big hit; big prize; bumper crop; striking it rich; right on the mark; bonanza
fairy tale; fairy story; nursery tale
(sliding) glass door; patio door; small floor-level opening through which dirt is swept
chief seat; seat of honor; seat of honour; head of the table
lower seat; seat at bottom of the table
blending of Japanese and Western styles
to conform to; to be in accordance with; to follow (rule, tradition, example, etc.)
inborn nature; genuine; intrinsic; essential
strict; severe; stern; rigid; rigorous; tough
language of one's country; mother tongue; native language
to be incomparable; to be completely different matters; to be completely different things
crossing without meeting (e.g. letters in the post, people on the road); going astray; difference of opinion; misunderstanding; estrangement
on the brink of collapse; in a state of near-collapse
prophet; predictor; prognosticator
to whinge; to kvetch; to gripe; to complain; to whine
positive thinking; optimism
unable to get along; unable to cooperate; unable to hit it off; not seeing eye to eye
slight movement; slight tremor; quiver
heart attack; myocardial infarction
misanthropy; misanthropist
hard to please; moody; crusty; fastidious
when it comes to; concerning
to take in lodgers; to keep boarders
tenant (esp. in contrast to a landlord); renter
to be the work of; to be the result of; to be done by; to concern; to affect; to involve
apartment with one bedroom and a kitchen
close; intimate; on good terms
and then; in addition to that; also; even so
sum; harmony; peace; Japan; Japanese-style
Japanese-style desk (short, used while sitting on the floor)