(husband and wife) both working; dual income
triumphant; exultant; in high and proud spirits
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
gazing steadily at; observing (a person) closely; maintain a watch over
trend; tendency; movement; attitude
tagged (esp. with a price); notorious; infamous; double-dyed
junior high school; middle school; lower secondary school
sparse; distant (of a relationship); estranged; alienated
to call each other; to call out to one another
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
mysterious disappearance; being spirited away
visiting ill or distressed people; writing get-well letters; get-well gifts; get-well letters; expression of sympathy; expression of concern
name; title; appellation; (under the) pretext (of); pretense
frequency (of occurrence)
to pity; to sympathize with; to sympathise with; to tend to (e.g. an injury); to care for; to nurse
to help; to assist; to aid; to contribute to; to be a factor in
deadline; closing; cofferdam; closed (door, window, etc.)
It's nothing!; Don't mention it!
Japanese-style writing desk
manuscript; copy; draft; notes; contribution
to paint; to plaster; to lacquer; to varnish; to spread; to smear
humour; humor; safety; health; in a good mood; in high spirits
depending on; as soon as; immediately after; as (e.g. "as one is told", "as one wishes"); whatever (e.g. "whatever is at hand"); order; program
good humour (humor); good mood
childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
maid; helper; help; assistance
concentration; focusing; convergence; within a collection of works
hospital; clinic; doctor's office; doctor's surgery; infirmary
pure; true; genuine; unmixed
subject matter of a painting; art supplies; art materials
paying back in installments (instalments); amortization plan (amortisation); gradual demolition; gradual erosion; gradual dismantlement
famous; well-known; renowned; your name
being very busy; busyness
pushy; pushing; self-assertive
really (seem, appear, etc.); truly; evidently; in that way
stereotyped; stereotypical; invariable; like clockwork; regular