.); these; you (as in "you liar")
intention; plan; belief; assumption; estimate; estimation
in that case; (might not be what was expected or hoped for but) if that's the case
scary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
what; so-and-so; such and such; what?; wait; well, well
outline; summary; overview; synopsis; abstract; abridgment
hmmm; uh-huh; murmur indicating approval, comprehension, etc.
senior high school student
one day; (on) a certain day
riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
to wake up; to awake; to awaken to (instinct, ability, perception, etc.); to become aware of; to come to one's senses
companion; fellow; group; company; member of the same category (family, class)
together with; as X, then Y (e.g. as we age we gain wisdom, as wine matures it becomes more valuable, etc.)
to make war (on); to wage war (against); to compete (against); to struggle (against adversities, etc.); to fight
very; extremely; terrible; horrid; remarkable; extraordinary
common; ordinary; conventional; customary
talk; speech; topic; subject; discussions; negotiation; rumor
righteous government; just rule; easy method; simple approach; orthodox way; proper way
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
next; following; subsequent; stage; station
character; personality; (fictional) character; letter; character
introduction; presentation; referral; listing
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
affinity; feeling of closeness (with someone); feeling of kinship
to well (up); to gush forth (of water); to appear (esp. suddenly) (sweat, tears, etc.); to feel emotions from (joy, bravery, etc.); to hatch (esp. of parasitic insects, etc.)
whole (body); full-length (e.g. portrait); systemic
light; illumination; ray; happiness; hope; influence
to fire (gun, arrow, questions, etc.); to shoot; to set free; to release; to emit (e.g. light); to give off (e.g. a scent)
lodger who pays nothing for room and board; freeloader; sponger
previously; before; first; before (something or someone else); beforehand; in advance
to live (of humans); to reside; to inhabit; to dwell; to abide
child; kid; (one's) child; offspring; young (animal); young woman; offshoot